The O’Neal family uses their influence to introduce a healthier lifestyle and better food options to their generation and the next. Myles, Shareef, Me’Arah, Shaqir and Amirah come from a family full of talent, and now they’re adding a plant-based ‘stache to their already impressive legacy.

The siblings take pride in being the faces of the Silk Nextmilk campaign, repping plant-based ‘staches on screens, across social media and on U.S billboards in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas to show how delicious and fun being healthy can be.

With their busy schedules, having a healthier lifestyle is a must. With Silk Nextmilk, the siblings are productive and energetic while consuming significantly less sugar.

I got the opportunity to interview Myles, Shareef, Me’Arah, Shaqir and Amirah as they talked about how vital it is to be a part of Silk’s campaign, ways the plant-based option positively impacts their lives, and the new healthy ‘stache movement.

Q: Hi, O’Neal Family! Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. The plant-based ‘stache movement is in full effect. Why was it imperative to be a part of the Silk Nextmilk campaign? 

Myles: I’m an artist and creator; therefore, I am always looking for new experiences – in music, fashion, and now in the way I eat. Being one of the faces of Silk Nextmilk and repping a plant-based ‘stache has meant a lot on a personal level because I don’t drink dairy milk, and I’ve been a Silk fan for years. It’s been a pleasure working with Silk, and best of all, this campaign has given me a chance to spend some quality time with my brothers and sisters – we don’t get to be together much outside of the holidays, so it was a very special shoot.

Shareef: Yes, it has been fun with all of us getting back together. When I tried Silk Nextmilk, I couldn’t believe how good it tasted! Now as a pro basketball player, I’m frequently on the road, and plant-based products like this provide a good alternative for the healthy lifestyle I need to continue to perform at this level.

Shaqir: It’s always fun when I get to hang with my big brothers and sisters. I loved taking part in the photoshoot and showing off my plant-based ‘stache. I think mine looks better than ‘Reef’s! I’m used to more fashion shoots for modeling, but this was a chance for the family to come together to promote this great product.

You mentioned you all gave up dairy milk – how was the transition and was there a challenge in implementing plant-based products into your diet? How do you incorporate them?

Myles: I noticed I didn’t feel at my best when I ate dairy. Dairy didn’t agree with me at all, so I cut it out a few years ago and started drinking Silk Almondmilk instead. Now that I’ve tried Silk Nextmilk, I’m keeping that in my fridge – it’s made from plants but tastes like milk. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still enjoying my fair share of burgers (and the occasional cheeseburger), but plant-based products like Silk Nextmilk make it easy to switch things up. I like incorporating Silk Nextmilk in my morning smoothie before I go hit the gym. As we’ve gotten older and even seen Dad (Shaquille O’Neal) starting to eat more plant-based, we’ve been trading recipes and fun swaps like veggie pasta instead of one with meat.

Shareef: Because we grew up not drinking dairy milk, the transition wasn’t that hard for me! I’m not a complete vegetarian, [but] when I dunk my cookies now, I choose Silk Nextmilk.

Amirah: Being an entrepreneur and student, I need to always be on point to work out and live a healthy lifestyle. We try to reach for plant-based beverages when we’re on the go to class, meetings or traveling to see my sister’s or my brother’s away games. 

Do you think this partnership can be the first step in introducing healthier food options to younger generations?

Me’Arah: Absolutely! I love that my generation is already thinking about making healthier choices – and I see it in places like my school or when I travel to play. With our family, it all starts in small steps, like eating more plant-based and staying hydrated. 

Myles: 100% – our goal is [always to feed positivity into the next generation] and lead by example. We’re lucky that we are in a time where our work (music, fashion, sports) and also our social influence go hand-in-hand. By showing just how fun and easy it is to enjoy plant-based, we’re helping to inspire the next generation. I hope to see many of them raising a glass of Nextmilk – and showing off their plant-based ‘stache over the next few weeks.

Amirah, as a business major and future entrepreneur, what’s the key to finding the perfect balance between school, life, and staying healthy?

Now that I’m focused on being an entrepreneur and student, staying healthy and finding that balance has definitely helped with a good routine and choosing healthy alternatives to keep me going.

Me’Arah, all young sports players dream of being stellar high school athletes. Since you’ve already made your mark, have you thought about your college dreams and the WNBA?

I’ve definitely thought about college, and I’ve received some offers. I train hard and work out daily to [achieve] my dreams and reach the next level.

Image credit: Silk Nextmilk