Vaishali has been one of the first participants of our 40 over 40 Experience this year. It has been wonderful photographing women over 40 and I can’t wait to share more shoots with you. We have met incredible women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and approaching 70 and we’re so excited for the exhibit! If you want to participate, fill out a form HERE.

We asked Vaishali questions about beauty and confidence over 40:

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is confidence, kindness and empathy. You need enough of these to lift others, while also taking care of yourself.

What do you love about yourself?

I love that I am a driven individual that thrives in change. I excel at giving myself challenges and then setting plans to achieve them. I am a firm believer in change for the good, whether it’s in the small ways in which we may organize a desk or our closets, to the big things such as how do I parent my kids, how can I become a more giving member of my community, how can I change for the better. I also love my sense of humour and ability to bring levity to situations. Life and work can get heavy, it’s great to get through these times of heaviness with levity at the right times.

What makes you feel beautiful?

My dedication to my health and working out makes me feel strong and confident, and therefore beautiful. I also feel beautiful when I’m smiling because a smile comes from the inside and I’m thinking of positive thoughts when I’m smiling.

How do you nurture your confidence?

I nurture confidence in building positive relationships with those around me. I give praise and admiration whenever I feel it, and I don’t hold back. I nurture confidence through taking care of my health through working out. I nurture confidence through building meaningful relationships around me and investing quality time with my loved ones and friends.

Before this photoshoot, when was the last time you did something for yourself?

When I turned 45, I gave myself a birthday that was all about me. It was the first time I ordered all the things I would enjoy, without putting everyone else ahead of me. So it’s been nearly a year!