Forever Fierce 2018 Campaign

We are Bold and Beautiful Members of Forever Fierce

Cindy (Arizona) , Lori and Julie (Illinois)

Ages:  56 Years Young

Fashion Trends and Friends is proud to be invited and participating in the second annual Forever Fierce Campaign!  Today we come together with 50 bloggers over the age of 50 on the 50th day of the year to celebrate Global Forever Fierce Day and answer the question, “What does it mean to be Fierce at Midlife?”

This Year’s Mission:

The mission of this campaign is to create a collaborative, supportive community to celebrate woman at midlife and beyond.  We intend to shift the paradigm and perception around midlife.  Together we are creating a “new frame” around the perception of midlife showing that “empowered woman at midlife are cool!”

What does it mean to be fierce at midlife?

The three of us discussed what FIERCE means to FTF.  Initially, we laughed and agreed that it means being able to survive an intensive week at work managing all we have to do throughout the week in our work and personal lives all while looking cute!  HA!  In all seriousness, midlife means being confident and comfortable in our own skin.  We have a wisdom and confidence from our experiences.  We agreed that many of our millennial co-workers and friends look to us for our experience and expertise in our fields and in life.  Midlife offers a settled in feeling and conversely the willingness to tackle new things following our dreams and passions!  We still have lots to look forward to and intend to be FIERCE all the days of our lives!

Previous Campaigns FTF Participated in:

Original Fierce 50 Campaign 2017

Bridging the Gap Campaign

FTF is thrilled to share the voices of our FABULOUSLY FIERCE Influencers:

Meet:  Donna (Oklahoma)

Age:  63 Years Young

 Instagram:  @grandlakestyle

“You’re as Young as You Feel!”

Oh goodness, “midlife”, ugh, dreadful word….I am 63 years old, how did that happen? I seriously feel like a 23 year old trapped in a 63 year old body! I don’t feel old or middle aged. I feel better now at this age than I ever have and that makes me fierce! I walk 3-5 miles every day, eat a healthy diet and no alcohol! My health has improved drastically following this regiment. I love fashion; and I truly believe fashion helps us stay young! Care about what you wear, how you look, wash your hair every day, makeup always and most importantly, exercise your mind, socialize, have fun and BE FABULOUSLY FIERCE!!!

MEET:  Lynn (Illinois)

Age:  57 Years Young

Facebook

“The meaning of life is to discover your gifts, and the purpose is to give them away.”

In order to be fierce at midlife and achieve the success, happiness and fulfillment you desire, you must recognize ALL your gifts, the God-given natural talents you have had inside you since you were born.  Sadly, we often spend our entire lives with our gifts hidden, under-utilized or fighting against them.
 
It is the combination of all your talents, great and small, that make up the whole of you. They are unique to you, so no one can express them the way you can. When you embrace your whole being and know who you truly are, it empowers you and gives you a sense of fulfillment and a feeling of completeness. And when you own your fierce personal power, you are able to apply it to every aspect of your life and business, as well as step outside of your comfort zone and risk new levels or passion, performance and courage.

MEET:  Paula (Montana)

Age:  62 years young

Instagram:  @Paula.Darcy

Facebook 

Be the woman who says, “I can”.
Being fierce in midlife means showing the world that life truly does exist for the mature woman. You finally transition from a youth obsessed world that only focuses on face, body and clothes and find the inner beauty that we all possess, where you can become the woman you were always meant to be. Age doesn’t define who we are or who we can become. It’s a new door to open,  a new chapter in your life that is full of endless possibilities. What really matters is looking in the mirror and accepting that person looking back at you, that is where true beauty lies. Once you accept that, you can let go of all the emotional baggage and with that weight gone, life can truly begin. You can then become that full of life, self assured, fearless woman who was always there and who now says, “Watch out world, I have arrived”.

Meet:  Robin

Age:  55 years young

Instagram:  @gracefilledglam

“Live each day in gratitude for the blessings in life are often found in the most ordinary of days.”

I can sum up being fierce at midlife in two words; authentic and confident. Looking back I realize that I wasted so many years doubting myself and worrying about what others thought. I was guilty of wearing a “mask” in order to fit in to the mold that society expected. I thought that if I was genuine and expressed my true self, I would be criticized and not accepted. It left me being an over the top people pleaser. It also left me feeling sad, and unfulfilled. Once I hit midlife, something clicked in me. I began a journey of self-acceptance. My body may not be perfect, but it works hard for me. I may wear leopard and heels to run errands but hey, it makes me happy. When you are filled with joy, it naturally spreads to those around you. Love yourself ladies! God only creates masterpieces!

Meet:  Susan (Connecticut) 

Age:  51 years young

Instagram:  @looksydaisy

The devil whispered in my ear, “You’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.”Today I whispered in the devil’s ear, “I am the storm.”

What does it mean to be fierce at midlife…It means that I have the ability to accept that I am “flawsome”. Embracing my flaws and knowing that I am awesome regardless. It is a mindset that I have gotten to only by way of numerous birthdays celebrated and a lifetime of highs and lows, twists and turns, love and loss, and more bumps in the road than I can count. It has been a shift, a change in my thinking and being able to move forward. Letting go of what holds me back and of fears that keep me from being my authentic self. I have moved from assuming that my time here is a guarantee, to seeing it as a gift and an opportunity and making the most of it…I’ve now put myself in the mix of things to care about and that is a very good place to be.

Meet:  Holly (Georgia)

Age:  33 years young

Instagram:  @hollywoodscouture

“Life is tough, my darling, but so are you.” – Stephanie Bennett-Henry

Being fierce at midlife means being comfortable in your own skin and not trying to impress anyone but yourself!  Women spend so much time in their younger years trying to impress other people and often feel inferior because they compare themselves to others.  I think at midlife, women are wiser and know that they are fierce and fabulous on their own, and they don’t need validation from anyone else!  I feel women are more accepting of their bodies (imperfections and all!), and can wear whatever makes them feel beautiful and happy.  To hell with other people’s “rules.”  White after Labor Day?  Why not?  Sequins and sparkles on a Monday?  Sure!  Women at midlife play by their own rules!  With Hollywood’s Couture, I get the opportunity to create custom apparel to help women do this!  It’s very rewarding to know I can play a part in making a woman feel fierce and fabulous through their outfit.

Meet:  Renee (Arizona)

Age:  46

Facebook

“Being brave does not mean you lack fear.  It means that you are afraid but you do it anyway.”

For me, being fierce means being a warrior. In my 20’s and 30’s I was a warrior for myself. Fighting to figure out my way in this world and where I stood in it.

There’s a peacefulness that comes mid-life. It’s a quieting of the heart that allows you to hear better. It whispers…what is your passion? What is your purpose? It whispers and I can hear it clearly now. Now is the time to be a warrior for others.
Inevitably it’s not a choice. It was passed on from the many generations before me. My mother, my grandmother, my great-grandmother. All fierce entrepreneurs, strong, philanthropic, confident women. It’s all I’ve known. It’s all my daughters know.
Whether in my business, the charities I champion or my family as their mama bear..fighting for others is my passion. It’s what makes me fierce.

Meet:  Celia (California)

Age:  53 Years Young

Instagram:  @celiabration

My Fierce Superpowers
Being fierce in midlife means utilizing the Lasso of Truth on myself, allowing me to realize my superpowers! In the start of my midlife journey, I find myself reaching goals and realizing dreams that I have worked toward for many years. Last year, I conquered other countries by traveling to long dreamt of beautiful places. I used my superhero combat tactics in my 28-year career, and recently added “Chief” to my title, in a field historically dominated by men.  I have navigated the field of motherhood and raised two children on my own, both close to becoming college graduates. Being fierce in midlife means that I will don my indestructible bracelets, tiara, and Lasso of Truth to transport myself through the remainder of this adventure-filled journey of the bonus years.  

Meet:  Collette (California)

Age:  46 Years Young

Instagram: @coco_baisa

A woman that is fierce in midlife is a self-confident woman. This is a woman who is driven by compassion and faith. She is unstoppable.  Women are the architects of society, which means we must empower and inspire other women to achieve their goals and dreams.  Believe in yourself and what you’re doing. We must continue to unite and uplift each other, because together we are victorious and can conquer the world.  Midlife women must always know “you’re never too old to reinvent yourself.” It’s not over until it’s over so keep pushing and reaching for the stars.  We are capable of amazing things and never let anyone tell you anything different.

Meet:  Susan  (Illinois)

Age:  54 Years Young

Instagram: @fashionablyfifty

By definition, fierce means having an intense or ferocious aggressiveness. Fierce also means to be keen, strong, relentless, and even ass-kicking. In midlife, women need to embrace their fierceness because it is awesome. Midlife is a time to explore new opportunities with acute eagerness and enthusiasm. Pursuing these interests will cultivate inner beauty. A fierce woman fills her mind and heart with positivity. Midlife is a time to reinvest in yourself and chase your dreams. A fierce woman should participate in activities that make her feel strong. It is fierce to be a leader. A fierce woman demands recognition, stands up, and gathers that ferocious drive to guide others. This will take persistence. Being fierce is facing your fears and kicking their ass. These goals cannot be achieved alone. In midlife, it is important to create a strong, diverse community that includes, supports, and lifts all women of all ages and walks of life. Now that is fierce.

Join Forever Fierce:  The Midlife Revolution 

The Forever Fierce Community is fiercely disrupting the perception of woman at Midlife and Beyond!

 Read About All the Other Amazing Woman

We’re sure you agree that these woman are FIERCE and COOL at mid-age!  What does it mean to you to be FIERCE at any age?  Leave us a comment!

 

20 comments

    • cindy says:

      Hi Lana,

      I totally agree! All of the woman are amazing, unique and beautiful! It’s been wonderful getting to read about each woman and their thoughts on being FIERCE at midlife!

      Julie XO

      Reply
    • cindy says:

      Hi Regan,

      Thanks for reading about the amazing woman we got to feature for the Forever Fierce campaign! It is an honor and privilege to participate! All the woman are unique and beautiful!

      Julie XO

      Reply
  5. Amy Kennedy says:

    Beautiful post! And I so relate to each one! Don’t you just love finding out there are so many women out there you feel you really connect with? You have fantastic friends and a very cool and relevant blog! Thank you for such a beautiful post and the contributions of your inspiring friends!

    Reply
    • cindy says:

      Hi Amy,

      Thanks so much for your kind words regarding out blog, my friends and our FIERCE sisters! It’s been so awesome getting to know so many! We are more alike than different! Midlife is COOL!

      Julie XO

      Reply
  6. Suzanne says:

    Julie, I loved reading the stories of your featured women today. They are all so unique and inspiring in their own ways! I loved the quote, “Women at midlife play by their own rules! “..it seems to be a common theme today, we are not afraid to do, wear, say, love and act as we like…to be our authentic selves!
    xx
    Suzanne
    http://www.AskSuzanneBell.com

    Reply
    • cindy says:

      Hi Suzanne,
      I also loved reading the thought of all of the FIERCE woman on Forever Fierce Day! It’s so great to be a small part of something so big and amazing! It’s so freeing to be fully confident and authentic in midlife! Mid life is COOL!

      Julie XO

      Reply
    • cindy says:

      Hi Amy,

      I totally agree…soooo many brilliant, strong, beautiful and inspiring woman! It’s so great to play a small part in such an amazing campaign! Making dreams a reality is possible no matter the age!

      Julie XO

      Reply
    • cindy says:

      Hi Shelbee, Thanks for your kind words! We agree that the woman are fiercely beautiful! I love how you define being fierce in midlife! I totally agree! Cheers to being fierce at all ages!

      Julie x0

      Reply
  10. jodie filogomo says:

    I loved reading more about these women you’ve showcased. Many of them I “know” from Instagram yet still don’t know much about them!!
    Thanks for being such a huge part of our Fierce Day!!
    You guys are truly the embodiment of it all!!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    Reply
    • cindy says:

      Hi Jodie,

      Thanks for your kind words! I love all the woman we were able to feature and share their words and beauty! I’ve truly enjoyed working with you on the campaign! Cheers to living fierce all the days of our lives! Now I want to know when I’m getting to try your Forever Fierce drink?! LOL

      Julie x0

      Reply

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