A few months ago, under a shroud of secrecy, a car and driver showed up for me early in the morning. When we pulled up beside a plain-looking warehouse building with a white tent set up over the front and door, I didn’t know what to expect.

I was suddenly surrounded by a bunch of really pretty, really young people with clipboards and walkie-talkies (are they still called that?). I must admit, I was fighting that twinge of hesitation which hits when I don’t exactly know what I’m getting myself into. 

Those really pretty, really young people were also really friendly. Any jitters I had were quickly put at ease as we ate lunch together and I got the low down of what the day would look like. It would be a long day of waiting around for my turn in the make-up chair, the wardrobe department, and hair and nails. A day of pampering… I could get used to this!

I’m proud to be part of the #dovebeautifulage campaign which launched last week!! I was one of 50 women invited to celebrate their age and celebrate Dove’s 50th Birthday, by proudly posing for a portrait. It was such a FUN day!

Did you know that only 1 in 10 women is proud to reveal their age?!

Not me. Not anymore!

I’ll fill you in on the rest later, it’s almost midnight – which means… it’s Happy Birthday to ME! I will wake up 42 tomorrow. 🙂 In the meantime, feel free to read the interview I had over in GLOW magazine.

Fab 40s
“I was really, really scared to turn 40. When I turned 39, it wasn’t, ‘I’m 39,’ it was, ‘Next year I’m 40.’ Now that I’m 42, I love telling people my age. Now I’m more confident. I laugh more. There was a serious side to me when I was in my 30s. I was raising these tiny little people. Now I can enjoy my children [aged 15, 14, 11 and 8].” 


Beauty genes
“My mom was a model in the ’60s. When I was young, she would take me to the beauty counters to make sure I had a proper beauty routine. She made sure I drank water and washed my make up off at night. My daughter, who’s 14 now, gets the same treatment. My mom is now 72 and she looks like my sister. It’s unbelievable. It’s not just everything you put on your body but everything you put in your body.” 


Mom lessons
“I’ve read so many parenting books that say: “Don’t self-loathe in front of your children.” I’m really honest with my daughter. Right now, I’ve gained 20 pounds in the last two years because of stress. I’m okay with that. I’m not going to focus on it. It’s not going to become the sole focus of my entire being. So for her, she’s starting to develop and grow. She’s starting to develop a more feminine shape. It’s nothing we specifically take moments to talk about it – it’s everything that we do. When we go shopping, I make sure that she has the right cut for her body. I don’t say yes to everything that she asks for, either.” 


Age pride
“I’m 42 and wrinkles come with age. I’ve earned them and I’m ok with them.”