“When life gives you lemons, show yourself some self-love” - Alicia McCarvell

Were you one of the lucky people who got their hands on our limited hydration product, Self Love Lemonade? We sat down with the amazing Alicia McCarvell to talk all about our recent collaborative launch that sold out in just a couple of days.

We could not be more proud and excited to collaborate with Alicia on our pop-up product, Self Love Lemonade. This juicy supplement was version of our Glow-Getter Hydration range that was specifically designed to give your body the love it deserves by keeping you hydrated and glowing all day long.

In case you don’t know, Alicia has a massive following with over 5 million adoring fans on TikTok and more than 800k followers on Instagram. And it’s not hard to know why. Her hilarious sense of humour keeps us entertained and her self-love messages keep us empowered. She uses her platform to encourage her followers to find ways to love both who you are and the body that carries you everyday.

Read all about Alicia’s experience with her first ever product launch, a look behind the scenes (roller blading, juggling and lemon juice, anyone?) and of course, her incredibly empowering message behind Self-Love Lemonade.

Q. Wow, Alicia! Your first ever product collaboration, Self Love Lemonade was a massive success with all units sold out within days. We are so proud. How does it feel?

OUTRAGEOUS!! There is always a bit of imposter syndrome when you’re in this space. I had so many tragic thoughts about “what if’s” and I think that's normal when you work really hard on something and put a lot of time and love into it. It is scary to allow others to see it, however my followers DID NOT let me down. The response was amazing, and the feedback I’ve been given is also amazing!

Q. Spill the tea. When we first approached you about this collaboration, what was going through your mind?

“Me? Are you sure?” Again, it is exciting to have a company that wants to collaborate with you but I think I felt a lot of pressure when we originally decided to go ahead with it all!

Q. We know that attaching your name to a product can be both scary and exciting. Were there any non-negotiables about what Self Love Lemonade needed to include?

It needed to taste AMAZING along with having the things that help our bodies continue to kill it everyday. Since I SUCK at drinking water, and I know I’m not alone, I wanted it to be SO GOOD that people wouldn't want to put it down! I think we nailed it! I also wanted the tubs and cups to have a little bit of me on them, that's why we opted for my signature, and my face hehe.

Q. Did you have a particular customer in mind while coming up with this hydration supplement? Who did you want Self Love Lemonade to speak to?

Everyone. There is this stigma about supplements around who should and should not take them. Or that you need to look a certain way in order to benefit from them. And I’m here to BREAK that stigma. Anyone can benefit from getting in the habit of drinking more water.

Q. Let’s talk about the name, “Self Love Lemonade.” How did you come up with that?

This hydration was made for everyone and anyone that needs to start putting their self-care first. Drinking water is the simplest form of self-love and it's often the first to be forgotten! With self-love being the dominant theme of my platform, I wanted to take self-love and self-care back to the basics: drink more water.

Q. A lot of people associate “self love” with face masks and candles, which is great, but we know it goes deeper than that. What does self love mean to you?

Self-love is about separating WHO you are from WHAT you look like. And finding ways to honor both WHO you are and the body that carries you everyday. It about saying, “no” when you need to, about treating yourself with respect and about finding ways to move that brings you joy.

Q. Self love and acceptance is so important in an increasingly filtered world. What are your thoughts on this?

I don't think we have enough time for all of my thoughts on this. I believe that in order to live a fully fulfilled life, you NEED to love who you are, and what you’re capable of. When you truly understand what makes YOU wonderful, it becomes increasingly harder for the filtered world to impact you!

Q. What’s your favorite self-love quote?

“Self-love isn’t a destination, it is a way of life”

Q. Why does that resonate with you so much?

For so long, I thought self-love was rooted in thinness and that it was this “finish line” I could eventually cross and live blissfully there after. But I was wrong. Self-Love involves choosing yourself everyday, even when it is hard. It is a LONG and BUMPY road that lasts until we die, and it is so important to recognize that the journey isn't linear and its okay to have bad days.

Q. Let’s talk about the behind the scenes of the campaign. We saw you juggling lemons, roller skating, having a blast with your husband, Scott and so much more. Give us all the juicy details! How fun was it to shoot?

It was so fun. Having Scott there was really what made it extra special. He showed up for me in ways he hasn’t in our 16 year relationship. He collaborated, cheered me on and it was the best. Working with the CIRA and Nutra Holdings teams was also something special. They created a script which embodies who I am, and invited me to contribute my thoughts my way, like juggling and rollerskating.

Fun Fact: The roller skates were purchased the night before the shoot, on Facebook marketplace! My Scooter ran into some issues getting on the plane with me and honestly, I think the roller skates were one of my favorite parts!

Q. What was your favorite part of the entire campaign?

Getting to meet the entire Nutra Holdings team. Buying them all shots and thanking them for their hard work was probably my favorite moment from the campaign. I don’t think you realize how many people it takes to put something like this together, and I am so grateful for them and all their hard work.

Q. Any surprises or lessons learned from this experience?

i) Scooters have batteries that aren't allowed on planes.

ii) Soaking in lemon juice WILL remove your spray tan. 

iii) Newfoundlanders party hard!

Q. What’s your favorite way to enjoy Self Love Lemonade?

Anytime and anywhere, honestly!

Q. We’re so honored to have you as a member of our Cira Family! What has your experience working with Cira during this collaboration been like for you?

Incredible. I love the team immensely.

How great was that? We know Alicia’s undeniably fun presence and message was exactly what this Self-Love Lemonade needed and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

Check back in for the Self-Love Lemonade restock on October 13th @ 12pm EST.