At 80, Dolly Parton still wasn’t finished.
At 80, Dolly Parton still wasn’t finished.
And maybe that’s one of the greatest lessons she leaves us.
Yesterday was a tough day.
Like so many women around the world, I found myself thinking about Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life. Even today, listening to her songs in the car and seeing all the beautiful tributes had me in tears again.
So I wanted to dedicate Episode 3 of my Reinvention Series to her.
Dolly grew up one of 12 children, with 11 siblings in a tiny cabin in the Smoky Mountains.
From those beginnings, she went on to become one of the most successful songwriters and performers of all time.
But what I find so inspiring about Dolly is that she never stopped there.
She became an actress, a businesswoman and a philanthropist. She built Dollywood. Inspired by her father, who couldn't read or write, she founded the Imagination Library, which has now gifted hundreds of millions of books to children around the world.
And she kept creating.
At 77, she released her first rock album.
There was seemingly no age at which Dolly decided she'd had her turn.
She never tried to become younger. She simply became more Dolly.
I love that.
Because women are still so often given the message that there is an age when we should start stepping back. When our biggest ambitions should be behind us. When we should become quieter, smaller or somehow less visible.
I don't believe that.
I started Estetika at 50, after raising three children, with no experience building a premium beauty brand.
I didn't do it because I wanted to become someone else.
I did it because I still had something I wanted to create and learn and evolve to.
And that's really why I started the Reinvention Series.
I want to tell the stories of women in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond who are still creating, travelling, building businesses, changing careers, learning, taking risks and asking themselves:
What else is there for me?
Reinvention doesn't always mean starting over.
Sometimes it means becoming more of who you already are.
Another idea.
Another dream.
Another adventure.
Another chapter.
Dolly spent a lifetime showing us what that can look like.
At 80, Dolly Parton still wasn't finished.
And neither are we.
Rest in peace, Dolly. What a woman. What a life.
Wanda x
Founder, Estetika
A little more pink
Dolly was never afraid of colour, femininity, glamour or being completely herself.
So if ever there was a week to embrace a little more pink, this is it.
Our Ultimate Pink Bundle, created with LA makeup artist Kellie Baker Browne, brings together our Blush Pink favourites for beautiful organisation from home to hotel.