selling sunset Chrishell Stause Grew up receiving Red Cross donations while homeless in Kentucky.
Now an ambassador for the annual Uber and Red Cross clothing drive, she’s on a mission to inspire others by sharing her journey from homelessness to success.
Watch the video above: Chrishell Stause encourages others to give back.
Know news from 7NEWS app: Download today
Stause’s story is a deeply personal one.
The 43-year-old, who grew up in America, faced the harsh realities of life without a stable home several times in her early life.
“I remember getting Red Cross bags full of school supplies,” she reminisces. 7NEWS.com.au.
“That bag was my favorite because it meant I could go to school with new notebooks and pencils – things that seemed like luxuries to us at the time. The excitement of those little things was something I looked forward to every year.”
“We couldn’t afford those things, and so the Red Cross would always donate back-to-school supplies to families who needed it. And that was something that stuck with me my whole life.”
For Stause, those bags represented more than just supplies; They were a symbol of hope and something to look forward to.
In Sydney to support the campaign, Stause recalls how the Red Cross, along with other organisations, had provided vital support during difficult times.
“It’s hard for many people right now, but there are services out there that really want to help. I have so many memories of people helping, whether it’s through a food pantry or a clothing drive. It’s important to seek out those resources.
“We were in a tough situation, and, you know, just going to different food pantries and things like that.
“Luckily people are able to donate so now is the time to really give back.”
Now a successful real estate agent, actress, and star of Netflix’s selling Sunset reality series, it’s a call to action Stause herself is heeding.
This year, she’s not just promoting the clothing drive; She is actively participating by donating some of her iconic dresses, including the Rebecca Vallance dress she wore during the interview. 7NEWS.com.au It was also seen during the episode Selling Sunset.
“It’s exciting to support an Australian designer,” she says.
“I also have a cute Louis Vuitton bag along with many other things that fans may recognize from the show.”
The Uber and Red Cross Clothing Drive encourages Australians to clean out their wardrobes and donate unused clothes to those in need.
With research revealing there are more than $20 billion worth of unworn items in Australian wardrobes, Stause’s message is clear: “If you haven’t worn something in a year, it’s time to wear it.
“Your style will change, and someone else may really cherish that piece instead of it just sitting there.”
Australians can do so on Saturday, October 19 Book a Free Uber Package Pickup to donate them Clothes directly to the Red Cross.
This initiative makes it easier than ever to give back, and Strauss hopes everyone will consider participating.
“Donating doesn’t just help others; It’s also a chance for us to refresh our space,” she explains.
For Stause, fashion is a form of empowerment and sustainability and she’s urging people to think smarter.
“We need to move away from the idea that you can only wear something once. Vintage and thrift shopping are not only smart choices for the planet; They’re also incredibly stylish,” she says.
The TV star says her partner, Australian singer G-Flip, who uses they/they pronouns, was a key part of her reconsidering her old purchases.
“They helped me find my love for it because I think I thought of it as similar to homelessness — like a negative energy or a negative memory,” Stause says.
“Now with my partner, he loves vintage shopping, and so it’s something that’s got a positive memory now.
“We had a lot of fun. We go and find fun little things.”
Stause says G-Flip, known for its unique sense of fashion, gets half its clothes from op shops.
“Half the stuff she wears on stage and makes it so good is stuff she gets at various op shops.
“G has a unique sense of style in his own right. So they like to do things that I personally could never do.
Stause and G-Flip met when the Selling Sunset star appeared in the music video for the Australian song Get Me Outta Here.
The realtor and the reality star confirmed it Relationship with G Flip During the season five reunion episode of Selling Sunset, Which aired in May 2022.
As she looks back on her journey, Stause reflects on the life lessons she learned along the way.
“Coming from a background where I didn’t have a lot, my attitude initially was, ‘I’m just grateful to be here.’
“But it took me time to learn my skills,” she says.
“My advice to anyone in a similar situation is to build confidence and recognize your worth.
“The younger generation seems to be getting it quickly, and it’s inspiring to see.”
How to book an Uber x Red Cross collection
Collections can be booked by scrolling to the Red Cross Clothing Drive image in the Uber app, tapping, confirming and sending your clothes to a new life for free.
