Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”Friends Brandy Bright, left, and April LoConti interview the author of the Tuttle Twins book series during their conservative podcast, called, "Crunchy Moms Unfiltered," Oct. 14, 2025, in Willoughby, Ohio. The book series focuses primarily on teaching libertarian and economic principles from a conservative perspective. The two became close friends a few years earlier after meeting at a networking event, began aligning their ideals, and even raising their children together through shared homeschooling duties, nutritional lessons and other important life-skills building outings. Now, The two women identify closely as influencers at the far right intersection of the crunchy mom and MAHA movements.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”Homeschooling lessons are taught at the LoConti residence, Oct. 14, 2025, in Westlake, Ohio. Pictured from left is Andrew LoConti, 5; his sister, Juliana, 8; mother, April; and, Anya Lemire, 9, the daughter of April's close friend, Brandy (off camera).
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”Learning and crafting supplies can be seen in the home of the LoConti family, where April LoConti homeschools her children, Oct. 14, 2025, in Westlake, Ohio.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”April LoConti reviews learning materials with her daughter, Juliana, 8, Oct. 14, 2025, at their home in Westlake, Ohio.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”For dinner at the LoConti residence, Brandy and April were working to prepare tacos using the freshest ingredients possible – free of dyes or chemicals. Fresh sourdough tortillas from scratch were also prepared consistent with the women's approach to healthy eating. Brandy's daughter, Anya, 9 (second from left) and April's daughter, Juliana, 8, also helped roll tortilla dough in between homeschool lessons given by April.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”April and Brandi champion what they refer to as clean living – an avoidance of using chemically-laden products, in addition to eating organically. Spices in the LoConti home are sourced meticulously to avoid any possibility of toxicity.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”Brandy Bright cooks homemade sourdough tortillas for taco Tuesday night at the LoConti home, Oct. 14, 2025, in Westlake, Ohio.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”Anya Lemire, 9, (left) does cartwheels while Juliana LoConti, 8 (center), plays on the trampoline with her brother, Andrew, 5, Oct. 14, 2025, at the LoConti residence in Westlake, Ohio. The children balanced play time, learning during homeschool lessons, and helping their moms prepare dinner.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”A growth chart is seen in the LoConti residence, Oct. 14, 2025, in Westlake, Ohio.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”Cleveland's West Side Market serves as a weekly destination for April LoConti, upper-right corner, and her close friend, Brandy Bright, reflected in glass at right, whom both work to champion clean living – a lifestyle as free as possible of toxins and chemicals. The two women take their homeschooled children, Juliana, Anya, and Andrew, to the market as a fun and educational outing. Anya, in pink, aspires to be a journalist and was taking careful notes of things that interested her – at the direction of her mother.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”Anya Lemire, 9, (back turned) and Juliana LoConti, 8, try some sample dried fruit snacks from a vendor in the produce row at the West Side Market, Oct. 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio. The market serves as a weekly destination for Brandy (off camera) and her close friend, April LoConti, right, whom both work to champion clean living – a lifestyle as free as possible of toxins and chemicals. The two women take their homeschooled children to the market as a fun and educational outing, often giving them the opportunity to sample different foods.
Award of Excellence, Feature Picture Story - Andrew Dolph / Akron Beacon Journal, “Crunch MAHA Moms”Cleveland's West Side Market serves as a weekly destination for Brandy Bright, taking a picture, and her close friend, April LoConti, holding berries, whom both work to champion clean living – a lifestyle as free as possible of toxins and chemicals. The two women take their homeschooled children, Juliana, left, Anya, and Andrew, to the market as a fun and educational outing.
