Emma Watson The Rise Of The Self-Rescuing Princess

Actress. Activist. Real-life Disney Princess. Feminist icon. CLEO counts the ways Emma Watson is one of the best role models of our generation.

- Sophie Hong

If we were to pinpoint the exact moment when the whole world stood up and really noticed Emma, it would be when she delivered that impassioned #HeForShe speech in September 2014 as UN Women’s newly-appointed Goodwill Ambassador. It wasn’t the first speech a public figure gave about feminism, nor will it be the last, but there’s no denying its impact.

Not only that, the 27-year old actress is also a huge advocate for sustainable fashion and beauty. When sourcing for outfits for her Beauty and the Beast press tour, Emma questioned designers on how their garments were produced, the impact on the environment, and the moral reason why she should wear them on the red carpet.

As for those of us who want to (and should!) make our life more eco-friendly, here’s something we can learn from our generation’s Audrey Hepburn: don’t stress yourself out. “Most of my routine keeps to an 80/20 philosophy because it’s very difficult to be a complete purist... You can end up driving yourself a bit mad and make it more stressful than it should be,” she said in an interview with Into the Gloss. “Sometimes, you just need a mascara to be waterproof.”