Fabulous40Plus Portrait Special featuring Michelle Poulsen

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Michelle works at BC Children\’s Hospital for two Otolaryngologists (Head and neck surgeons). She plays Volley Ball twice a week in the fall and winter season and on the beach during spring and summer – adding in some slow pitch as well. In good weather, you will find her biking about 24km four times a week, and walking with weights and her chocolate lab.   She also enjoys hiking, kayaking and watching her 3 boys do their activities.

At the age of 4, Michelle was involved in a very bad car accident that damaged and scared her face, teeth and few body parts. With that came lots of insecurities as a young teenager and adult. At the age of 18, she moved away  on her own to the big city with little to no money  to be closer to a guy who convinced her Vancouver was the place to be. Sadly, she soon found out he was abusive, addicted to drugs and eventually, ended up In jail. 

She picked herself up,  working a full time job and a part time job to just pay rent and afford food. Going to college became a “next-year” project, until much later when she could start taking some courses. 

Life has taught her that each healthy day is a gift, after she found her partner and father to her 3 boys having a stroke one morning in 2019. He could have died or been left with severe damage to his brain.

Now 52, she is motivated by simply a love of life and to trying to stay healthy knowing that genetically or at any time our bodies may not be able to do the same things.. Loving the person, body and mind she has been given has been years in the making but that has really helped her and given her an inner peace. Age and getting older truly has been a beautiful thing even as she sometimes struggle through each year of ailments as her body changes with getting older, but wiser. Her children, and love for sports and amazing friends motivate her to get outside and enjoy life. 

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What would you say has changed about the way you see and feel about yourself and/or how do your new portraits make you feel?

The pictures are different and nothing I would have ever done. It was a fun experience and as much as it was hard to look at the photos and not criticize all the little things about me, I love that I did this and these are pictures of me, the ME I\’ve learned to love and except exactly as I am.

What were your fears/concerns before the portrait session and how did all that change during/after the session?

My fears were relaxing to be able to pose for the camera. Fearful of how disappointed I might be in how I appeared in the photos. Fearful of not having the right clothes, what my make up/hair  would look like in the photos. Caroline made things relaxed and had many outfits for me. A  make up artist was on hand to help with make up and touch ups. She communicated with me and was open to any conversation leading up to the session. I was nervous and not totally sure what to expect but I think she did what she could to make it relaxing and fun.

Your thoughts on the Fabulous50plus project – how has it helped you in anyway. 

Everyone should do this for sure. I think I will love the photos even more later. It\’s a “capture” most people would never create as you go through the changes in your body, face and life.

What does the future look like?

My future is to ensure and guide my boys into having a post secondary education or in a career they love. Eventually I hope to retire and travel to some tropical islands. I would love to start up a bar/ pub/ restaurant/ coffee shop or  combination of all  where local artists can play sing or display their ART!