Meet Madeline Smith, the founder of OC Sober Gals,

Women Who Shine celebrates women who lead with heart and create community. This month, we’re spotlighting Madeline Smith, founder of OC Sober Gals, an Orange County nonprofit built on connection, inclusion, and women’s wellness. What began as a pressure-free place to meet friends has grown into a thriving alcohol-free community with a mission to give back. With the motto “Building Bonds Beyond the Bar,” OC Sober Gals welcomes women 18+ who want meaningful, wellness-focused connections, no sobriety label required, just comfort in alcohol-free spaces. Madeline’s story is proof that loneliness can become the spark for something powerful: a sisterhood where women feel seen and supported.
Madeline Smith founded OC Sober Gals because she could see what so many women were craving, including herself: real connection, meaningful friendships, and alcohol-free spaces where you can truly be yourself. She remembers what it felt like to be alone or to feel like she did not fit in, and she knows how difficult it can be to find genuine friendships, especially as we get older. OC Sober Gals began as a simple idea, a place where both new friends and familiar faces could come together without pressure or judgment, and it quickly grew into a mission rooted in community, inclusion, belonging, and women’s wellness.
The group first started about a year ago as a small social club with a private Facebook community. As more women joined and the vision expanded, OC Sober Gals moved onto Instagram and began reaching women all over Orange County. With that growth came a deeper calling. Madeline and the community realized they wanted to do more than host connection-centered events. They wanted to give back and make a meaningful impact locally. In August 2025, OC Sober Gals officially received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and they have been building their philanthropic efforts ever since.
Today, OC Sober Gals creates alcohol-free events, workshops, and community gatherings for women 18+ who want genuine connection and wellness-focused activities in a supportive environment. Their motto, “Building Bonds Beyond the Bar,” captures the heart of what they offer, but what makes the community especially welcoming is that women do not need to identify as sober to be part of OC Sober Gals. The only requirement is being comfortable with alcohol-free events and open to a judgment-free space. Madeline is intentional about making sure women from all walks of life feel included, supported, and able to show up as they are.
As a nonprofit, OC Sober Gals also partners with local organizations to give back through fundraising, donation drives, and volunteer efforts that support women’s health, wellness, and recovery. Madeline often describes their approach as fun and philanthropy, and that combination is part of what makes the organization stand out. They are not only hosting events, they are building a safe space for genuine friendship while also uplifting other women and vulnerable communities across Orange County through charitable work.
Like many founders, Madeline has faced growing pains, and one of the biggest challenges has been learning how to build a nonprofit from the ground up while staying true to the original mission of connection and women’s wellness. Navigating paperwork, funding, and a fast-growing community brought moments of uncertainty, but she kept returning to the purpose behind it all. What helped her push through was the support and momentum from the women around her, and the reminders that this community is needed. After events, women would share feedback about how welcomed they felt, sometimes telling her they had never experienced that kind of comfort in a new social setting. Those moments made it impossible to quit.
The impact of OC Sober Gals shows up most clearly in the stories women share. Madeline has watched women build real friendships, grow more confident in social settings, and feel part of something meaningful. The community has also supported local recovery homes and wellness programs through fundraising and donation drives, creating real ripple effects beyond their gatherings. One of Madeline’s favorite moments came when someone said, “This is the first time I’ve felt comfortable and welcomed walking into a room full of strangers.” For her, that is the whole point: creating a space where connection feels refreshing, safe, and possible.
Madeline’s story also includes a personal transformation that still surprises people. She shares that she used to be incredibly shy, and in high school she sometimes hid in the bathroom during lunch because she did not want anyone to see her alone. She felt sad, depressed, and unseen. At some point, she reached a turning point and decided she was tired of being overlooked and uncomfortable in her own skin. And while she never could have predicted what would come next, that moment planted the seed for the community she now leads. Today, she brings women together through a sisterhood rooted in real connection, and it still amazes her that those earlier experiences helped prepare her to create the kind of community she once wished she had.
Through this journey, the biggest lesson Madeline has learned is how powerful it is when women come together with a shared purpose. She believes building community is not about having all the answers, it’s about creating space, staying present, and letting connection do the rest. If she could give her younger self one piece of advice, she would tell her to hang in there, because one day she would build something meaningful from those moments of feeling alone, judged, or unseen. She would remind her to lead with kindness and courage, and to trust that what she is going through will serve a purpose.
For women who are just starting out, whether in business or personal growth, Madeline’s advice is simple and grounded: give yourself permission to start before you feel fully ready, take it one step at a time, and surround yourself with women who cheer for you. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Community will carry you further than perfection ever will. That belief sits at the center of OC Sober Gals, where the culture is intentionally supportive and the invitation is always open.
Looking ahead, Madeline hopes to grow OC Sober Gals into a multi-city movement, with chapters beyond Orange County where women can find friendship, healing, and belonging. She also wants to partner with more charities that support women’s wellness and recovery so the organization can extend its impact and continue to uplift those who need it most. Her dream legacy is a nationwide community where women can find belonging without pressure, build lifelong friendships, and access support during their hardest seasons, with generosity and connection continuing to grow long after her.
Madeline is guided by a mantra that keeps her grounded in the work: “Lead with heart, and the rest will follow.” It reflects the foundation of OC Sober Gals, which is built on authenticity, kindness, and purpose. When asked what Women Who Shine means to her, she described women who find beauty in the journey, give generously, and glow from the inside out. She also shared her gratitude for finding communities like LuxaDaisy, and for being surrounded by women who inspire her to keep growing, giving, and showing up with purpose. In Madeline’s world, shining is not about being the loudest in the room. It is about creating spaces where others feel seen, supported, and welcomed, and then turning that connection into a force for good.
To learn more, visit www.ocsobergals.org and follow along on Instagram at @OC_Sober_Gals or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OCSoberGals.