Editor-in-Chief Katy Sunnassee spends a Monday morning in a lido… wearing sequins! All in the name of menopause awareness.
Words: Katy Sunnassee. Image: Georgina Little Photography.
How often DO you get asked to take a dip in a swimming pool fully clothed? I was asked to do that very thing a few months back, as part of a photo shoot for Menopause Awareness Month for a new campaign by Olive Collective, who wanted to highlight the varied stories and symptoms of women in perimenopause and menopause and their lived experiences.
I was one of seven women taking part, getting into Charlton Lido fully clothed – though to use the term “fully clothed” was perhaps inaccurate for me, at least, as my outfit was somewhat skimpy! (See the reel pinned to my page at instagram.com/thehealtheditor).
We were being photographed by celebrity photographer Sane Seven, who has taken portraits of Hannah Waddingham, Robin Wright, Jameela Jamil, Geri Halliwell and many more. I’ve yet to see the finished results, which will be unveiled on October 9 at a private viewing before opening to the public.
A wet meno Monday!
But how did I end up one Monday morning in South East London, in pink sequins in a pool? All from a message on Instagram! This year has been about saying yes to more things – as many as possible that is, while still keeping day-to-day work and home life responsibillities running as best as I can.
Working all day everyday from home, in sweatpants with oil stains on (if anyone knows a trick to remove oil from clothing, please do share!), and with messy hair and no make-up, means I grab any invitation to get glammed up, even if that then involves plunging into a pool… or stepping down gradually, in my case – it was the outrageous Lu from Instagram fame Lu in Luland that took the plunge, quite literally.
Midlife reassessment
And so, what was I sharing regarding my perimenopause experience? That over the past year I’ve noticed an acceleration in ageing, especially to my skin – much more crepey – plus hair and joints. And to my moods! I get irritable and overwhelmed, not to mention emotional – Disney films set me off.
In fact, lots of things now do! It’s as if a well of supressed anger and sadness from the past has bubbled up to be freed. The shoot took place three weeks before my Gran passed (thanks so much to those of you who sent your condolences), and I ended up blubbing on camera about how her being at the end of her life was a stark reminder we don’t have forever; we must grasp opportunities, which, in my 20s, I often let slip by, and make the most of our “wild and precious” lives, to semi-quote Mary Oliver.
Midlife often provides a wake-up call to reassess and re-prioritise. That’s why I’m dancing more this year, because I’ve realised it’s who I am and always have been, I just rarely made it a priority before. Oh, and I ruined my pink heels from the chlorine, but it was worth it in the name of art!
Catch the BEYOND exhibition, from Olive Collective, opening on Oct 10 with Lu in Luland and running to Oct 18, at Firepit Art Gallery, SE10 0XX. All proceeds to The Eve Appeal and We Free Women. See olivecollective.org/BEYOND and instagram.com/OliveCollecitveUK.
Read Katy’s ‘Katy Perimenopause’ column in each issue of Top Santé, or read past columns here. You can also follow Katy on Substack.
