Denise Boomkens

How did you become the person you are today? Are there specific moments or experiences that have shaped your journey the most?

What a beautiful question. I believe that everyone is shaped by life—partly by your childhood and the way you were raised, your private life once you stand on your own feet, and, of course, your career.

I began my career as a fashion model at the age of 17, which I did for many years with great joy. Eventually, I swapped my place in front of the camera for a spot behind it and worked as a fashion photographer for years.

Then, at the age of 40, I became a mother to my son Finn. That marked the beginning of my third career: being a full-time mother.

Each of these chapters has shaped me, but when it comes to AndBloom, the media world, fashion, and beauty have had a major influence on how I used to view beauty—and how I see it today.

Becoming a mother at a later age also played a big role. I’ve always been a bit of a late bloomer, and when I turned 40, I finally felt ready for everything life had to offer. Society, however, often tells a different story.

That’s why I created AndBloom—to help change the narrative.

As a woman navigating the art of aging unapologetically, what does growing older mean to you, both personally and creatively?

As I mentioned earlier, I’m a late bloomer. So when I turned 40, I finally felt ready for what I call ‘true adulthood.’ I became a mother, my life became more stable, and I remember thinking: what beautiful things are we going to do in this next chapter of life?

I turned to Instagram and the media, looking for inspiration—but back in 2018, I found nothing. There were no women I could relate to, no role models that reflected the woman I was becoming.

Because for me, life didn’t stop at 40—it truly began. I believe that as women, we often enter the most vibrant, thriving phase of our lives in our 40s and 50s. We draw strength from all the experiences we’ve had, all the wisdom we’ve gained.

But because our appearance begins to change—sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly—and because many of us are no longer fertile, society starts to see us as less valuable.

There’s far too much emphasis placed on appearance, and especially on how we’re supposed to look as we age. That pressure is even stronger for women.

As a woman navigating the art of aging unapologetically, what does growing older mean to you, both personally and creatively?

To me, aging unapologetically means giving yourself full permission to be who you are—on your own terms. And yes, that often means pushing back against societal norms, both personally and creatively.

Your work often celebrates women and their stories—what inspires you most about the women you’ve met and photographed?

I can keep this very simple—all women are inspiring, and all women are beautiful. It doesn’t matter what they look like or what their life story is. Every woman carries a certain kind of magic.

For AndBloom, I do choose to highlight certain women to help express the message more clearly—women who resonate with me, who are often like-minded in the way they see the world.

But truly, every woman I’ve met and photographed has inspired me in her own unique way.

How would you describe your relationship with creativity? Has it evolved as you’ve grown older?

Yes—my relationship with creativity has definitely evolved as I’ve grown older.

As I’ve become more confident in who I am, my work has grown more confident too. I now have a clear sense of direction, both personally and professionally.

Of course, I still have days where I can’t quite see the light at the end of the tunnel—but honestly, I attribute that more to perimenopause than anything else.

Luckily, there's now so much more information and openness about this phase of life, which can be comforting. On the days when I don’t feel quite like myself, I’ve learned it’s normal, and it makes perfect sense.

Creatively, I believe we don’t truly reach full maturity until later in life.

Throughout your life, you’re working toward a creative peak—and I don’t think that peak comes before 40.

What role does art, in all its forms, play in your life today? Are there any artists, works, or movements that deeply resonate with you?

Art plays a very big role in my life.

It’s actually the one thing that truly inspires me on a deep level.

I’m a huge fan of women—and I strongly believe it’s time for women to support and uplift other women. That’s why I’m always open to connecting with women who are creating something, whether it’s through art in any form or through entrepreneurship.

On my days off, I love immersing myself in art. I visit exhibitions, museums, and art fairs whenever I can. Or I’ll grab one of my many art books and simply flip through the pages for inspiration.

My favorite artists are mostly women, though there are a few male artists whose work I deeply admire as well. When it comes to collecting, I prefer to buy art made by women.

One of my dreams is to build a large art collection—and I’ve already started.

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned as you’ve grown older, both in life and in your work?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to let go—and to live in the moment.

When I was working as a model, I was constantly aware of my age. Back then, 25 was already considered 'old' in the industry. Thankfully, that mindset is changing now. But at the time, I already felt ‘old’ very early in life.

As a fashion and beauty photographer, I was again confronted with aging—models remained forever young, and I couldn't help but compare.

Now, looking back, I realize how much energy I wasted worrying about something that truly doesn’t matter.

We all age differently, and we all feel aging differently.
I feel a hundred times better now, approaching 50, than I did at 40.

Age is incredibly relative. I know people who are 40 and act like they’re 80—and the other way around.

Live your life, and forget your age.

You only get one shot at this life—make it worthy.

Can you tell us about a moment in your career or life where you felt truly empowered as a woman? What made it so impactful?

That’s such a beautiful question.

I think I’ve truly felt empowered as a woman since starting AndBloom. It gives me so much fulfillment to empower other women—and through doing that, I empower myself.

I’m incredibly grateful for the beautiful community I’ve built on Instagram, where I receive so much love and support from other women.

In my personal life, I’m lucky to have a wonderful partner who supports me in everything I do, and a few incredibly kind and loyal friends who are always there for me.

All of that combined makes me feel strong, supported, and deeply empowered.

Looking to the future, what are your hopes for how society will embrace aging and redefine beauty?

I truly hope it becomes easier for women to grow older—without feeling like there’s an expiration date, especially when it comes to our appearance.

I believe the harmful ‘anti-aging’ narrative that began in the 1980s should be left behind entirely. There’s no such thing as anti-aging—we all age.

What we can do is grow older in a healthy, maybe even more beautiful way—by taking care of ourselves in body and mind.

I also hope the media starts to realize how damaging it is to constantly show heavily filtered, boxed-in images of women. Especially for young girls and women, that does real harm.

The message should be: aging is normal, and beauty exists in every phase of life. It may look different—but it’s still beautiful.

And finally, is there a woman you admire and think more people should know about? Could you share what makes her inspiring and why you’d like to highlight her work or story?

What a tough question! I have lists of women I think the world should know.

But if I had to choose just one, I’d pick my best friend, Dayenne Bekker (@dayennebekker).

She’s the most amazing friend anyone could wish for, and she deserves so much more recognition than she gets.

I admire her strength—she overcame breast cancer, and it was a very aggressive form. Through it all, she’s remained positive, always. She’s endlessly creative, a beautiful listener, and she’s always there for me when I need her.

We laugh about things no one else would understand, and that’s a kind of magic you don’t find often.

So yes, from my long list of incredible women, she’s right at the top.