'We Are Who We Are': What These 100 -year-old Women Teach Us About Beauty
A glimpse into the lives and rituals of centenarian females, whose beauty is rarely acknowledged
This piece was part of the GroundTruth Project series Emerging Photographers .
When I started shooting this story, I wished to talk about elderly women’s conditions in general, but I had no clear notion about what angle I was going to take. I took pictures of nothing and everything surrounding these centenarians from the Monteregie region in Quebec, Canada. But one thing maintained occurring: every single woman I photographed wanted to bridegroom herself to make sure she would look good in my paintings. This is how it became a story about beauty.
I became interested in the efforts that these women set( or didn’t set) into looking beautiful, and these new challenges that they face in their old age. I asked them about youth, ageing, feminism, sexuality, charm, appearance, love, and I documented their beauty rituals.
Visiting Marie-Berthe Paquette, the woman in the first photograph, was an unbelievable sight. She likes to be the center of attention and is willing to do just about everything to build her audience burst out laugh. Every hour I visited her, she told me funny stories, sing and danced. In her portrait, she is dancing in a sexy and provocative style for the sake of her audience( myself and two family members ).
” I personally find myself beautiful, and when I don’t, I do my best anyways! I like to have my hair neatly styled and wear garments, jewelry and other accessories. I’ve always paid attention to my appearance. In fact, I’m known as la fra” che ( the trendy dame ).” Marie-Berthe Paquette, 105 years old, in Montr e al, Quebec . To me, the third photo( below) is particularly touching. Laure Saucier, the centenarian in the picture, was very sick and weak but also very peaceful and serene. She didn’t have the energy to move or talk, and even though she used to be a very stylish female, I doubt she cared about the style she appeared any more. But even though Saucier seemed distanced from the physical world, her daughter, Lise Provost, continued to make sure that her mother looked good: that her nails and hair were done and she had jewelry and lipstick on. She knew this used to be important to her mom and wanted to honor her. Since they couldn’t communicate verbally any more, these rites were their way to stay close together.
Through these portraits, shot in 2016, I want to question society’s obsession with youth and beauty standards, and to devote a voice to these women whose beauty is rarely acknowledged.
” She was very stylish and competitive. She was in love with my father and I suppose she worried about not being good enough. She always wore lipstick, blush, high heels, earrings, perfume and curled her hair. She’d rub baby oil on herself and bought Madame Avon’s rejuvenating creams. In the evening she went to bed with cotton strips wrap under her chin and fastened on the top of her head, hoping to lift and tauten her chin and cheeks .” Lise Provost( right) talking about her mom, Laure Saucier( left ), in Acton Vale, Quebec . Saucier passed away in 2016 at 101 years old . ” I definitely find myself as ugly. Beauty fades as we get older. Our noses and ears get bigger, our gait changes, we get hunched backs. Some are worse off than me, but I’m not beautiful at all. Still, I enjoy life and I look forward to the future, even if it’s a short one when you’re 100 years old .” Jeannette Ballard, 100 years old, in Granby, Quebec . ” When I was young I had long hair, nice legs and curves. Young dames today all strive to be skinny, but I think that real beauty is natural beauty. We are who we are, and that’s all that matters .” Anne-Marie Pronovost, 100 years old, in Sutton, Quebec . Pronovost died in 2017.
” The term beauty invokes great classic French writers, and music. When I was young, I always had my nose in a book and I wrote. I don’t mean to brag, but people jealousy my writing abilities. I like Mozart a lot, but it’s Beethoven who really constructs my heart sing .” Madeleine Beaugrand Champagneage, 102 years old, in St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec . Beaugrand Champagneage passed away in 2017.
” Even though we constantly told her that she was beautiful, my mommy had always find herself ugly. She often said that she had a monkey face and that she didn’t like her plumpness. My mother regularly dieted. There were stretchings where we ran without potatoes, bread or desserts. She also tried different weight loss pills. She wore waistbands and corsets that she’d buy at Mrs Dinovitzer’s store. I think her weight had always been her biggest fixation .” Provost talking about her mom, Saucier . ” When I was young, like all women, I wanted to be attractive. I curled my hair, wore the beautiful outfits my mama attained for me and suffer under high heels. Still, I never wore makeup; I felt like it was fake. I married my husband because he was handsome, which I ended up regret. He wasn’t a very good partner and I aimed up kicking him out. Rather than maintaining physical beauty, which is vain, I advise young woman to cultivate the beauty that surrounds them. You can tend a garden, describe, play music, etc. It’s important to be kind, independent and constantly educate yourself.” Beaugrand Champagne . ” As a young lady, I could not afford to be frivolous. We were poor and had to work all the time. We had to had participated in day-to-day chores, pick the raspberries, take care of the newborns, cook, help with the harvest, do housework and bathe the children … and all of that without energy. We didn’t have time to think about beauty .” Solange Racine, 101 years old, in Granby, Quebec . ” My husband was a very good-looking man. He had beautiful curly hair, and was nicknamed ‘ Willy la coche ‘( Willy the good-looker ). It was very important for him to be always well garmented. When he went out to work at the lumber camp, he’d sell his suit and buy a brand new one when he returned. On the other hand, he was a flirtation and a bit fickle: he loved all women and drank too much. But it’s important to be able to forgive .” Anne-Marie Pronovost, 100 years old, in Sutton, Quebec . ” Of course I’d rather be good-looking rather than ugly! But back when I was young, I couldn’t be bothered with beauty. It was vanity. It was a sin. What really mattered was the family, putting food on the table and making sure that the children were bathed and clothed. I am blessed because my daughter is the one now taking care of me. She welcomed me in her home 20 years ago and I am still there. Family is all that really matters .” Isabelle Gagn( left) Z, 103 years old, in Clermont, Quebec , with her daughter( right ). ” I’m a very rational and level-headed person, and I’m not very sensitive to beauty or art. I come from a very poor household. Spending fund at the hairdresser’s or on unnecessary beauty accessories was altogether out of the question. I merely sewed by necessity. For instance, I built dress for my sisters utilizing cotton pouches that had been used for storing sugar. Still, I’ve always paid a particular attention to my hair .” Alida Provost, 101 years old, Granby, Quebec . Provost passed away in 2016.
Arianne Clement began dabbling in documentary photography w hile running as a journalist in the Canadian Arctic . Her work with the elderly has been exhibited internationally and has won many awards, awards and awardings. For more, click here . Seeming for more great work from the GroundTruth Project , the non-profit media organization engaged in narrative storytelling across different media platforms? Try these connections :
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” I actually care more about beauty today than when I was young. I like to dress rather well, in fairly, simple and convenient dresses. I put on foundation and fragrance in the morning, lipstick after each dinner, and I go to the hairdresser’s every week. I’m also careful not to eat foods that are either too rich or too sweet. It’s important to not let oneself run. I used to enjoy wearing necklaces, but I can no longer attach them, so I gave up .” Solange Racine, 101 years old, in Granby, Quebec .
” My parent was a painter and craftsman and he shared his love of art with me. I believe that everything that is artistic is beautiful: theater, scene frames, poems, paintings, blooms, ballads. In a person, it’s the character, the silhouette, the smile and the eyes that counting. That said, my biggest sadnes is not getting an education. Doorways open for you when you’re educated. Otherwise you feel shame. Regardless of the situation, I would advise young lady to train themselves .” Marie-Berthe Paquette, 102 years old, in Montr e al, Quebec .
'We Are Who We Are': What These 100 -year-old Women Teach Us About Beauty
'We Are Who We Are': What These 100 -year-old Women Teach Us About Beauty
'We Are Who We Are': What These 100 -year-old Women Teach Us About Beauty
'We Are Who We Are': What These 100 -year-old Women Teach Us About Beauty
'We Are Who We Are': What These 100 -year-old Women Teach Us About Beauty