More Magazine is currently running its 2011 Beauty Search Contest. You can vote on line for the woman you think best represents the word beauty. There are many worthy candidates entered and each makes a statement about beauty 50+. Today I want to present my favorite to you and to invite you to participate in this contest as an exercise to rethink the meaning of the word beauty as it relates to women and the media.

Dr Helen Harkness has been convinced to enter by a friend and former client who obviously has an eye for true beauty. I am sure Helen was at first reluctant and she is quoted as saying “I no more consider myself a beauty then I do a little old lady in tennis shoes.” However, this contest is about inner beauty, accomplishment, mission and value. Not just outer beauty so let’s remind Dr. Harkness about the meaning of beauty and help her to win.

Below are the details about how you can vote for Helen.
A vote for Helen is a vote for a Woman of the Harvest.
A vote for Helen is a statement that you understand how beauty is a living thing and as such it grows and evolves at every stage of life.
A vote for Helen is a thank you to someone who confirms for us every day that life 50+ is a stage of human development in which we can engage with great passion and grace.

I first met Helen on the phone and I was convinced that she was a poster child for the Fabulous 50+ Woman. When I met her in person some months later it was the twinkle in her eyes which first caught my attention as she approached me. That I said to myself must be Dr Harkness. I was bowled over by her energy, compassion and lust for and commitment to life.

In her biographical piece on the More website Helen talks about her work helping adults to redesign their careers “…to help them work through that process to find their passion and a way to pursue it to reach inner contentment – this continually fills my heart with happiness. If I am more beautiful now, I believe it is because of the reflection of the beauty around me when people find their way to personal fulfillment. “
I believe Helen has just described one of the world’s most potent beauty secrets. This “product” is not free however. In Helen’s case it costs many hours of dedicated time and effort. Helen still works full time helping others to find their way to meaningful work. And who better to lead the way on that path than someone who lives the experience of work which fills your heart and soul.

I think Helen’s beauty grows each day in a face which has lived and which has harvested from that adventure the invigorating joy of personal contribution and of full engagement in life.

A vote for Helen is a vote for what beauty really means to us all!

Go to https://www.more.com/user/register and register your account. Takes about 30 seconds.
Then search for her name to vote for her or come back to this communication and Click here (directly to Helen’s profile) and then click “She’s Got my Vote”.
You can vote once every day! The contest ends April 15th, so start voting now and vote often and share this with your friends please.