Anita and I met a long time ago on the editorial board of a magazine that I used to work for as a fashion photographer.
When I first started AndBloom two years ago, I asked her to pose for me, and two weeks ago, it finally happened! Another beautiful lady with red hair today.
Tell us what you’d like us to know about yourself;
I always try to see the bright side of life, whatever happens. I am also a proud mother of 3 children (23, 21, and 18 years) and still in love with the father of my children.
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Tell us about your career.
In high school, I dreamed of working as a fashion editor for a magazine. After high school, I went to the Academy of Arts, after which I started my career as a fashion stylist for several magazines and advertisements. In the end, I was editor-in-chief for Elegance, one of the oldest high-end glossy magazines from the Netherlands.
Can you tell us a little more about your Instagram account?
I like to inspire women over 50 to be the best versions of themselves. On Instagram, I try and test the latest fashion and beauty trends. I want to inform my followers with tips and tricks for looking even more beautiful than they already are. I genuinely like it when people send me a positive message.
What would you say is the strangest thing about becoming an older woman?
It surprises me every time people around me think that life will be different when you age. Various studies show that the mind stays young. So technically, you will age, and your body will age, but your mind will remain 35 forever.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
I have no idea!
What are you most proud of?
As a mother of three kids and a job, it was not always easy to balance the two. So when the opportunity came to be the editor-in-chief of a glossy magazine, I felt selfish to accept. However, I am still proud I did it, and it was not always easy.
I am also proud of the fact that after losing my job (when I was 51 years old) and years of struggling after that, I started my own business. I had no idea it was so difficult to find a job when you’re over 50.
How do you stay healthy, both physically and mentally?
Well, the most important thing for me is laughing. I joke about many things, and I don’t take life too seriously or too personally. Of course, I try to eat healthily, exercise several times a week, and avoid drinking much alcohol. But now that I’m older, I try to be easier on myself.
What is the first thing you do in the morning to start your day positively?
I always start my day with a big glass of hot water. Almost every day I walk on the terrace for a couple of minutes in my pajamas, to look after the plants, until I get it cold.
Favorite thing to do when no one is around?
My guilty pleasure! When nobody is at home, I like to sit on the sofa and do nothing. After working in an office for more than 30 years, it still feels special to work at home. Sometimes, I do nothing for 30 minutes, just thinking about life and daydreaming. It gives me a kind of freedom in my mind. So I am delighted that Time Magazine and the New York Times wrote articles about the Dutch way of ‘Eriksen’ and how important it is to reduce stress.
How old are you?
I am 57 years old
Styling: Dayenne Bekker
Makeup: Esther van Maanen
Hair: Mark van Westerop
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