We are starting our 2023 FIERCE Over 40 a little later than we did in 2022, but it is already shaping up to be another amazingly FIERCE year of awesome women and stories. April, a 64 year old women who is retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs, came into the studio on the exact day that Jodi needed her spunk and encouragement. Jodi started the FIERCE Over 40 project to help women feel amazing, find themselves again and feel beautiful. In the process, Jodi has been blessed by each of the women and their stories and April was no different. At a time when Jodi was contemplating the future of her business and what that looked like, April swooped in and encouraged Jodi to keep helping women feel their best and loving themselves by gifting themselves a session and pictures.
START BY TELLING ME WHO YOU ARE? WHERE ARE YOU FROM? GIVE ME A SHORT BIO OF YOU AND YOUR LIFE.
I’m originally from a small coal mining town in Pricedale Pa. (yes I’m a coal miner’s daughter).
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE?
I’m blessed to see it! I often think about the Beatles song “When I'm 64.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
I’m a dedicated unionist representing the American Federation of Government Employees. I serve on the negotiation team representing bargaining unit employees of the Dept of Veterans Affairs. I’m a former elected official. I have a deep commitment to people as I serve as an advocate for veterans, women and children and the homeless. As a government employee, I received numerous government and union awards including the Federal Executive Board “Wings of Excellence “ and the Augusta Thomas Humanitarian Award. An avid seamstress since the age of 6, I made 140,000 customized masks in 2020 and distributed them to VA medical centers throughout the US to help protect my fellow union brothers and sisters and veterans when Covid was at it highest peak. I’m also the founder of the “Living Doll Project “ in which I restore Barbie dolls, make clothes for them and distribute them to children who are indigent, disabled or have life threatening illnesses and I also give them to women who were victims of domestic violence or breast cancer and ovarian cancer survivors.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING THAT YOU HAVE CHECKED OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
I can still roller skate.
WHAT TRAIT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I’m very outspoken when it comes to protecting people who cannot protect themselves
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?
My biggest fear is that our world will never be the same and I wish I could trip into the Twilight Zone and go back to when all people got along harmoniously and there was no hatred and violence.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I would have a flat stomach! Lol
WHEN, IN YOUR LIFE, HAVE YOU FELT MOST CONFIDENT, AND WHY?
At age 40. when I reached the pinnacle of my career, I realized being a professional was an attribute and the thousands of people from all facets of life that I met uplifted me to strive to do the right thing by all human beings
HAVE YOUR PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT BEING "ATTRACTIVE" MEANS CHANGED OVER TIME? WHAT DO YOU DEFINE AS ATTRACTIVE NOW?
I’m comfortable in my own skin. When I started graying at age 42 I didn’t let it faze me. I accepted the metamorphosis and kept it moving.
Have you booked your 2023 FIERCE Over 40 session yet? We’ve got a spot waiting just for you. We’re currently booking into July and August.