....UNAPOLOGETIC CONFIDENCE IS THE ULTIMATE SEDUCTION....
These pages are dedicated to celebrating boldness and beauty, showcasing that sensuality is ageless. It's about recognizing this chapter in life as a significant part of the self-love journey, lighting the way for others to follow and fully embrace every season of life.
ABEBA, 40
Age and sexy don't normally go hand in hand. As an over 40 woman with multiple children sexy was not something I had been feeling over the years. The toll children take on our bodies combined with aging; aches and pains being sexy or feeling sexy was rare and far between! I've gone through so much in my life, but I've managed to build a life for myself and my children to be proud of. I hold 2 college degrees and have put all 3 of my children through college debt/loan-free. Now, is time for me to live and celebrate myself.
From the moment I walked into the studio Ria and her glam squad made me feel seen; beautiful and celebrity-like. During the shoot, Ria showered me with praises and affirmations of glowing beauty, energy, sexy compliments, and that "it factor". During the viewing, the compliments and praise continued with statements like "girl do you see yourself, for real!" among others. Since the shoot, Ria has reached out so very encouraging and complimentary. My experience was much more than I had expected. I never thought I would feel so glamorous and sexy.
LENNA, 50
As I’ve aged, the main pressure I’ve felt is to be coupled up. My session allowed me to focus on ME and no one else. I wanted to celebrate myself on a landmark occasion. (Turning 50!)
After my shoot, my insecurities about my body literally disappeared! I wouldn’t change a thing. The best part was spending time with my girl and feeling the love she has for me thru her work. Love you Maria. Really I do!
ANGELA, 57
I began understanding that times are different now and many of the limitations once imposed on women are no longer relevant. Adding this new perspective to my belief system helped me move forward with my boudoir session. My expression of sensuality, feminity, and confidence is not relegated to my age; they are all a part of me and equally important to me, showing up as my authentic entire self.
Boudoir photography helped me embrace the natural aging process with grace and confidence. It is a powerful reminder that beauty comes in all ages, and there is no specific age limit for feeling attractive and desirable. Seeing the beautiful photos taken of myself left me feeling amazed. It had been so long since I admired the visual side of myself. My confidence soared as I re-connected with my sensual side. The session allowed me to express my personality and individual style. Having "grey" hair doesn't have to hinder me from being beautiful, and the photoshoot only emphasized this.
NADYA, 40
I’ve struggled with body dysmorphia most of my life. Add to that a restrictive religious lifestyle, a high-conflict divorce, and low self-confidence resulting from said divorce, and you’ll get the version of me before my boudoir shoot. This shoot helped me appreciate how much my body has done for me. The scars and stretch marks each hold their own stories of beautiful survival experiences!
LASHUN, 54
In my 54 year's of being on this side, I've seen very little of women over 40 look so fabulous in black and white. I was captivated by the beauty. I wanted to be a part of that.I have 2 children, both in college. I'm also in college, and about to graduate in July. I'm divorced, and for years I felt like I wasn't worth anything. My weight gain was dramatic, and I really felt less than. After the divorce, I put everything into my children, forgetting to take care of me. Even going for a few years without buying me new clothes and shoes. I'm just now understanding that my size isn't what defines me. I'm moving forward and not looking back. The pressure was all in my mind. My children are so loving and encouraging. My daughter inspired me to continue as I contemplated not going through with the shoot. My son thought it might be an all-nude shoot but was on board. So, I gathered my nerves, shoved them back in, and made my way to Atlanta. I'm still growing but this shoot showed me a side of me that I missed.
JASMYN, 40
This shoot was an effort to “step outside of the box” for my 40th it was indeed that and so much more. It hasn’t been so much age, but more so after having children that had me insecure about my body. But Ria’s reaffirming words and the music made me feel so free, sexy, and beautiful!! I have literally looked at my pictures every day since the reveal! Although I may not be what society considers “ average size” I look at my photos and see all the beauty that my body possesses. I definitely have Miss Ria to thank for that. I even learned a few pointers for my future selfie-taking moments!
ADRIENNE, 60
I really haven't felt pressures about aging, but I have started to feel the sting of invisibility that bruises the ego. I think it is then we turn to those things that are marketed "to turn back the clock of time", yet we know nothing truly stops the aging process. Coming to grips with aging is a mental paradigm shift and I decided that what will be, will be. I decide to live a life from the inside out meaning a life of purpose and quality. As far as preparation for the shoot, I bought lingerie that was sexy to ME and turned ME on and that feeling only comes from the inside of oneself.
I did this shoot because I had two significant milestones approaching which was my birthday and retirement, but the previous couple of years had been stressful due to a divorce and all the pain that comes with the crumbling of a love relationship. I also had lost about 130 pounds during that same time frame and this photo shoot was a way to emerge from all of that confusion and see myself in a different light. My then husband did not celebrate my weight loss or make me feel beautiful as a result of it so I had to create that feeling for myself. If there is any day that I struggle to feel 100% about myself, I just open my photo album and see my potential. This has been a photographic love letter to myself that I can read over and over again.
MARGO, 47
As the years have gone by, I’ve felt a heavy weight of expectations and judgments, making it hard to see my own beauty. There was this lingering doubt, telling me I was no longer attractive or desirable. It was a challenge, learning to be comfortable and happy in my own skin.
But this photoshoot, it was like a moment of clarity, a sweet escape that allowed me to rediscover the woman I am. I saw myself through a new lens. I felt alive again! There I was –vibrant, alluring, and brimming with confidence. For the first time in a long while, amidst my daily battles with health issues and family responsibilities, I found a sanctuary of freedom. I was the center of my own world, cherishing and celebrating myself. It was a precious time, a pause in the hustle of life, where I could just breathe and be. And in that space, I reconnected with the part of me that is lively, confident, and utterly irresistible. I walked away with not just stunning photographs, but a renewed sense of self – confident, free, and undeniably beautiful.
ELVIRA, 45
I'm a wife and mom of two, and after having a tummy tuck and breast augmentation in 2022, I was ready to embrace my body and all the changes it has gone through. Though I'm I thought this would be a great way to shake things up.
When I heard about the Over 40 Project, I was really drawn to it. I think as women get older, there's this pressure to feel like we're not sexy anymore. Before doing this photo shoot, I sometimes felt that pressure too. But joining this campaign was my way of saying, 'Hey, I'm over 40, and I'm fabulous!'
The shoot was so much fun and made me feel really good about myself. It helped me see my own beauty and reminded me that I am worth celebrating. This was more than just taking photos; it was about loving myself and feeling great in my own skin. And you know what? I’m really proud of that.
