My face today. Recently I Googled myself. While I entered my name, it almost immediately said: “Denise Boomkens age.” This means that there are lots of people wondering about my age. Otherwise, Google wouldn’t suggest it.
I right away hear some women say: “she is still so young! Just wait until she’s 55 or 65. By then, she’ll think differently about aging”. And that is precisely the purpose of this project. The primary reason to start this project was never me. AndBloom isn’t about me; it’s about women over 40 that share their beautiful stories with me. It’s about aging confidently and happily. It’s about showing women different aging than we currently see in the media. And yes, it’s my viewpoint and my way of portraying the honestly aging woman, honestly and realistically, with a touch of fashion and beauty (because it can be done).
When I reached the end of my 30s, I searched and searched and searched and did not find what I was looking for. I rarely came across a woman online or a magazine who I found inspiring. Yes, sure, a hand full… But what is a handful on a massive group of over 40+ women living on our planet? I needed lots of examples, different age groups, different backgrounds, skin structures, looks, body types, stories, etc. When I didn’t find it, I decided to create it.
I drew the line at 40 because that is when age’s reputation becomes negative for many young women—the big fearful 40. Like me, when I was in my late 30s, many young women have trouble seeing aging as a positive thing. Because the examples are so scarce, they think that when they reach 40, their lives will be over, or the best part of it. It is precisely for these women that change is essential, and dear ladies, WE are paving the roads that these younger women still have to walk.
I am an image-maker. Over the past 30 years of working in this industry, I’ve learned that image is a very powerful medium. What you see often is what you become to believe. I have realized how much influence an image maker has on his or her audience in recent years, especially since I started AndBloom.
My motto is to showcase as many women between 40 and 100 to inspire and offer reflection. Comparing oneself to a much younger photoshopped to perfection woman is unhealthy. It creates a vertical image that can be dangerous to the self-image of women.
My greatest wish is for the current media to represent (much) more older women so we will start to believe that we look normal at any age. I want to feel normal, embrace myself at any age, and be fearless, yes, fearless most of all. I don’t want it just for me. I want it for all women.
And, by the way, I am 45 years old.
Blouse: Zimmerman
Hair: Haarhuys
