Although success may look different to you at different points in life, the ability to achieve success has no age limit. In this month of celebrating women, it seems only fitting that Melder Women should be in our spotlight. Purpose propels us forward. May you find inspiration and purpose in the myriad achievements of these women.
Diana Nyad: At age 64, became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.
Doris Self: Recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “oldest video game champion” at the age of 58 by scoring 1,112,300 points in the arcade game Q*bert.
Estella Mims Pyfrom: Launched “Estella’s Brilliant Bus,” a mobile learning lab for underserved children, at age 72.
Estelle Getty: After years as a relatively unsuccessful actress, she achieved widespread fame at the age of 63 as Sophia in “The Golden Girls” television series.
Flo Meiler: Set world records in pole vaulting and other track events in her 80s.
Grandma Moses: The American folk artist whose work was featured at the MoMA in New York and who graced the cover of Time in 1953, didn’t even begin painting until she was 78.
Harriette Thompson: A cancer survivor who ran her first marathon at the age of 76, and at 91 years old completed her 15th marathon becoming the second-oldest marathon runner in U.S history.
Iris Apfel: Became a fashion icon and subject of a documentary in her 80s and 90s, including a MAC cosmetic line at age 90.
Jacqueline Santiago: Earned a college degree and a scholarship to Columbia University at age 60.
Jane Fonda: Continues to be a prominent climate activist and fitness advocate in her 80s.
Laura Ingalls Wilder – Began writing “Little House on the Prairie” at age 65; it later became a beloved television series.
Rosemary Smith – A rally race champion in the 1960s, she became the oldest person to drive a Formula 1 car in 2017 when she was 79.
Ruth Prow: Founded “Golden Years Travel” in South Africa to target the senior travel market.
Sophie Amoruso: Sold her fashion business and published a book on entrepreneurship around age 60.
Toni Morrison: Won the Nobel Prize for Literature at age 62.
