"LIFE begins at 40" - Melody

Meet Melody, the first participant of "LIFE begins at 40!" campaign. She is 51 years young and Fabulous!

When I asked Mel why she wanted to participate in my "LIFE begins at 40!" campaign, she said "I think it’s so important for women to celebrate who they are and what they have been through. I want to help younger women know they don’t have to wait until middle age to be true to themselves"
Meeting and photographing Melody was an absolute pleasure! She brought a great energy to the shoot, we laughed a lot, had an amazing time and the photos came out absolutely stunning. This was a fabulous opportunity to reconnect with herself, have her hair and make up done by our amazing make up artist Maria and have a variety of looks captured, including some fitness shots.
Melody, you’re beautiful inside and out and you should be very proud of a woman you are today! Thank you so much for trusting me to capture your beauty. Keep on shining!

I asked Melody to share a bit of her story and to answer some questions for me...
"I’ve dealt with mental health struggles for most of my life, depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms fully directed how I lived my life. With a lot of support, inner strength, being open and vulnerable when asking for help, I am, today, able to manage these behaviours and live fully! It’s been a long, scary, and difficult road, but today – I realize those struggles allowed me to find my strength, my voice and learn how to direct it to fight for what’s important and just.
I went into menopause quite early and unexpectedly. I didn’t know anything other than ‘menopause makes women moody and gives them hot flashes’. It is so much more than that. I would like to see younger women be educated more fully about it and not fear it. With a great doctor and education, I am able to manage it and accept it. I’m not just ‘moody’ or ‘crabby’ because I’m PMSing or in Menopause, I may simply be disagreeing or expressing my opinion about something I hold true. This goes back to being able to be who I am without apology.
Today, I’ve finally found my voice. Even though some days are harder than others, I will use my voice when I see an injustice in the system or being done to someone else (including myself). I feel more comfortable in my own skin and am less afraid or worried to show people who I really am.
To other women, I want to say: ‘Just do you’
Concern yourself only with your own behaviour and don’t worry about what others are doing. If you are doing the right thing, you really can’t go wrong. Change things and work on yourself but let go of the notion that you can change someone else. You got this! Life is so worth it! And can be beautiful – don’t give up, the best is yet to come!"

WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD SELF?
"Hold true to what you believe in and who you are (exactly as you are) – allow your values to guide you in everything you do. Don't apologize for being YOU. You are good enough exactly as you are today, change things if you feel it is the right thing to do, but not just because someone else ‘wants’ you to change."

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE?
"Confidence (not arrogance) that I have developed because of the lessons I have learned and strength I have found over the years. This allows me to help others and be their cheerleader in life."
DO YOU HAVE ANY BIG GOALS FOR THE FUTURE?
"Continuous improvement . Continue working out and getting stronger in all aspects (physically, emotionally, and spiritually)"

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BEAUTY SECRET?
"Fresh air, working out consistently and developing a spiritual connection – this allows me to feel grounded and therefore ‘smile so it shines through my eyes’. This to me, trumps any beauty product"

To participate in the campaign please visit

#lifebeginsat40 #over40 #womanhood #womenover40