I turned 50

Alissa is one of my Brand Ambassadors 2021 here she shares a bit about her story and her boudoir experience.

What is your story?

I turned 50 in 2020. I am a mum to a 21-year-old and an 18-year-old. I have been married for 27 years. I went to Uni as a mature age student and got my degree in HR Management at 45 years of age. I was born and raised in Brisbane and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I am a very active social butterfly and do lots of things with my friends and family. I’m willing to give most things a go. I go to live theatre, concerts, stand up comedy shows, dinner and drinks with girlfriends cleverly disguised as craft workshops and just about anything that anyone wants to do. You ask me and I’ll be there. I love to throw a party as much as I love attending them. I am a tragic 80’s music fan and still get up and dance any chance I get. In the last few years, I have become a Powerlifter and have competed a few times. I have also competed in Strongman competitions but powerlifting is what I love. I hate cardio with a passion so this is my way of being active and trying to do something physical. I help out with a lot of local competitions and I am doing a Referee course very soon so that I can do more. I have a competition in April that I am training for but I received 3rd place in the Open Nationals for 45-49-year-olds for 2020 so I’m looking to better that this year now that I am in the 50-54 age group. Life is too short to sit on the sidelines. My grandfather passed away last year at 97 which means I have 47 years left (at least) to cram as much in as I can. There is more to my story which I am happy to share but more than anything I love to hear other’s stories. So let’s chat anytime – I’m up for a 3-hour coffee or whatever…..

Why did you want to do a boudoir shoot?

I think I actually feel more alive, more vibrant and more confident at 50 than I ever did in my 30’s. Back then I had 2 young children I was raising, I was studying at Uni part-time and I was working part-time. The majority of responsibility for the kids and the house fell to me as my husband was either working long hours or shift work or both. So I think I spent the majority of the last 10-15 years being so full on I barely had a moment to breathe. I feel like I have come full circle and it is my time now. I wanted something to reflect a moment of being all about me.

What was the location of your shoot and why did you choose it?

Treasury Hotel and I chose it for the old world feel – the high ceilings and the old fashioned history of the place. I am a fan of burlesque and people like Marilyn Monroe and Dita Von Teese because they are strong, confident women who weren’t/aren’t afraid of being sexy and being themselves and to hell with anyone else. I hate being predictable and I like to push the boundaries a little of how people perceive me. I am not the 1950’s housewife.

How did you feel preparing for the session?

It was actually very hard as I would never normally spend that amount of money on anything for myself – let alone that amount of money on lingerie. The session didn’t worry me – I was too busy being practical working out how I could budget for what I wanted (the daughter of an accountant so of course there is a budget). I find that it is very hard for me to articulate what I want – I am a person who goes with the flow. I fit in and I am very adaptable so when I am asked what it is I want – a lot of the time I don’t know because I have never actually thought about it. Once I started looking for images that I was drawn to I realised what I didn’t want and that helped me to figure out what sort of session I wanted.

What was it like to be naked/ half-naked in front of the camera?

I was actually ok with the session – I think I am a bit of a closet exhibitionist. Although I had to trust that Marina knew what she was doing with regards to posing. I am so glad though that she would be pedantic about every little detail and although it felt uncomfortable (from the perspective I felt like I was doing a yoga workout) I knew she was working to get the best shot and it helped as I was concentrating so hard I would forget to put my hand a certain way or make a certain facial expression. I ended up being really excited to see the final result.

How did you feel after the session? What have you thought when you saw your images for the first time?

I was actually pleasantly surprised. I was really worried that I would be so harsh and critical of myself but it was quite freeing. I initially thought ‘wow’ these look great and then as I started to dissect closer you do a bit of ‘oh I don’t like that one of me’ but then as I went back and forth a few times I began to think these are freaking fabulous! I cannot wait to show them off to my friends and family and how funny is it going to be when I have grandchildren and they see them and go ‘Grandma!’

Would you do it again?

Absolutely! Different theme, different outfits/lingerie, different location, different overall feeling.

Would you recommend a boudoir shoot to other women/men and why?

As much as we can be so supportive of others we often our own harshest critics. A session like this would help you to move towards self-love and realising the beauty of the human form with all its dents and creases. The body is a magnificent piece of art and a shoot would help you to realise how much you need to be grateful for the journey that it takes you on through life. That does not mean that I love the fact that I am in a losing battle with gravity but it makes me appreciate my body and all that it does for me. I have carried and nurtured 2 children who I adore and you cannot take that miracle away from me.

Do you have any tip for women/men who are planning to do a boudoir shoot?

Be kind to yourself. Thank god we are not all perfect because it would be a bloody boring world if we were. Embrace the diversity of the human race. As Dita Von Teese says: “I’ve always loved the idea of not being what people expect me to be.” So jump off that cliff and go for it and to hell with the consequences – you have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself.