This months WOW Woman is Louise Chunn, Editor of the ‘Thinking Woman’s Glossy’ Psychologies. A Fabulous 50 plus native of New Zealand Louise has been associated with quality publications for nearly 3 decades, these include deputy editor of Elle, features director of Vogue, Editor of Instyle and Good Housekeeping. Louise balances her career and her family and generously shares her thoughts with us in my latest Q&A.
Louise what really matters to you?
I would be a pretty strange woman if I didn’t say my family – parents, husband, children – but it is also important to me to be doing something journalistically that I can feel excited by and proud of.
You had a year not working. I wonder what positives you took from this experience?
The great advantage was time. I think everyone who has a close relationship with me – my husband and children especially – would say I became a lot more present in their lives. I listened and understood them in a way that, unfortunately, I hadn’t in the previous few years. I tend to see that now as a worthwhile break.
What has age given you?
A little more wisdom than I had when I was younger. I am constantly realising that I was wrong about something or someone. But I do believe that is simply being human – we should all be able to live with our mistakes
What’s important to you about being a Mum and Wife at Midlife?
I have 2 older children, in there 20s, from my first marriage, and a 10 year old with my husband. Blended families like ours are complicated, but they’re lovely too. With the kids, it’s important to be available (more of a problem now I am working, though I have one day a fortnight off). With my husband, I want us both to remember what brought us together 20 years ago, so it will keep us from getting bored or resentful.
What inspires you?
I used to think it was art and creativity, but lately I realise how much power nature has to make me feel great. Sunshine, flowers, the sea – I feel renewed by seeing beautiful things
What do you love about being a Woman?
I love luxuriating occasionally. By which I mean, everything from having a treatment at my local salon (Food & Face) to a sustained trawl of the fashion floors of Selfridges.
Where do you consider home?
I love New Zealand, but London is my home. I love it and can’t imagine ever leaving.
What hopes do you have for the coming years, both personally and professionally?
Personally, I would love to have a little place in the sun. Professionally, I want Psychologies to be the byword for life-curious women. Not just the magazine, but also a vibrant website and great events too.
Would you alter anything in your life?
It’s an impossibility, but I wish my parents weren’t old. Ridiculously, I can’t seem to get my mind around the fact that they get older, just as I do. I feel I don’t need them any less than I ever did!
What are you passionate about?
I don’t have a single passion. I read a lot of fiction, love movies, have a group of women I go to the theatre with, like to cook (a bit), have a small garden — but really my happiest moments are when there are friends and family sitting around the table and we’re all talking at once
What advice would you share with other midlife women about loving their years?
Try not to get obsessed with getting older. My mother is still great looking in her 80s – and very wrinkled. Who cares?! Staying fit is wise (I run with a trainer once a week and have for about five years – it is worth every penny), and avoid getting fat. Don’t get too thin either; skinny faces are not as appealing once you’re over 50. And have sex if you get the chance …
Thanks to Louise for her generosity and all I can say is age really does bring so much to our lives, keep loving your years Louise! If you’ve never picked up a copy of Psychologies magazine, put it on your shopping list. It’s a fabulous Read!
Love to hear what you love about your years and remember you are all WOW!
Happy day!
Jayne x
Another great article, thanks Jayne, and I do like Louise and what she’s done with Psychologies magazine. Thank goodness there’s something accessible out there that isn’t all about celebs and shopping. But there’s a small gripe I had that I’d have loved to ask Louise. Why does Psychologies always feature airbrushed beauties (usually actresses) on its cover rather than real, inspiring women? It seems to contradict what the magazine is about. It’s bad enough that its pages are full of adverts for anti-wrinkle creams (but I know that they have to get ad revenue from somewhere).
Surely the cover could feature a real woman who isn’t necessarily a beauty?
Take a look at the current issue of Intelligent Life, with the bare-faced, sixty-something Grace Coddington smiling on the cover. And this week (for International Women’s Day) the papers have been full of inspirational women, of all ages and races, who have fantastic life achievements – so there’s no shortage of role models… and no need for Psychologies to look like every other mag.
Thanks Karen and I have passed your comment on to Louise. I’m going to blog about diversity next week, it’s such a huge subject.
I was attracted to this article because I have been impressed with Louise Chunn’s work on Psychologies Mag. I stopped reading magazines years ago, because I found the focus of most of them fickle and uninspiring. Psychologies is different and this article provides insight into a leadership mindset that inspires the vision and content of this brilliant Mag.
Much of what Louise writes about resonates with me, thanks for sharing x
Congratulations on another good article. I really enjoyed reading it & found myself thoroughly engaged. In fact I was nodding most of the time which probably means it confirms my own views. I don’t buy magazines but if I did Pyschologies would be the one for me.