A 52-year-old Denver woman says being chosen from 9,000 applicants to receive a professional makeover for the March/April edition of AARP The Magazine was “fantastic.”
Marie Verrett was one of 10 people nationwide older than 50 selected in September.
The issue hits stands today.
An Air Force veteran, Verrett is the director of operations for the local nonprofit Art From Ashes, which “empowers struggling youth through poetry and other therapeutic workshops that facilitate expression, connection and transformation,” according to the group’s website.
But for two days in October, Verrett played the part of a supermodel as she was flown to Minneapolis and whisked around the city by fashion designers and stylists for photo-shoot preparation.
“Every woman should have an experience like that. . . . It was so fantastic for me,” Verrett said. “They actually treated us like movie stars when we got up there — it was a whirlwind day.”
AARP’s lifestyle editor Gabrielle Redford, who served on the selection board, said Verrett was an ideal fit because of her community involvement and upbeat demeanor.
“She’s a very striking-looking woman, but she is also up for anything. She is very enthusiastic about everything,” Redford said.
“She was in the military for years and years, and that’s also how she dressed,” Redford said. “When she took her ‘before’ photos, she was in a nice suit, but it was still kind of formal. What we wanted to do for her is give her another look.”
Verrett said she felt as if the style fit her personality.
“I think inside I’m a fun person, but I was never able to portray that in what I wore,” she said.
This is the fourth year AARP has sponsored the contest. This year’s winners were from ages 52 to 79.
“I think AARP is doing a good thing by letting this contest come out so they can tell the over-50 population that we’re still vibrant,” Verrett said. “We have a lot going for ourselves.”
Anthony Lee Bowe: 720-382-6774 or abowe@denverpost.com
