Monique Koelman

We talked about your menopause journey. Can you share your thoughts with us?

Menopause is a period all women go through. We have to accept it and embrace it. Please don’t treat it as a taboo or a negative period; instead, make the best of it. Unfortunately there is not much awareness about the pre-menopause that starts for most women around the age of 45. Women get so much older compared to 2 generations ago. I’ve invested a lot of time to find out the best way to live with it. I had a fantastic example of my mum, who started HRT at the age of 45. She is still very energetic, fit, healthy, and youthful for her age at 74. Her bone density is equal to a woman of 40.

After getting as much information as I could through my mum, menopause consultant, gynecologist, and GP, I started HRT at 47. I feel genuinely fantastic. My GP advised me to take HRT, which was mainly the high risk of heart & vein disease and osteoporosis. There are many more advantages like:

– no hot flushes – no mood swings – no anxiety – maintaining healthy skin & hair – energetic, feeling fit – still a sex drive – good nights sleep and fundamental a positive mindset.

I love to share my story with all my female friends, colleagues, and women I meet. A lot of them are surprised by all my information and follow my advice. We don’t have to suffer throughout this time of our life. We have to help each other. It should be an excellent time to enjoy life and still feel fit at 70+!

HRT may not be suitable for some women due to their health; in these circumstances, HRT alternatives can be attractive instead.

Maybe one day (when I have more hours in a day, haha) I will become a consultant or menopause specialist myself and share my experience. My mission is to encourage my daughter, a Medicine student, to immerse herself in this subject.

If you could tweet something to your younger self, what would you say?

Never compare yourself with others. Comparison kills self-love and creativity. Be the most amazing YOU. Nobody can copy your spirit, your looks, your voice, your experience, and your insight. That makes you unique. Wise words my mum used to give me and helped me love myself even in the hard modeling world.

What’s the one thing you most hope for personally in the coming year?

I want to change the word hope in achieving. We are all responsible for our achievements. My grandfather taught me to make each day special but never expect others to do it for me. This past year opened doors to my own photography, my back up plan for years. I love every minute of it. Working with friendly teams and creating beautiful fashion and beauty stories in my style. The benefit of my 30 years of experience in front of the camera is to guide my models and give them advice.

What’s Your Career Now?

I still love my job as a model and the traveling that belongs to it. Funny enough, I never expected to be a full-time model for more than 30 years! I can honestly say after all those years it takes a lot of professionalism to turn modeling into a successful career; it’s not as glamorous as it always seems. It’s not only about your looks or beauty; it’s a package of your personality and charisma. I am lucky with a variety of very loyal international clients. Due to Corona time, my modeling jobs abroad are limited now. As a freelancer, it is essential to have a backup plan. As I mentioned before, doors opened to my photography career. It’s a perfect combination of my modeling job and family life. Most of all, because I love it wherever my creativity is going to take me. At this age, it’s essential to do the things that fulfill my life. Time will tell what will happen after this pandemic. The world will be another place with different opportunities.

Favorite Beauty Product?

Oh gosh, I can mention quite a few favorite beauty products, but my longtime favorite is BioOil. I use it on my face, neck & décolleté once a week after a face and body scrub. And the best tip to keep producing collagen after the age of 40 is to take 1000 mg of Vitamine C each day.

What is your age, and how old do you feel?

Turning fifty makes me even more aware of the importance of a healthy, happy life. I wouldn’t say I like to live in numbers. If people estimate me to be younger, well, that’s exactly how old I feel, I guess. I am not afraid of getting older. Instead, it’s such a privilege, especially because some dear ones left us too soon. There are still so many moments to look forward to. Every stage in life has its beauty and charm.

What do you like most about this AndBloom movement?

First of all, the way you photograph women between 40 and 90+ is beyond beautiful; it just rocks! Second of all, it’s a beautiful place to read and share experiences that can be very useful & helpful in positive aging. When women support each other incredible things happen. Thanks for making me one of your Bloomers. By answering your questions, I realized even more how wonderful this time of our life is. Let’s Bloom as long as we can!!

Credits:

Bloomer: Monique Koelman

Styling: Dayenne Bekker

Makeup and hair: Esther van Maanen