EXCERPTS FROM THE BEAUTY PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT INTERVIEWS

Anastasia:

My name is Anastasia. I just turned 50 this year.  I'm running a daycare in my home.  My husband chose the name for it –  “Detsadik” – which means “daycare” in Russian.  And I'm a director for the Children's Theatre. Part of the organization is doing like a lot of volunteer work for their artists, actors, directors… mostly non-professionals. 

I come from Russia… from Moscow City almost 20 years ago. the mother of three children. One is 7, one is 17, and another is 13 years old. I’m a busy mama with a business.  I feel these body changes, and something's going on, but my mind is not agreeing with this, actually.  So I'm in confusion with that situation, and yeah, I think I’m like 25 years old, maybe 21.

Irene (glamour photographer):

Well, so you turned 50 earlier this year, how did you mark turning 50? And how did it feel on your birthday?

Anastasia:

A little bit sad.  Not because of my age but because I cannot celebrate it properly.  Last year, I decided I can make a big party, invite everybody, celebrate, sing. I wanted a big party, but yeah, it's not gonna happen this year [because of COVID].

Irene (beauty photographer):

So you've got lots of experience being a mom.  You’ve got three kids of your own and then you’re a sort of mom for all these other kids who you take care of all day through your daycare.  What advice would you give yourself when you were a young mother? If you could look back and see yourself, what advice would you give yourself?

Anastasia:

Mostly to trust yourself. I was a mother at 23.  Americans may think that’s crazy, weird stuff. 23. Yeah, I was a child maybe.  But I asked everybody what should I do? And as a young mother, I just think you should trust yourself. You should listen to your instincts… your parenting instincts.

Irene (glamour photographer):

So how would you like people to describe you or see you? Like, if you wanted people to pick three words to describe you, what three words would you want them to pick?

Anastasia:

I choose just one word. I like to think that I inspire other people to do something. I know that I'm patient and I try to listen to people.

Irene (beauty photographer):

You know, being inspirational is a beautiful aspiration, really.  To inspire others - I mean, that's a real contribution to so many lives.

Anastasia:

So many people don't trust themselves. They think, “I cannot do it.”  You should not think like this.  You should think you can do anything in this life, in this world.  You should just try maybe more hard.

Irene (glamour photographer):

That's absolutely right. There's this phrase, this saying, “What you think about, you bring about.”  Have you heard that? And you're right, if you just keep telling yourself you can’t do it, you're putting yourself down and then you're not going to do it.

So do you think that people who are 50 and older are represented properly in advertising?

Anastasia:

I’m not watching TV, so I'm not so good at advertising. But I think if I saw older people in advertising, it is always about medicine or some doctors or some retirement home.  I’ve never seen 50+ people advertising something exciting.

Irene (beauty photographer):

You know, you're right. You're absolutely right. And that's probably what makes younger people think that life stops after 50. It's because of that sort of focus in advertising. So that's what this 50 Over 50 & Fabulous project is all about – to show that’s not true.  You’ve just hit 50.  But you have no idea the number of women telling me how freeing it’s been to pass 50.  They tell me that they’re living the best part of their lives and they don’t wish they were younger.  So that's something that you have to look forward to.

So are there any myths that you would like to bust about the about your age group?

Anastasia:

So when I was a girl, I think 50 is a grandma’s age.  I remember my grandma at that age.  In Russia, the senior year started at 55.  Last year, they shifted it to 60.  But at 55, you can have a pension from the government.  So when I was a girl – 5 or 6 years old – I thought 50 years old was a very old grandma sitting at home baking.  Now I see some of my friends have children at 45 or 50, and now 50 is not like grandma age; it’s more like mom age.

Irene (glamour photographer):

So is that what you want younger women to know about being over 50? That it’s not as old as they think it is? Or is there anything else that you would like younger women to know?

Anastasia:

Just be yourself and trust yourself, and that’s it.  Don’t be afraid to do something.  Don’t be afraid to feel differently… to be yourself.  If you have an idea, don’t be afraid to express the idea, because I think that sometime, somewhere, there’s a place where your idea will be right.

Irene (beauty photographer):

That's great advice. You know, if you say it… if you follow through, you might change the course of history!

So what made you decide to participate in the 50 Over 50 and Fabulous Beauty Photography Project?

Anastasia:

Because I always like to try something new.  So when I read about this project, I think, why not?

Irene (glamour photographer):

Exactly. Seize life.  Live it by the fullest.

[Before the glamour photography session] So now we've finished your styling concept consultation, we have your photography session date on the books.  What are you excited most about now, regarding the project?

Anastasia:

I want somebody to look at me from the different perspective.  I know me, but maybe I don’t know.  I always try to see me through the eyes of different people from different angles and situations.  So it’s interesting for me how you see me.

Irene (beauty photographer):

So you’re kind of looking forward to having your eyes be opened.  And so this is somewhat of a self-exploration for you.  And maybe the start of the journey, because maybe this self-exploration may take several years until all your kids are out of the house, and then, it’s going to be different.  And you might start to find out things about yourself that you had forgotten.

[After the photography session] Did seeing your 50 Over 50 photographs today make you feel attractive?

Anastasia:

I love it.  I love your studio.  It is a very good experience.  And it gives us the feeling that we’re attractive, we’re lovable.   I had fun.  I’m a little bit sad that I couldn’t do this kind of photo session when I was 17 or 18 years old.  It was all black & white then and you could only just get one picture.

Irene (glamour photographer):

Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean. But I guess the good thing is that your kids, you know, your daughters are able to experience this.  And you know what, these photographs are going to mean so much to your family years from now. It's something that grows in value over time. And people might not realize the importance of it at this moment in time, but 20 years from now, 40 years from now,100 years from now, these photographs are going to live on.