The age of visibility: Anti-ageism campaign fighting beauty stereotypes

‘Invisible’: The word Tasmanian hairdresser said her older female clients were using to describe themselves. How her powerful new campaign hopes to change that.

IT wasn’t until the 53-year-old mother looked at photos of her naked body that she realised how much it had changed.

MEET ANGE CECCHINI

Ange Cecchini is currently living with breast cancer.

After undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy, Ms Cecchini felt it was her responsibility to show other women with bodies similar to hers, that they were beautiful.

She is one of many ambassadors in a new anti-ageism campaign, the Age of Visibility, that features the stories of diverse Tasmanian women in an effort to combat narrow stereotypes in the beauty industry.

Ambassador Ange Cecchini in anti-ageism campaign, The Age of Visibility. Picture: Supplied

Ms Cecchini said it was initially uncomfortable being photographed for the project.

“When I saw the photos, I needed to process them – for a long time I hadn’t even been able to touch my surgery scars and I didn’t recognise or acknowledge what cancer had done to my body” she said.

“(My family) told me how beautiful I was, and the images became a love letter to my family – I want them to remember my courage and joyfulness.”

MEET ALLY NISCHLER

Award-winning hairdresser Ally Nischler launched the campaign in July this year.

Ambassadors Dorianne Daniels, Ange Cecchini, Ally Nischler, Gabrielle Osborne and Aimee Butler. Picture: Linda Higginson

“I’ve worked in the beauty industry for 30 years now and have worked with many women mature in age,” Ms Nischler said.

“A word that comes up time and time again is invisible.

“They feel excluded and diminished by lack of representation in media and marketing.”

Over the past six months Ms Nischler has captured her ambassadors’ stories through photo shoots and interviews.

“Our ambassadors are strong women, aged 19 through to 70 and beyond, who have told their stories to provide an example for the rest of the hair and beauty sector,” she said.

“Through my collections and the publishing of these stories we hope to challenge the narrative around age diversity.”

MEET AIMEE BUTLER

Ambassador Aimee Butler, 42, also shared her first-hand experience of going grey.

Ambassador Aimee Butler said women shouldn’t be forced to hide their grey hair. Picture: Supplied

“I was sitting alone on the bus, minding my own business, when a fellow female passenger took it upon herself to give me some unsolicited advice,” she said.

“She asked ‘why don’t you dye your grey hair? It will look better’.

“I retaliated, ‘I’m nearly 40 years old and therefore entitled to my grey hair’.”

Ms Butler said women shouldn’t be ashamed to show their natural hair.

“I think that as a mature woman, ‘visibility’ means that women are visible in all areas of life and some just happen to have grey hair,” she said.

MEET GABRIELLE OSBORNE

Following a spate of health setbacks in her forties that included melanoma, a hysterectomy, low bone density and mental illness, ambassador Gabrielle Osborne made it her mission to prioritise her wellbeing.

Ambassador Gabrielle Osborne transformed her mental and physical wellbeing. Picture: Supplied

“Today I am ranked in the top ten in the world in masters swimming, have competed in the CrossFit Games and am stronger and fitter than at any other point in my life,” she said.

“The biggest transformation, however, is how much better I feel.

“I had started to believe that my declining health was just to be accepted as part of the ageing process.

MEET DORIANNE DANIELS

“I now know this is not true, and I hope I may inspire others to not accept the stereotype.”

As a soul, sound and voice therapist, campaign ambassador Dorianne Daniels helps women feel empowered to express their authentic self everyday.

Dorianne Daniels helps inspire women to find their own voices. Picture: Supplied

“Unfortunately in our society many women feel shut down and unable to express themselves fully or feel valued for doing so,” she said.

Ms Nischler hopes her ambassadors will inspire women everywhere to acknowledge their own unique attributes.

“Tasmania is uniquely positioned for this project – we have an ageing population with the highest Australian median age of 42 so it makes sense that Tassie women understand the challenges of ageing,” she said.

Ms Nischler is seeking more participants to become ambassadors.

“I hope the campaign continues to build momentum and gains more industry support,” she said.

“We are also selling stickers and tote bags online – every bit helps to create a more inclusive space for women of all ages.”

Find the Age of Visibility on Facebook and Instagram at @theageofvisibility.

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