VMP Covergirl - Nicole Lerda

This week’s VMP Covergirl is……Nicole Lerda! 🎉

There are some people you just connect with immediately, and Nicole Lerda was one of those people for me.

I met Nicole through the Brave Women Project, and I was immediately drawn to her warmth and generosity. She’s deeply involved in our community, always seems to be supporting something or someone, and has built a business with that same spirit of care.

But one of the things I loved most about Nicole’s interview was what she had to say about self-trust.

After spending 20 years in financial services, Nicole eventually became an entrepreneur and is now the owner of MaxxCole Salon. As she moves into this next chapter, she’s continuing to grow the business with the launch of MaxxCole Beauty & Boutique Co., expanding beyond the salon and spa into a thoughtfully curated boutique and gifting company.

And at 50, she says she has become much less concerned with what she is “supposed” to be and more confident in trusting herself.

Her advice to her younger self: “I would tell my younger self that I didn’t need anyone’s approval other than my own.” That feels particularly meaningful at this stage of life.

After decades spent accomplishing, building, caring for other people and becoming who we are, there is something powerful about pausing long enough to recognize the experience, wisdom and intuition we already possess.

That’s also what Nicole wanted from her portrait experience. “More than anything, the experience reminded me that I didn’t need to be thinner, younger, or different to be proud of the woman in the photograph. I just needed to see her for who she is.”

Meet this week’s 50 Over 50 Covergirl, Nicole Lerda. ❤️

On November 5th, Nicole will be one of the 50 women featured in our second 50over50 exhibition as we celebrate all 100 women photographed over the course of this six-year project.

Here's what Nicole had to say about this season of her life...

💎 Did you have any older female role models when you were younger? 

Working in the financial services industry for 20 years, I didn’t have many female mentors to choose from, so I became intentional about seeking out groups of like-minded women. I surrounded myself with women of different ages and backgrounds who I could learn from, share ideas with, bounce things off of, and who helped me build the professional confidence to become my best.

I’ve continued this throughout my entire career. I’ve learned that you’re never too old to learn from someone who has already paved the road ahead of you. Some of my greatest lessons have come from women who were willing to share their experiences, challenge my thinking, and remind me that we don’t have to navigate our careers alone.

💎 How did you mark turning 50? How did that feel to you?

I had celebrated my 30th and 40th birthdays in Las Vegas, one of my favorite places, so it was only fitting that I would celebrate my 50th there too. I invited family and friends, and to my surprise, everyone made the trip. I felt incredibly loved and supported.

But turning 50 gave me something unexpected—a new sense of freedom. I felt more comfortable in my own skin, more confident in who I am, and less concerned with what I was “supposed” to be. I realized that this next chapter could be about embracing who I’ve become, enjoying the life I’ve built, and giving myself permission to dream even bigger.

💎 What advice would you give your younger self?

100%. I would tell my younger self that I didn’t need anyone’s approval other than my own. For years, I found myself chasing the approval of others, when all along I had the experience, intuition, and tools I needed to make great decisions for myself. I would tell her to trust her instincts, trust what she’s learned, and have confidence in her own judgment. You know yourself better than anyone else, and trusting that can make all the difference.

💎 Do you feel like you've changed since you've turned 50? 

I feel that my values and ethics, which have guided me my entire life, have remained steady. What has changed is the depth of my experience and my confidence, both professionally and personally. Turning 50 has brought a greater sense of self-acceptance. I’m more comfortable with who I am, what I believe, and the decisions I make. I haven’t changed my values—I’ve simply grown more confident in living them.

💎 Do you have any goals or projects you're working on? What dreams do you have for the future?

Upon our sixth anniversary on September 8, 2026, we are proud to launch our new brand, MaxxCole Beauty & Boutique Co., complete with a new logo, new brand palette, a more interactive website, and an expanded menu of services throughout our salon and spa.

What started as a few shelves inside our brick-and-mortar salon has evolved into a robust boutique featuring a thoughtfully curated collection of products from women-owned businesses across the United States. From there, I developed a full gifting company offering custom gifts for one person or 100+, corporate gifting, and small gifts and favors. What truly differentiates us is our luxury wrapping and white-glove delivery service.

My goal is to continue growing the boutique and redefine the art of gift giving—creating gifts that are not simply beautiful, but thoughtful, personal, and memorable. I want every gift we create to become a lifelong memory for the person receiving it.

💎 What is your best advice for other women who are coming up on turning 50? What do you 'know' now?

I would encourage women turning 50 to pause and look back at their accomplishments and the moments in life that have shaped who they are today. Embrace this milestone with a positive attitude and be proud of the woman you’ve become. There is nothing to be afraid of. In my experience, there has been even more support, confidence, and success on the other side of 50. It can be the beginning of an incredibly exciting chapter—so embrace it!

💎 What do you most want people to remember about you?

First and foremost, I would want them to say that I was a good daughter and a good wife to the people I love most.

Professionally, I would want them to say that I was an astute and intentional entrepreneur who made decisions with the well-being of my employees and the clients who supported us through the years at the forefront of my mind. I would want them to say that I showed genuine appreciation for the people who believed in me, supported me, and helped me along the way.

And personally, I would hope they would say I was an authentic, generous, and charismatic woman who loved to have fun—and, even more importantly, loved making sure the people around me had fun, too.

💎 Why are beautiful photos important to you right now?

Beautiful photos of me are important right now because I want to celebrate the woman I am today—not just the younger version of myself. For so many years, I was focused on what I was accomplishing, building, and doing for everyone else. At 50, I have a greater appreciation for who I am, how far I’ve come, and the life I’ve created. These photos are a way to pause and recognize that woman, with confidence and without apology. I want to look back years from now and remember not only what I accomplished, but how I felt about myself in this season of my life.

💎 What is something you believe about women over 50 that you wish more people understood?

I wish more people understood that turning 50 doesn’t diminish a woman—it celebrates everything she has gained along the way. She still has the intelligence, experience, personality, and passion she always had, but now she has 50 years of life experience behind her.

Turning 50 is an accomplishment. It means 50 years of navigating the ups and downs, learning, growing, adapting, and becoming the woman you are today. Women over 50 are bright, strong, confident, and fearless. We have earned our place at the table, and we are just getting started.

And if you underestimate us because of our age, you better watch out!

💎 Have you ever been professionally photographed? If yes, how was that experience for you?

Yes, I’ve been professionally photographed throughout my career on several different occasions. Like many women, I never particularly enjoyed seeing myself in photographs. At every shoot, I found myself wishing I were thinner, more attractive, or somehow more successful than I already was.

Last year, I decided to treat myself to the Villa Montarti 50 Over 50 photo shoot, created specifically to celebrate women like me. This time, the experience was very different. I enjoyed shopping for my outfits, researching makeup and hairstyles, and looking forward to Tracy’s expertise in helping me look and feel my best.

On the day of the shoot, I was a little nervous, but it didn’t take long for me to get into the swing of things. I had fun. I felt good. And I walked away with photographs that I’m genuinely proud of and excited to use in my marketing and professional life.

More than anything, the experience reminded me that I didn’t need to be thinner, younger, or different to be proud of the woman in the photograph. I just needed to see her for who she is.

Congratulations Nicole! It’s an honor to help you celebrate YOU and your journey and I’m so glad you said YES to yourself! 🎉

NOTE: If you've been enjoying these stories, I'd love for you to join us at the 50 Over 50 Exhibition & Celebration on November 5th, 2026, where you'll be able to experience the portraits and stories of these remarkable women in person. Get your tickets here