Honoring My Great Grandmother's Legacy of Self-Care and Empowerment

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, I am reflecting on the extraordinary women who have shaped my life, one of them being my great grandmother, Anna. She was a true pioneer ahead of her time, her legacy of self-care and empowerment resonates with me to this day.

Growing up, my great grandmother, Anna taught me the art of facial massage as a preventative measure against wrinkles. Ahead of her time she became a licensed cosmetologist and shared with me the importance of nurturing one's skin for a healthy complexion. To this day I do her facial massage daily on my face and teach it to my facial clients and inside my “Better Than Botox Skincare Course” — the Scandinavian way to lasting skin radiance.

My great grandmother also had a great passion for holistic wellness. She taught gentle yoga stretch classes at the community center. She loved to ride her bicycle daily to the grocery store even late into her 70’s. 

One of the most profound lessons she taught me was about embracing natural beauty. Despite my teenage insecurities about thin lips, her reassuring words, “It’s not the size of your lips that matters, it’s the shape. And yours is beautiful,” echoed in my mind, reminding me that true beauty transcends societal standards.

I’d take the train to her apartment and spend the afternoon with her. In the traditional way of Danish hygge we would enjoy a cup of hot tea and healthy multi-grain cookies with butter. It was during these moments that she shared her facial massage technique with me as well as proudly showing me how she would hang in the door frame to stretch her body and stay limber. 

As I reflect on her legacy this International Women’s Day, now as a mother myself, I am reminded of the importance of passing down wisdom from one generation to the next. It is our duty to empower young women to embrace their worth, feel secure, and exude confidence in themselves.

If you’re curious to learn my great grandmother Anna’s face massage technique for radiant skin. All you need is 1-2 minutes a day, CLICK HERE to access my video tutorial.

Stay beautiful. Always. Happy International Women’s Day!

Gunilla