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Think TikTok and Instagram are filled solely with influencers in their 20s and 30s? You could be missing out. Many midlife women are creating and sharing terrific information on social media, using their platforms to discuss a range of topics — everything from fitness and fashion to feeling fabulous at any age. While many of these influencers do recommend products (and include links from which they profit), there’s no purchase required to enjoy their content.
Here are eight influencers over 50 who we think are worth checking out:
Lori Altermann
Instagram & TikTok: @lorialtermann
Lori, who started her journey on social media when she was 55 years old, admits that she knew little about computers or content creation when she started (and she cautions anyone who wants to get into this business not to let their husband be their tutor but instead hire a college student who can explain it to you). Through “pain and agony,” she figured it out and can use a laptop now — lucky for her 127K TikTok followers. Lori knows how to keep her fans laughing. One of her most popular segments is titled “Things I don’t give a f*&% about — menopause edition.”
Maria
TikTok: @thefitnesschick
Feel free to ask fitness motivator Maria her age. She is proud to say she’s 64 years young and believes, “Our bodies are capable of anything… it’s our minds that need to be convinced.” Maria shares her workout routines, weight training advice, nutritional knowledge and stellar dance moves with her 88K followers.
Tonia Ranco
Instagram & TikTok: @rancobeauty
While preteens have long lists of must-have products from Sephora, those of us in midlife may feel a lot more clueless about skincare and makeup. Enter Tonia Ranco, a beauty influencer for women 50 and older. She has 207 followers on TikTok and 36K on Instagram who look to her for advice on makeup and skincare, specifically for mature skin. Tonia’s videos are easy to follow and include specific products she recommends. Especially terrific are her “Get Ready with Me” segments, which always start with grabbing a favorite beverage and sharing stories about her life while she applies her makeup.
Kim Hale
Instagram & TikTok: @mskimhale
In her 20s, Kim Hale wanted to be a dancer on Broadway. But life took her in a different direction, and she let go of that dream. Now, she’s ready to finish what she started. At 53, Kim decided to pack up all of her belongings and move from LA back to New York to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a dancer on Broadway. She chronicles her journey on her TikTok page, including a series titled "It's Never Too Late." Says Kim, "When I pursued this dream in my 20s, I lacked the maturity to navigate the ups and downs of pursuing a goal. I was here on my own with a little support and did the best I could at the time. My prayer is that this time, it will be different." Her 755K TikTok followers hope so, too, as they watch her work toward her dreams and perhaps get inspired to pursue some of their own.
Ruth Govender
Instagram: @ruthgovender
TikTok: @ruthgovender_
If you can’t figure out what to wear, look no further than Ruth Govender, an over-60 fashion influencer with fantastic style and 74K TikTok followers. Ruth leans toward bold, bright colors, classic silhouettes and chic accessories. She showcases women ages 40 and up with different figures and style aesthetics, so there really is something for everyone. Browsing through her content, I felt inspired to finally break out of my standard all-black evening wardrobe.
Cynthia Gouw
Instagram: @cynthia_gouw
TikTok: @cynthiagouw
If you hate how you look in photos, 61-year-old Cynthia Gouw has got you covered! A model for over 40 years, she knows how to strike a pose. Cynthia gives tips for confidently posing for pictures with her 279 TikTok followers. Not one to gatekeep her knowledge, she also shares fashion tips, skin care advice (she's a big Vitamin C fan), makeup application and weight loss tricks.
Luisa
Instagram & TikTok: @thesilverlining_1970
Luisa is all about age positivity. A wife, mother, model and photographer, she uses her platform to dispute ageist sayings such as, "She looks good FOR HER AGE," "She's STILL beautiful" and "You would look younger with dyed hair." The silver-haired beauty says her favorite thing about going grey has been "connecting with so many uplifting, inspiring, and encouraging women around the world."
Jenn Sherman (& her BFF Sunny)
Instagram & TikTok: @sunnyandjenn
If you have ever thought, "My best friend and I should start doing TikTok together," then you will love @sunnyandjenn. Best friends for 39 years, Jenn Sherman (a well-loved Peloton instructor) and her best friend Pam, aka Sunny, joined TikTok a year ago and have already amassed 140K followers. They share everything, including insights about life and pop culture, products they tried at Trader Joe's (along with honest critiques) and what they wear to dinner. Watching these two is like hanging out with your lifelong girlfriends. The conversation is warm, genuine, easy, and, of course, good fun.
Photo credits (from top): Aubrey Elizabeth Photography; Courtesy Tonia Ranco; Courtesy Ruth Govender; Courtesy Jenn Sherman
Who do YOU love following on social media? Let us know in the comments below.
