We’re kicking off our Love Your Skin project with Donna, who is even cooler IRL than she looks here. While we are fond of our youth-boosting potions, and have dabbled in non-invasive tweakments, our goal isn’t to stop the clock. The goal is always to age as the best version of ourselves. And we need to see a wider array of what that can look like. Serving major Helen Mirren vibes, we instantly fell for Donna. By embracing fine lines and leaning into her glorious greys, she inspires us to embody who we are, as we are. No alterations needed, ink optional.

Here’s her story:

What do you love about your skin today? 

It's soft. I also like the colour of it. And I wanted to get tattoos when I was younger, but I never did. I was always afraid to. And then, you know… I left my husband. My dad was in the Navy, and he had the anchor [tattoo]. I always remember touching the anchor on his arm. So, that was the first one that I got seven years ago, and the anchor stands for my family. The anchor of my life. Then I just kept going.

Did you always feel this way?

I was always really comfortable in my skin. I remember watching my mom when I was younger, and she always moisturized every day and spent a lot of time taking care of her face. And I just carried that on. 

How do you take care of your skin?

I’ve been making my own products for about 25 years. I use organic shea butter, almond oil and essential oils, and I mix them together and make a lotion. I use it every day, with mostly just argan oil on my face. The shea butter helps to keep the moisture in the skin, especially in the winter. I’ve tried other products and they just never went into my skin, I didn't like the way they felt. 

On becoming a model later in life: 

I love it, and it was really a surprise for me. I was sitting on a plane, coming home from a trip to LA that I went on by myself and I sat beside a model. She told me that I had beautiful hair, and that I should contact her agency in Toronto. So I did. I sent them my pictures on the first of January in 2021, and they called me back on the third. I had been putting off sending them and not thinking that I was good enough, and wondering ‘who would want to look at me?’ Then I just got fed up with not allowing myself to do things that I love. And I’ve been finding that this is an amazing outlet. I just get so much energy [from it], and it makes me happy. It's been a super positive experience, everyone I've worked with has been fabulous. I always loved watching all of the beauty queen shows, and then when my kids were growing up we ended up watching America’s Next Top Model and all that stuff. I always loved fashion and makeup. So, it's always been there, I just haven't been able to let it out. Now, this is my new creative outlet.

On her glorious greys:

I stopped colouring my hair at 39 when I got pregnant with my last child, and I just never went back. I had a bit of negative comments in the beginning, but now mostly it's all positive. People ask me how long it takes the hairdresser to get my hair looking like this, and I say ‘next to no time!’ I just embraced it. I make sure I use purple shampoo once a week to keep the brassiness out, and I let my hair stay in an almond oil treatment overnight.

On her beauty icons:

Cher, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. I grew up watching The Sonny & Cher Show, and I thought it was just so great that she was Native and she was putting it out there in the ‘70s.