Transcript of 3rd Interview

Irene (Glamour Photographer):

Helen, in your 60 years, as you've gotten older, do you feel like your values have changed over time? Like, what do you value now versus, you know, 20 years ago or 30 years ago, 40 years ago?

Helen:

My time. My time is very valuable. Time to waste. None. Honestly, time is what is very important to me. Yeah. As you get older, there's no time to waste, because time is moving, and you have to move with it. So, you know, in your 20s, your 30s, your 40s, you don't think about that. But when you get to be at that 50 mark, time becomes very important. 

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

Now, you know what, I remember growing up, my dad felt that way. And I didn't understand it, you know, as a kid. But now I understand.

Well, what do you think have been some significant points of change in your life so far? And how did they change you?

Helen:

Okay, getting married and getting divorced. Getting divorced was not the end of the world. Moving on. And that's something that I've done. And I'm happy.

Irene (Glamour Photographer):

Do you think it was easier than you expected it to be?

Helen:

I guess it all depends on the individual. Because some people tend to want to figure out what went wrong and was I responsible? A marriage is two people. So that means we share the possibility of this marriage falling apart, so you just have to just move on. And that's what I've done.

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

I'm glad you're happy.   

Helen:

Because I'm 60 years old. And once again, time. No time to waste, none. 

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

Well, do you think that people who are 50 plus are represented in advertising the way they should be?

Helen:

No, and especially in cosmetics, we're the ones buying the eye cream and the moisturizer and trying to figure out how to get rid of the wrinkles. In those industries, you see, people, I think, tend to be between 45 and 50. I've never seen anybody over 55 like 55 Plus. And we're the ones who are the consumers. But you don't see that. 

Irene (Glamour Photographer):

Do you think if you saw an advertisement with someone who was 55 Plus, would it make you more likely to buy the product?

 Helen:

Yes. Yeah! Like, wow, she looks good. Give me some of that.

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

Well, you are also still working. I remember you worked for the for the government. What do you want employers to know about women who are 50 plus?

Helen:

That because we're 50, we're not out of the workforce. And with that 50 years comes experience and some stability. That's the way that they should look at that because we're also not considering staying home and having babies

Most time employers are looking at safety. They don't ask about a family, but in the back of their mind, they think well...  seven years from now will this person still be here, because they've taken leave because they have a child.

50 Plus, well, our baby years are over. So I think we need to be considered because we have a lot of experience, and like I said, stability. We're stable.  We're not going to be job hopping from one job to another.

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

So that's the way that you think that employers should see you. Do you think that's the way that employers do see women who are 50 plus?

Helen:

No, and I think because of the technology, they don't think that maybe you're going to be able to pick it up and grasp it s quick as probably say a 30 or 40-year-old.

Irene (Glamour Photographer):

Now switching topics a little bit, and this might be a weird question, but when in your life do you think that you felt the most attractive?

Helen:

50

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

Okay, and how do you think your perceptions of what being attractive means have changed over time? Like, what do you define as attractive now versus, you know, what you defined as attractive in your 20s or 30s.

Helen:

What I find now is older women being more attractive. The inner beauty that you bring out. That's the difference. Before in your 20s, and your 30s, just looking at the surface, you're not looking at what's bringing it out. Being attractive can be a lot things to different people.

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

When do you think you came to that realization?

Helen:

Once again, that 50 mark. Because 10 years ago I was like boy, I was 40 now 50, boy 60 is going to be coming. So really, I look at things totally different.

Irene (Glamour Photographer):

With age comes wisdom.

Well, we've already done your 50 over 50 and Fabulous beauty photography session. You've already seen the images. Have you shared any of them with friends and family and what's been their reaction?

Helen:

They're like, Oh, my God, I can't believe it. And most of my family and people that I worked with and shared them with say, " I can't believe you're 50 years old".

And I say, "I'm not 50. See? I'm 60 years old."

They were like, "These are really beautiful, Helen".

I say," She did a great job". And that's what I told them. That's what I did for my 60th birthday. I did a professional photoshoot. So everybody was really really really impressed with your work Irene.

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

That's fabulous to hear. So overall, what do you think, has participating in the 50 over 50 and Fabulous project been worth it? And what type of people would you recommend this experience to?

Helen:

Yes, it was worth it. And I say the reason why I say it was worth it is because it was just gonna be a photoshoot but you made it fun.

And I will recommend the photoshoot to anybody that may have any doubts about themselves. Low self esteem or whatever you may be going through because you're gonna make this photoshoot fun.  It's not gonna bejust sitting there taking pictures. It's gonna be fun.

Irene (Glamour Photographer):

Tell everyone about your hahaha and your smile thing.

Helen:

As I explained to Irene,  I don't have that natural smile like most people do when they get in front of a camera, and she was like "oh well, you have a beautiful smile"  and I was like, but I can't smile, so we came up with this little "Hahaha". And we "Hahaha" all the way through, and that's how she captured the beautiful smile. If you can't smile, she will make you smile.

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

Your hahaha smile was indeed - is indeed - absolutely gorgeous.

So here you are picking up your beautiful artwork.  You want to show people some of it?

Helen:

Here are my beautiful photos taken by Irene. I had fun changing clothes, as you can see.

Irene (Glamour Photographer):

I loved your idea to hold the shoes over your shoulder.

Helen:

We did the dress and then we did some with actual paintings. She painted my face.

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

Some people might think that was done in the computer afterwards. But no, that was real paint.

Helen:

She [Irene] painted my face and she asked me I think during my initial interview if I minded because this was something that she wanted to do and this was her first time actually experimenting with the paint.

Helen:

This is another one. And this is the highlight! The other piece of fabric.

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

Yeah, that was just a single piece of fabric. We just threw it right at you.

Helen:

And then the other one. Most people are gonna think that this is a dress and that's a necklace but actually this is the tape that we used.

Irene (Glamour Photographer):

Yeah, it was the elastic that we used to hold the fabric up. 

Helen:

This is not a dress. 

Irene (Beauty Photographer):

Is that your favorite one out of the single fabrics? Which one is your favorite? 

Helen:

I love all my pictures. You did a phenomenal job. And I plan to take more next year.

Irene (Glamour Photographer):

Lol, you already started shopping for what to wear.

Helen:

Yeah! It was great Irene. It's really really great. I love my Pictures. I love my pictures. I love, love, love my pictures. And that may sound a little vain, but I do.