The Photographer Advocating for Our Planet

National Geographic photographer and 2018 Adventurer of the Year Cristina Mittermeier has never been one for convention. After earning a degree in marine biology she decided to pursue the career of her dreams: photography. Since then, she’s dedicated her life to advocating for the health of the world’s oceans, inspiring millions of people and sparking conversations on complex issues with her breathtaking images. She’s Mercedes, a global initiative of Mercedes-Benz dedicated to empowering women and encouraging female leadership, honors Cristina—and all the convention-breaking women like her—who are working to make the world better for us all.