My Menopause Diary: Kimara Mitchell

Kimara Mitchell loves to make women feel fabulous, which she does daily through her two fashion-forward roles: Her job as Creative Director for Quay Australia, where she’s behind the design of chic-yet-wearable sunglasses, and as creator and author of j'adore couture, a lifestyle destination for women with a shared reverence for unique personal style. Built to chronicle her own, and others’, inspiring looks, plus cover broader issues in the fashion world, the site’s content embodies the 51-year-old’s point of view that women should wear whatever they want boldy, no matter their age or body type. For Kimara, this is a time for growth and exploration, and for passing along lessons learned, which she does by mentoring women of color in creative fields. The quote she lives by: Everything you need is already inside — Bill Bowerman, former University of Oregon track coach and co-founder of Nike. Here, how she follows that truth. When did you first realize you were hitting menopause? I suffered from fibroids for many years. I underwent a myomectomy to remove them but they just grew back, and grew back larger. As I was getting older and knew I wasn’t going to have children, my gynecologist suggested I have a hysterectomy. I was able to keep an ovary so that I wouldn’t go into menopause, but it happened anyway. The hot flashes were the first symptom (and really the only one), and I immediately thought, this is it. Best wellness habit you’ve picked up at this age?A 5-minute Journal. I had a journal all through high school, college, and after college, but an old boyfriend found them and read them, and I threw them all away (I so wish I still had them!) I really like how simple this is, and the prompts it gives you. I don’t have to write a long story, just short, stream of consciousness thoughts. Talk to us about confidence now vs the before timesThere are certain things I just don’t give a F about. One of them is what people have to say about my style. I believe in wearing what you want and owning it. I still wear pieces with cutouts, or miniskirts, or high heels. I used to be concerned with fitting in, and feeling self-conscious about being thin. I am gaining more confidence when it comes to my voice and speaking about my experiences as a Black woman, whether that’s in society, in my relationships, or in the workplace. I grew up in a time when I was told to blend in, don’t be too loud, you’ll have to work twice as much to get half as far. I didn’t know any women like myself doing what I’m doing. So now that I’m here, it’s important to connect with people about those experiences, the good and the bad. How are you kind to yourself?With the above being said, I can be hard on myself, and feel like I should have accomplished so much more by my age. Everyone is on a different journey and timing, and I remind myself that my path is my own. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the struggles, setbacks, and loss that I experienced (I lost my husband five years ago), and it’s ok to have a moment of sadness about that, but then lean into the strength I’ve gained because of it.