Madeleine Daria Alizadeh

Madeleine Darya Alizadeh (born 10 July 1989 in Vienna, Austria, also known as dariadaria) is an Austrian author, podcaster, influencer, activist and entrepreneur. Her activities center around environmentalism, sustainability and mindfulness. She initially became known through her blog, which she ran for seven years, and, today, she runs the fashion label dariadéh and the podcast A Mindful Mess. Her book Starkes Weiches Herz ("Strong Soft Heart") was on the Spiegel bestseller list in fall 2019.[1]

Madeleine Daria Alizadeh
DariaDaria at Konzerthaus Wien in May 2016
Born (1989-07-10) 10 July 1989 (age 35)

Life & Education

edit

Madeleine Alizadeh, born on 10 July 1989, in Vienna, Austria, is the daughter of an Iranian father and an Austrian mother.[2] Her diverse background would later impact her engagement in political and social issues.[3]

Alizadeh initially studied political sciences and ethnology but shifter to photography, completing a master's degree in Milan.[3]

Career

edit

Alizadeh has built a multifaceted career that encompasses blogging, podcasting, fashion design, and activism. Her work predominantly focues on sustainability, ethical practices, social justice, and conscious living.

Blogging

edit

In 2010, Alizadeh launched the blog dariadaria, which quickly gained popularity in the German-speaking world.[4] Initially focused on beauty and fashion, the Rana Plaza factory collapse in 2013 prompted her to shift her focus to ethical fashion and political discourse.[5] The blog evolved into a profitable venture through various partnerships and endorsements,[6] making Alizadeh a prominent voice in the sustainability movement.[7]

Podcasting

edit

In 2017, Alizadeh started the podcast A Mindful Mess, which covers a wide array of topics, including sustainability, mental health, feminism, and personal growth.[8] The podcast has been a significant medium through which Alizadeh continues her advocacy and storytelling, allowing her to reach a broad audience and discuss important issues in a more intimate and personal format.[9]

Fashion

edit

In 2017, Alizadeh founded dariadéh, a fair-fashion label committed to producing sustainable, high-quality clothing.[10] The brand emphasizes the use of non-toxic materials, inclusive sizing, and ethical production practices.[10][11][5]

Writing

edit

Alizadeh's book Starkes Weiches Herz (2019) achieved bestseller status on Spiegel's list in the paperback category.[1][5][12] She coauthored the book Unlearn Patriarchy (2022)[13] and continues to write a green lifestyle column for the local Wienerin magazine.[4][14]

Activism

edit

Alizadeh is an advocate for environmental protection, animal rights, veganism, and social justice. She promotes transparency, sustainability, and conscious consumption through her platforms. Her activism is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and educational background, driving her to address various social and environmental issues. Alizadeh's activist work primarily includes public speaking and demonstrating.[15][16][17]

Political Involvement

edit

In 2019, Alizadeh symbolically ran for the Austrian Green Party to support their environmental agenda.[18]

Wikipedia Controversy

edit

Alizadeh has criticized Wikipedia for repeatedly deleting her page in the German-language edition, alleging sexism and unequal standards for women. Her page was deleted on January 25, 2023, with the justification of "no encyclopedic relevance."[19] Alizadeh claimed that the deletion debate was led mainly by men and argued that women's biographies, especially those with foreign-sounding names, face stricter scrutiny compared to those of men.[20]

Awards & Nominations

edit
  • 2015: Otto Blog Award 2.0 in the category "User Voting"[21]
  • 2019: Woman of the Year Award in the category "Sinnfluencer"[22]

Publications

edit
  • Alizadeh, Madeleine (2019). Starkes weiches Herz: wie Mut und Liebe unsere Welt verändern können. Berlin: Ullstein leben. ISBN 978-3-96366-058-0.
  • Unlearn patriarchy (7th ed.). Berlin: Ullstein. 2023. ISBN 978-3-550-20219-3. (contributor)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Starkes weiches Herz". Buchreport (in German). 24 February 2024.
  2. ^ Kreid, Johanna (21 August 2015). "Bloggerin hilft Flüchtlingen in Traiskirchen". Kurier (in German). Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b Sevriens, Lesley (18 September 2019). ""Große Veränderungen sind machbar, man muss sie nur wollen"". Werde Magazin (in German). Photos by Maximilian Salzer. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Dariadaria". Wanderlust.
  5. ^ a b c Hable, Waltraud (30 April 2021). "How to make the world better according to DariaDaria". Red Bull.
  6. ^ "Blogger: Die Schattenseiten des Internet-Ruhms". Kurier. 6 March 2017.
  7. ^ Lau, Chloé (16 June 2020). "BAUCHGEFÜHLE". Forbes (in German). Photos by Maria Noisterni.
  8. ^ "#6 Madeleine Alizadeh (DariaDaria), Bloggerin & Aktivistin". beatframes (Podcast) – via podcasts.apple.com.
  9. ^ "#6 Madeleine Alizadeh (DariaDaria), Bloggerin & Aktivistin". beatframes.
  10. ^ a b Hunstig, Maria (15 November 2021). "Madeleine Alizadeh (Dariadaria), wie produziert man nachhaltige Mode?". Vogue Germany (in German). Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  11. ^ "STYLE UP YOUR LIFE! Tipp: A Mindful Mess". www.styleupyourlife.at (in Austrian German). 3 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  12. ^ "dariadaria legt ihre Lieblingsmusik auf". Ö3 Programm (in German). 8 November 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Madeleine Alizadeh (dariadaria)". thalia.at.
  14. ^ "Madeleine Alizadeh "dariadaria"". Wiener Woche der Würde. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Madeleine Alizadeh alias Dariadaria: Ihr Kampf für Klima und Gleichberechtigung". DIE WELT (in German). 2 September 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Streaming agenda". Multimedia Centre. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  17. ^ TEDx Talks (26 February 2019). The One Thing That Changes Everything | Madeleine Daria Alizadeh | TEDxHeidelberg. Retrieved 10 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Dariadaria: "Ich werde keinen Wahlkampf führen"". www.profil.at (in German). 15 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Wikipedia:Löschkandidaten/16. Januar 2023". Wikipedia (in German). 5 May 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Influencerin Dariadaria wirft Wikipedia Sexismus vor". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  21. ^ "desjen.com und DariaDaria gewinnen den Otto Blog Award 2.0". www.cash.at (in German). Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Das sind die Frauen des Jahres". www.leadersnet.at (in German). Retrieved 10 July 2024.