At 65, My Mum Gave Herself Permission To Be Seen

Last year, my parents came to visit me in Australia for the very first time.

They travelled all the way from Europe, which was a huge deal because they had never been this far from home before. Six weeks together. Six whole weeks of showing them the life I have built here, the places I love, the beaches that still make me feel lucky to live in Queensland, and the little everyday moments I have wanted to share with them for years.

We went to Fraser Island, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Byron Bay and so many beautiful places in between. It was one of those visits that stays with you forever.

Not just because we saw beautiful places, but because they got to experience my life here. They got to see the version of me that exists in Australia. The one I have become after moving countries, starting over, building a business, creating a home and finding a life so far away from where I started.

And somewhere before they arrived, I had an idea.

I asked my mum if she would want to do an outdoor beach boudoir inspired photoshoot with me. She did not need too much convincing. She said yes.

So obviously, I had to make it special. I ordered a custom made robe from Lazy Girl Lingerie and connected with brilliant Cassandra. I told her what the robe was for, that it was for my mum, and that blue was her favourite colour. Cassandra created the most beautiful blue robe for her, and it felt so personal before we even got to the beach.

The day of the shoot came and my mum asked me to help her with her makeup. Honestly, my first instinct was to say, “You look beautiful without it.” Because she does. But I also know what it feels like to want a little ritual before stepping into something vulnerable, so instead of talking her out of it, I helped her put some makeup on. I let her have that little moment to feel ready in her own way.

My mum is an artist. She was high school professor. She is smart, confident, creative, strong and she loves to crack inappropriate jokes. She paints, sews, draws. She creates art in every way she can.

But I wasn't completely sure how she would feel during the shoot. Would she let me "boss her around"? Would she feel awkward and suddenly realise she was standing in the middle of a busy Gold Coast beach in her underwear with only a robe covering her? Would she care what people thought?

Turns out, I had nothing to worry about.

When we got to the location, she was happy. Excited, even. She changed into her shoot clothes, put on her beautiful blue robe and we started.

I guided her the way I guide my clients: "Look over there. Look here. Close your eyes. Breathe through your mouth. Relax your shoulders."

And with every minute that passed, I could see her soften. She became more relaxed, more present, more in her body and more in the moment. And then, because we were on a Queensland beach, of course she ended up in the water.

She was laughing, moving, playing, letting the waves hit her legs and letting herself be seen. I do not know how else to explain it, but it felt like something shifted that day.

She looked free.

Free from negative self talk.

Free from inner criticism.

Free from wondering what people might think.

Free from anyone’s judgement.

Free from the tiny little rules us, women collect over a lifetime about what we are allowed to wear, how we are allowed to age, how much space we are allowed to take up, and when we're supposed to stop feeling sensual, playful, beautiful or bold.

Watching my mum experience that was emotional in a way I did not expect. Because so much of this runs deep. The way we talk about our bodies. The way we criticise ourselves before anyone else can. The way we put everyone else first and call it love. The way we slowly disappear beneath responsibility, expectation, shame and silence.

And that day, on that beach, it felt like we broke something.

Something old and heavy. Something that had been passed down quietly.

It felt healing for her. And it felt healing for me too.

Because here was my mum, at 65 years old, standing on a Gold Coast beach in a blue robe and underwear, being photographed by her daughter, feeling beautiful and powerful and free in her own skin.

After the shoot, I asked her if she had any regrets. She looked at me and said, “My only regret is I didn't take off my bra.”

Haha, iconic. Honestly, I have never been prouder.

At 65, my mum gave herself permission to be seen. To feel free. To create art with me. To exist in her body without apologising for it.

No one can take that away from her. No one can take that moment away from us.

And next time she comes to visit, we are absolutely doing another shoot... without the bra.

A little Mother’s Day reminder

If you are a mum, and you are always giving yourself to everyone else, please let this be your reminder. You are allowed to do something just for yourself.

Not because you have earned it by being exhausted. Not because you have finally reached some perfect version of yourself. Not because someone else gave you permission.

But because you are still you. You are still a woman, allowed to feel beautiful, sensual, playful, powerful and free.

Motherhood might be one of the biggest parts of your life, but it is not the only part of you. You deserve to be seen outside of what you do for everyone else. You deserve to feel at home in your own skin. You deserve a moment that belongs only to you.

If this story stirred something in you, I would love to create a boudoir experience that helps you reconnect with yourself. Whether it is on the beach, in a studio, in a beautiful Airbnb, or somewhere completely personal to you, your session will be guided, supportive and created around who you are.

You don't need to know how to pose or feel confident before you arrive. You don't need to wait for a different body.

You just need to show up.

I will guide you through the rest.

If something in this story spoke to you, maybe this is your sign to finally give yourself a moment that belongs only to you.