Remember the frizzy-haired, tank-top-wearing legal clerk who took on a giant corporation and won? That’s Erin Brockovich, the real-life hero of the movie you probably watched on a lazy Sunday. But what is she doing now, decades after that iconic case against Pacific Gas and Electric? Spoiler alert: she’s still kicking corporate butt, but with a whole lot more sparkle—and a dash of pure, unadulterated joy.

She’s Still a Warrior, Just with Better Shoes

Let’s be real: Erin Brockovich never retired to a tropical island. Instead, she’s running her own consulting firm, Brockovich Research & Consulting, which helps communities fight environmental disasters. You’ll find her knee-deep in groundwater contamination cases, from Michigan to North Carolina, and even taking on the Flint water crisis.

Here’s the fun part: she hasn’t lost her sass. She still shows up in leopard print and heels, staring down bureaucrats like they’re selling her a used car. “I’m not a scientist,” she told a reporter recently, “but I know when someone’s lying.” That’s the energy we all need, right?

The Real Erin Is a Guru of “Get It Done”

Think she just chills in courtrooms? Nope. She’s also a podcaster, author, and motivational speaker who tells audiences to “stop whining and start acting.” Her show, What’s That Smell?, is exactly what it sounds like: a no-nonsense exploration of environmental cover-ups that somehow leaves you laughing.

She also tweets like a feisty aunt who’s had too much coffee. One minute she’s exposing corporate negligence; the next she’s raving about her grandson. It’s this mix of ferocity and warmth that makes her so darn relatable. You can’t help but think, “If she can take on a billion-dollar utility, I can definitely call the landlord about that leaky faucet.”

And Yes, She’s a Full-Time Grandma

Here’s where the story gets delightfully gooey. Erin Brockovich is obsessed with her family—especially her grandkids. She posts photos of baking cookies and gardening, captioning them with things like “Even warriors need a cookie break.” This is the woman who once said, “I’m not a superhero, I’m just a mom who got mad.”

Erin Brockovich: Where is the Environment Activist Today?Erin Brockovich: Where is the Environment Activist Today?

Imagine that: fighting for clean water by day, making chocolate chip cookies by night. It’s a beautiful reminder that you don’t have to choose between saving the world and enjoying it. She literally says, “Fun is fuel for the fight.”

Why This Makes Life More Fun (Seriously)

Here’s the kicker: Erin Brockovich is living proof that life is more fun when you care about something. She could have cashed in, bought a yacht, and faded into obscurity. Instead, she chose to stay messy, loud, and deeply invested in other people’s problems. And she’s having a blast.

Her current projects include a documentary series, a new book, and—get this—a line of eco-friendly cleaning products called “Erin’s Fight.” She says they smell like “citrus and justice.” I mean, come on. Who else would turn activism into a marketable scent?

What Is Erin Brockovich Doing Now? Still Changing the WorldWhat Is Erin Brockovich Doing Now? Still Changing the World

The “Brockovich Blueprint” for Your Own Life

So what can we learn from her? Simple: Don’t wait for permission to be passionate. She didn’t have a law degree; she had a backbone and a phone. She proves that you can fight for what’s right without becoming a grumpy pessimist. Laughter is her secret weapon—she even jokes about her infamous movie portrayal: “Julia Roberts made me look too skinny.”

Try it yourself: next time you’re angry about a pothole or a shady insurance claim, channel your inner Erin. Wear something bold. Make a phone call. And when you win? Eat a cookie. Celebrate the small victories.

The Uplifting Note You Deserve

Here’s the bottom line: Erin Brockovich is still out there, living her best life while making the world a safer, cleaner, more ridiculous place. She’s a walking, swearing, glitter-wearing reminder that you can be both a force of nature and a total goofball. And that is the most inspiring thing of all.

So go ahead: google her latest interview. Buy her book. Or just smile at the thought that somewhere in California, a woman in a tank top is still shouting at CEOs—and loving every second of it. You can be that same energy in your own life. And that, my friend, is a pretty beautiful thought to end on.