Tell us what you’d like us to know about yourself.
I am Monique, and I live with my family close to the beach, just half an hour from Amsterdam. I share my life with my soulmate, Marcus, since 1993. We are very fortunate to have three beautiful children, two daughters Quinty & Nicky (24 & 20), who lives in Amsterdam, and a son Spike (13), who still lives with us with our Australian Shepherd dog.
Sometimes one step in a specific unexpected direction can change your life path. I got scouted as a model when I was an 18 years old student. The moment I walked into the model agency in Amsterdam, my life changed. That agency happened to be where my career started and still hasn’t stopped after 30 years. And more importantly, it was the place where I met my husband Marcus, who is a model as well.
Together we traveled the world for our international jobs and still do. We based ourselves in London, Paris, and New York before we started a family. Due to both of our international careers, we traveled a lot with our family. We lived for more extended periods in Miami and South Africa. The children went to a Dutch school in CapeTown, that was the best experience. Traveling with a family takes a lot of good organization and preparation. It is worth every second. The lifestyle abroad made us very close as a family, and my dear in-laws joined us on our travels to take care of our children on our working days. All those years, our home was where our family-heart was. Traveling made us rich in adventures, cultures, food, scenery, languages & foreign friends worldwide.
Any surprises about getting older?
It surprises in many positive ways. Working in the fashion and beauty business it is fantastic to catch the movement’s wave towards older models. Women over 40 are very powerful, stylish, and successful. I realize more and more due to experiences in life, family, work, and traveling, you shine and reflect beauty by your confidence and age. That is the look that sells nowadays in combination with some wrinkles. That was unthinkable 20 years ago!
You just turned 50, tell us all about that special day and how did you feel about turning 50?
The day I turned 50 was different than expected; I planned a big dinner and dance birthday bash in our favorite beach club. Unfortunately, I had to cancel this due to the Corona time. Nevertheless, I had a fantastic day filled with so much love from my dear family and friends. With my closest, I celebrate throughout the day in small gatherings. My daughters organized a very precious personal gift from my family and dear friends from Holland and abroad. They created birthday video messages and funny parodies. Hilarious, funny, and emotional at the same time. I will cherish this life present.
Knowing yourself now, what would you tell your 60-year-old self?
I would love to tell my 60-year-old self to keep being inspired by creative matters and the younger generation. Keep my dress code Modern-Elegant and always make sure my eyes keep the sparkle of my cheerful soul. I will be the living proof of a positive mindset and my purpose in life is to pass it on to my grandchildren as I did with my children.
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
