It’s been a while since I interviewed someone for the Women of Grace series. The series, featured here on The Age of Grace, features ladies over 50 who possess a certain je nais quoi. Today, meet the latest Woman of Grace: SheSheShow’s Sheree Frede.
Sheree fits the Women of Grace profile. She is a woman of faith, over 50, and aging gracefully. She’s f t, healthy, and fabulous. We met as charter members of Forever Fierce, who bonded in having our say in whatever we deemed relevant. Let’s meet Sheree, shall we?
First, she says SheShe—the name of her blog—is what her grandchildren call her. She’s used it for several businesses: SheSheDesigns, SheShe Boutique, Gal Try, and now, SheSheShow. She is a full-time digital influencer from Columbus, Georgia. She currently lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Norman, of 25 years.
I read your quote in an interview where you said: “My deep faith in God first and then fashion.” That is what drew me to you, Sheree. As a woman of faith, do you trust God to get you through life’s challenges?
Absolutely! I have total trust that God has my best interests at heart. Like everyone, I want to do things my way, but It always comes back to giving and giving back to God. He lets us know what’s best and what lies ahead.
You majored in Textiles and Clothing at the University of Tennessee. How did that impact your fashion choices?
I love feel-and-touch fabrics. They were my favorite class in college. My wardrobe’s variety of textures and colors makes for exciting looks. I have been into metallics for daytime and evening wear: sequins, lamé, metallic leathers, etc.
Your fashion motto is “Don’t let age define your style.” Tell us more about your style. What are your favorite colors?
I’m so all over the board. Even though I love conservative looks, I am more comfortable with bold colors with clean lines. My favorite color is fuchsia pink, and then it’s a tie between bright orange and turquoise. So, if you go by the Seasons cha s, I am a spring/summer! My high school and college years were during the hippie movement, so I still love those throwback bohemian looks—bell bottoms, maxi dresses, and floppy hats.
Does fashion keep you young?
Yes! Many women lose interest in fashion as they age and repeatedly wear the same old clothes. If you stand a woman in her tired outfit beside a woman her age in an updated modern look, the lady with the new look will look ten years younger.
We know fashion is your passion, but tell us about your hobbies.
I love to decorate, build, and remodel homes. Over the last twenty years, I have designed and built two homes from the ground up, remolded two historic commercial buildings, and renovated two homes and two ranch houses. I am now starting to put the SheShe magic on a new property we acquired on Sanibel Island, Florida, which has been my dream). You can see some of Sheree’s projects on my blog under categories, then home. I have several rooms ready to post soon.
What Sheree Enjoys:
🎣 Fly fishing and quail hunting
I used to be a pretty good skier, but now I have neck issues, so staying off the snow and in front of that cozy fireplace is better. I also 🪡 🧵 sew, make jewelry, and design clothes, but my log work wastes my time.
🪴 Gardening (Even though I can cook, please don’t put me in the kitchen.)
You were a flight attendant who became a licensed pilot. Wow! Tell more. Do you still fly? How many hours in the air have you logged?
My uncle and Dad were pilots, so I wa always around airplanes. In 1979, I also had a roommate, the fifth woman pilot American Airlines hired. I was so envious, but she encouraged me to believe I could fly, too. The road seemed so long. After thinking about it for a long time, I finally went. You can read about my aviation journey here.
I am not current with my Federal Aviation Administration requirements, so I no longer fly. To be a safe and proficient pilot, one must fly regularly, and again, time is not on my side. I have racked up around 2500 hours in complex airplanes with turboprops and small jets. I have never regretted that journey or any of my other adventures. There weren’t many women in the field in the 1980s, so it was a bold and fierce move in my life.
How do you prioritize your health?
I have always put health at o near the top of my list. I still get my yearly pap smear and mammograms. Now that I am in midlife, colonoscopies are essential. I just had my second one, and it was good! Three years ago, we discovered nodules on my thyroid. It scared me to death, but thank God it wasn’t cancer. I get an ultrasound every year to make sure there are no changes. I do not smoke. But I would say I could drink less wine. That’s my only vice, I think?
When it comes to exercise, how do you motivate yourself to get moving, especially ly after a long day?
Ugh! I have worked out most of my adult life. With age comes aches and pains—knees, neck, hands, etc. So, yes, getting motivated to exercise gets harder and harder. Now, I have a trainer to hold me accountable. It works for me at this time of my life. I don’t do the high intensity that I used to. As long as I keep moving and stretching, it will take me a long way.
Tell me about your beauty routine. Has anything changed over the years? Is anything a must in your beauty regimen?
My beauty regimen has not changed much over the years, although newer and better products are on the market. However, I spend a little longer on my rituals than I used to because with age comes many changes in the skin. Dry skin is my biggest issue.
I have been doing Phyto facials for over ten years. If you can afford them, they are the one thing that helps my skin. They rid brown spots caused by the sun and hormone changes. They also break up broken capillaries and even out skin tones. I love this procedure, and it should only be done in a doctor-accredited facility.
I have used Vitamin C and ferulic acid on my face, plus Retin A, for many years, but you must be careful with Retin A. It works, but it can thin the skin. As with anything, in moderation. I use the Clarisonic at night before bedtime. Now that my neck is south, I would love to use neck cream. I have also used the neck-tightening treatment at my Med Spa. I think it helps some.
Finally, I try to drink a lot of water, but I could always do better. I also always wear sunscreen and hats—I have lots and lots of full-brimmed hats.
You’ve taken social media platforms by storm, with a tremendous following on Instagram, a thriving blog, and a YouTube Channel. Tell us about our social media journey. Do you have any suggestions to encourage other women to participate in this new wave of communicating life experiences?
I didn’t know what a hashtag was four years ago, so who do you ask? It’s my 18-year-old grandson! I had never watched a YouTube show, either. When I saw one, I thought it was the hokiest video and that I could do it better. Haha! We shot my intro the next day, and I was off and running. Five months later, I discovered Instagram and then my blog. SheSheShow was born, and here I am now.
I advise anyone wanting to be a midlife blogger to decide what you want from it first. Would you like this to be just a hobby, or would you like to be recognized and make a living doing it? If it’s the latter, invest in your business. Hire the right people to guide you. Be consistent and creative, make your photos attractive, and write about things people/women are interested in.
It is work, and the work never gets done. It’s a love-hate business, but I love it. What else would I do when I could do everything I love and meet the most amazing people? Maybe I might make a difference in someone’s life.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Sheree!
For more Women of Grace features, click the hyperlinked text to meet my best friend Cynthia, singer and actress Lesley, bluegrass musician Julia, and Minister of Style Cathy.
Thank you for reading. Have a stylish week!
