A Partial List of Rebellious Women

“My Great Grandmother inspired me to lean in and make it happen— regardless of what others think.” “I tend to hand make everything.” Deb considers recipes as guidelines and cooking as a creative outlet. She is running a cooking club as well as serving on the advisory panel for America’s...

Linda Cahan was photographed in 2022 at the age of 73 by Photographer Rachel Hadiashar at the portrait studio in Sherwood, Oregon.

“I see others as beautiful because of their character.” Aiming to redistribute as much kindness, joy, and love as possible, Kristine lives her life filled with compassion for the humans and animals around her. When asked about the best life lesson she has learned, she states: “There is so much...

“I feel like I have always been attracted to people by their character first and not outward appearance. I think the most attractive people are the ones who can make you laugh, see the positive side and have a passion for something.” Jenn Barker was interviewed and photographed in 2022...

“I would like some photos where I look and feel my absolute best at the age and situation that I’m in. I would like to see strength and confidence and a badass attitude in my eyes – so the photos can serve as lasting proof that my health issues do...

“I used to be an absolute zinger on self-deprecating comments. I claimed it as self defense; if I said the bad things about myself, they were already out there before anyone else could say them. I thought I was delivering these comments with wit, and that would balance out the...

“Advanced age has brought out the beauty I didn’t recognize when I was younger.” ‘Freedom to truly be yourself. Watching your ancestry come alive in real-time through your children, grandchildren, and greats. Realizing that now you are the matriarch and you carry the mantle with pride!’ For Danette, those are...

“Beauty emerges from how I love and care for myself from the inside out. I can see that in other people and it shows in how they move through the world, how they inhabit their skin.” Chris Caldwell was interviewed and photographed in 2022 at the age of 56 by...

“Life keeps coming with the gifts.”   Chamomile is a thinker and has always been. She doesn’t want to follow the line for its own sake. She’s looking for the truth, and for the experience that’s made for her. Nature always shows her the way.  Cammi finds joy in relaxing,...

“I was taught that I needed to look a specific way or wear makeup or fit in with societal beauty types. I went from sneaking makeup and putting it on at my friends house before school (took A LOT of work!) to finding college life had no place for that...

“Attractive is for me, not for anyone else. Looking professional is BS. Looking attractive means no makeup, my hair might be a little messy, and I don't give a shit about what anyone else thinks.” Christine Moses was photographed and interviewed in 2022 at the age of 60 by Rachel...

“Trust your gut.” A creative optimist, Ann has an insatiable desire to learn new things. She’s a lover of gardening, dogs, singing, habitat conservation, and history.  Ann finds joy in pursuits that require her to learn and be creative. As a professor, she finds she is most confident and in...

“I don’t need to please others. I just need to do what is right and speak my truth with kindness.” “I strive to find peace and joy no matter where I am. And when I stop feeling those things, I move on.” Dedicated to her children, faith, and community, Shauna...

“I would like to bust the myth that we are irrelevant. AARP has released a study showing that 75% of women over 40 who have been displaced from their jobs during Covid have been displaced for at least six months.” Jennifer McLaughlin was photographed in 2022 at the age of...

“Life is so fragile- live with no regrets!” “I was thrilled about participating in this project, though the photo session came shortly after the death of my mom, which now looking at many of my photos I can see the grief in my face, and especially in my eyes.   Her death...

“Growing up in the 70’s-80’s, I used to think that I had to have the perfect face and big hair. I would never think of going anywhere without looking just right. Now, I think the less makeup the better. Embrace your natural look!” “Oh, there’s one more thing that’s great…...

“We're treated as if we ‘don't understand’ yet we understand A LOT because we have years of life and experiences to draw from.” Sheryl has a bone to pick with stereotypes of “older” women. ​​Sheryl Cooksley was photographed and interviewed in 2022 at the age of 59 in Sherwood Oregon...

“I care about everyone and the world. I want to do my part to make the world a better place. Not just from an environmental place, but from the way we treat one another as human beings.” Dedicated to serving and supporting her son, friends, and family, Iris’ greatest joy...

“When I decide to do something, I give it 100% and nothing less.”

“It is what it is! The Universe has a plan! In other words, stop wasting your time over worry and fret. Do what you can do, and leave the rest to whatever will be.” Robin is an incredibly resilient woman of 50 who has overcome so many obstacles and heartbreak...

“I find that people who try too hard to look good usually don’t, and people who show up with a smile look much better.” Friendly, humorous, trustworthy, dedicated, and a lover of mornings, Colleen loves getting up each day to start tackling problems or working on the day’s to-do list....

“Now, I appreciate the individuals: those who have their own sense of style, exude self confidence, and have an  air about them that is open, relaxed, and curious.” As a lover of Mother Nature, Joy loves yoga, hiking, road trips, traveling, and just generally being adventurous. She feels most alive,...

“A coward dies a thousand deaths.” Catherine deeply loves her family and grandchildren, and embraces the time she gets to spend with them. Compassionate, loving, and caring, Catherine has enjoyed her career as a nurse and loves that she gets to learn something new every day.  Intelligent and sarcastic, Catherine...

“Life is what we make it!” Open-minded, caring, and resilient, Carrie finds the positive in challenging situations. She believes the most rewarding thing about getting older is the ability to look back at all life’s experiences, to learn from them, and to know that there is so much more to...

“Confidence looks good on me! I'm still releasing the need to prove my worth, value, and beauty.” Sarah Kearney was interviewed and photographed in 2022 at the age of 51 by Sherwood Photographer Rachel Hadiashar.

“What you can accomplish at any age all depends on your health. Eighty is not the end of your life if you’ve taken care of yourself!” Empathetic, caring, and honest, Kay is an incredible friend and is very family oriented. She and her BFF have been friends since second grade!...

“My perceptions have changed with awareness of the societal conditioning at the root of my self-criticism and body shame, though I’m still working on it. The 50 over 50 photo shoot experience, for which I am so grateful, positively impacted my ability to see and accept my body and myself....

Jen Garrison was photographed and interviewed in 2022 at the age of 53 by Photographer Rachel Hadiashar at the portrait studio in Sherwood, Oregon.

“Regardless of what is going on in my life, I believe that there is always something good out there and always something to be grateful for.” “How you feel about yourself inside will bring out the true beauty.”  A fierce mama bear, Renée is a wise and loyal caretaker who...

“Beauty is about happiness and joy and that’s what my family is. I feel the most beautiful with my children.” Darcy, USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and Historical Romance, is mother to two children, a wife of 30+ years with an array of rescue cats. She is a self-described...

“I’ve always found that the most attractive people are wicked smart, kind and interesting.” Jeanne Buschart was photographed in 2022 at the age of 63 by Sherwood Photographer Rachel Hadiashar

“Being kind with a caring smile is the best kind of attractive! Sometimes I wish I knew more about how to ‘beautify’ myself, but that sounds too time-consuming.” Vereleta Steward was interviews and photographed in 2022 at the age of 62 by Photographer Rachel Hadiashar at the studio in Sherwood,...

Lori Watkins was interviewed and photographed in 2022 at the age of 56 by Photographer Rachel Hadiashar at Zing Studio in Sherwood, Oregon.

“There is nothing that I cannot overcome.” A lover of family, friends, and riding her Harley Davidson motorcycle with her husband, Tonia loves filling her life with adventure and surrounding herself with people she loves. Tonia and her husband love to travel, scuba dive, and spend time with their cats.

“A happy person brings joy to those around them. A smile is the most attractive trait available to each and every person.” Debbie Johnson was photographed in 2022 at the age of 63 by Photographer Rachel Hadiashar in Sherwood, Oregon.

“I’ve spent 50 years getting really comfortable in this body!” Robyn Knox was photographed and interviewed in 2022 at the age of 51 by Rachel Hadiashar at the portrait studio in Sherwood, Oregon.

“Wisdom is attractive, sexy, beautiful!” Diane Solomon was photographed and interviewed in 2022 at the age of 62 by Photographer Rachel Hadiashar.

“Attractiveness is not so much about the outside it is more the character of an individual, the kindness that is displayed. The laughter. There are some outwardly beautiful people who are mean, nasty and unkind.” Renee Brouse was photographed in 2022 at the age of 52 by Rachel Hadiashar in...

“Be kind, do good, we’ve got this.” Margaret loves volunteering, lifelong learning, and supporting communities and organizations that do good for the world. Passionate about international exchange, she and her husband have hosted ten international exchange high school students since 2006. Described as kind, big-hearted, and inspiring, she has dedicated...

“The things that are most attractive to me now are more about what's on the inside vs. the outside. A person's presence that exudes self awareness and acceptance, emotional safety, a hint of playfulness and being comfortable in their own skin rather than having to achieve some model of perfection...

“A lot of freedom can come from being my age- freedom from expectations of society… freedom from things that I should do – maybe I don’t want to do them! It’s very freeing.”  “I like that I am a realist: I am not afraid to recognize problems and I am...

"I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept."  Mary Lopez was photographed and interviewed in 2022 at the age of 61 by Sherwood Photographer Rachel Hadiashar at the studio n Sherwood, OR.

“I see more things as attractive now, my view of beauty and attractiveness has broadened. I see the intrinsic beauty in things now, not just the external.” Andrea Kreiner was photographed in 2022 at the age of 58 by Photographer Rachel Hadiashar in Portland, Oregon

“In the worship of security we fling ourselves beneath the wheels of routine – and before we know it our lives are gone.”  – Sterling Hayden, Wanderer  “Love is a verb” Tenacious, resourceful, and funny, a significant driving force behind Joyce’s life is a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. After...

“Attractive now is personality and trustfulness.” Marlene Kendrick was interviewed and photographed in 2022 at the age of 64 by Photographer Rachel Hadiashar in the Sherwood Oregon portrait studio.

“Don’t waste a second of your life thinking you are inadequate: get out there and shine your light in the world” is something Connie would tell her 20 something self. Ambitious, courageous, and outgoing, fearlessly showing up for life is something that Connie deeply believes. Approaching life with love and...

“My grandmother was right. “Pretty is as pretty does.” True beauty comes from within. I love seeing more and more plus size women who are confident and comfortable in their own skin. Attractive = pleasing to all my senses.” Not only is Mary proud of being known to others as...

“Absolutely my perception of attractiveness has shifted. Attractiveness is not a physical characteristic, it's an energy that someone emanates. It has a magnetic quality and it causes you to want to lean toward that person, lean in, listen deeper, see clearer, understand more thoroughly. It's all encompassing versus one tangible...

“Whatever you do, do it fully. With your whole being – live fully, love with your whole heart. Don’t hold some back, or you’ll be watching your life instead of living it.” “I have learned how to be content without becoming stagnant.” “I’m also passionate about our Earth. Not only...

“I have never liked getting my picture taken, but I’m finally comfortable with my body and confident in who I am.” A confident, fair, and decisive leader, people are attracted to her integrity. Jimi also finds herself spiritually in tune with nature and the universe. People just like her. Jimi...