Meet our 40 over 40 campaign participant, Fiona. We had such a great time in studio with Fiona, doing some personal branding portraits as well as some portraits just for Fiona to enjoy for herself. 

What drew you to this 40 over 40 campaign?

I loved the concept and heart behind this campaign and the space it gives to be authentic at the age and stage that you are. Navigating the different stages of life is not easy and to have a campaign that highlights and celebrates this age and stage is a breath of fresh air.

If you could go back and tell your 20 year old self something that you think would change your life, what would it be?

I would tell her to always trust her intuition and not to be anxious as you will find your like-minded and like-hearted people to be with and work together with to make the world a more beautiful and better place.

What are you post proud of yourself for?

I think I am most proud of myself for keeping on being brave and putting one foot in front of the other even when the path ahead didn’t seem clear – it has always led to the most wonderful next and new experiences and connections that I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.

What are some goals or things you still want to do?

I would love to get back to my dancing, choreography and being on stage in some way, and I would love to be part of making an international and global difference, primarily on the environmental front. I would also love to travel more and I would love to go to space! I also love dinosaurs so I would love to go on a volunteer expedition as part of a dinosaur dig.

‘Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.’ Theodore Roosevelt

Has there/is there anyone in your life who has made a massive impact, if so, how?

There are several people (and still are) – I have always been so fortunate to have mentors and sounding boards appear all the way along my path who truly get me and the way I think and feel, and who I have been able to be myself with and grow in my thinking and understanding, as they have given me a safe space to do so.

Thoughts on aging?

I do struggle with it – inside I feel 18 but I also know that I’m incredibly fortunate to have experienced and done so much more than an 18 year old would have done yet or had the time to do, and that there is still so much more to do and experience – I don’t want to waste a single second of time. This is brought even more into relief whenever I hear of the passing of someone, especially someone who had not been on this earth very long.

What advice do you have for other women 40+ out there?

Fully embrace who you are and at the stage that you are at – every woman I see looks incredibly beautiful no matter their age. And inner beauty truly does shine out – know that you are seen.

What has gotten easier for you since turning 40?

Being more sure/secure in myself in having a ‘track record’ and reminding myself of that whenever I doubt myself.

I am a former professional ballet dancer (though always a dancer in my heart – it is in my blood) and love that I do still get the opportunity to be on stage every now and again, as I absolutely love the stage and the worlds that one takes audiences too , and where audiences can be transported for a few hours and forget about everything else that is going on. I completed my ballet training at the Royal Ballet School in London (I was the only South African selected for my year) and then joined PACT Ballet in Pretoria. Six of us founded The South African Ballet Theatre (now Joburg Ballet) at the start of 2001, following the closure of PACT. After SABT my journey moved into the philanthropy world (Vodacom Change the World Programme and Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa) and in 2014 I joined the St David’s Marist Foundation (the School Trust of St David’s Marist Inanda), where I am now Director. I love the work that I am able to be part of there as I believe passionately in young boys have a nurturing, balancing and safe space to fully develop into the wonderful young men they are meant to be. In 2021 I self-published a little book called ‘A Little Book of Tree Wisdom’ and for every book sold I donate to plant a tree through the global tree-planting nonprofit ‘One Tree Planted’. I have been able to plant over 800 trees so far around the world (including in South Africa).

This campaign is currently sold out.
If it returns later this year, you’ll be the first to hear.

This campaign is currently sold out.
If it returns later this year, you’ll be the first to hear.

Click on images to be taken to their blogs

📍Johannesburg, South Africa 

This campaign is currently sold out.
If it returns later this year, you’ll be the first to hear.

Do Fiona’s 40 over 40 campaign portraits look like something you might want for yourself too?

While this campaign is currently sold out. You are welcome to submit your details below to be added to the waiting list. If it returns later this year, you’ll be the first to hear.

Are you interested in spending a day in studio having your dream portraits created, laughing and celebrating you, then you need to fill out this form!