PHOTO: CHRISTOPER SCALZI / DISTILLED STUDIO
GLORIOUS PROFESSION: Writer, Maker, Designer of — lots of stuff
GLORIOUS PERSONA: Landing on Her Feet — Yet Again — She Will Prevail!
GLORIOUS QUALITIES: Eternal Optimist, Up for a Drink, Or a Trip, Or a 50 Mile Bike Ride
GLORIOUS PHILOSOPHY:
“It is never too late. Period. End of story.”
A little bit about me, the founder of GB. I declare myself GB #1. Why not? Let’s cozy up together … shall we?
WHAT MAKES YOU A GLORIOUS BROAD?
Ummm. I’m funny. I keep it real. I'm not a spring chicken, but I'm not done clucking either. Hahaha. I love and support fabulousness. And I was a late bloomer. I’m still blooming. I think this is key to staying curious.
WHEN DID YOU GET HIP TO “THE MEANING OF LIFE" AND ALL THE POSSIBILITIES OUT THERE?
Meaning of life is a tall order but — I’m gonna say i had an “awakening” around 45. All came together. And then it exploded again. Then it all came together. See what I mean? It’s an ongoing process. It may explode again tomorrow …
DO YOU FEEL FREER AS YOU AGE?
So much so! I don’t care what the world may think about me…except for you, fellow GBs! And that took 45 years ... but hey...
“I want to see age fear mongering and rigidity about our ROLES as women become a thing of the past in my lifetime. Talk about glorious ... ”
WHAT DO YOU CARE ABOUT AS YOU GET OLDER?
Loving better. Loving my people better. Loving strangers and new friends better. Loving the earth better. Making the most of the gifts that I was lucky enough to receive. Not wasting — anything. Enjoying my ambition — but — making the time to deeply enjoy doing not much too. This is a big difference. I was a serious workaholic from 30 on. My 20’s were another whole story …
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS IN LIFE — LOOKING BACK?
Whenever I took a chance and followed my guts.
ARE YOU A FEMINIST?
I grew up in a matriarchy: a grandmother, mother, 5 sisters — and my poor neglected dad and brother living in one tiny house. Girls ruled. However, I saw my mother lose her power as she got older: no purpose once we flew the coop. I vowed to have a powerful, independent life at age 8. So. Yes. I am a feminist.
WHY DID YOU CREATE GLORIOUS BROADS?
This project, Glorious Broads, has been germinating in me for at least 3 decades. I cannot leave the house without meeting another Glorious Broad.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU?
My beautiful friends — some of them — are obsessed with aging. It made me sad — and frustrated. I wanted to try to open up their point of view. Make them look forward to the decades ahead with confidence, courage, grace, passion, sexiness, power, wisdom, thankfulness and wit. Let go of fear. What the fuck? Let your face match your hands please. I am NOT putting down women who get a tuck. Do your thing! I am saying – do it — but learn to do it with pleasure, not with fear …
And I want those young'uns to see the imaginative, open, spectacular lives GBs are living.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A GB?
They are the kind of women — always — that make me say: I WANNA BE HER. They are SAGES...not saints. And they’re all excellent drinking pals ...
ANYTHING ELSE?
Yes. I want to see age fear mongering and rigidity about our ROLES as women of all ages become a thing of the past in my lifetime. Talk about glorious ... It's such horseshit that our culture tries to dictate that older women can't be smokin' hot, or cool, or on top of their game. That's not my experience, and not the experience of so many of the GBs I meet. It's about being yourself, myself, my true, weird, wonderful self and seeing where that goes. And where it goes is all over the place, but FAR from ageist stereotypes of the mild mannered, useless ol' lady. So fuck that. And cheers to Glorious Broads everywhere — self included!
Maryjane is on her 5th reinvention. But who’s counting? She was a designer, published author, now an editor, writer, future playwright, future sculptor – and the list goes on … For now she primarily enjoys her brainchild, Glorious Broads, and can't wait to see where it leads her — and us …