I was the vicar’s daughter – but now I’m 50 and strutting around in a bikini, 20-year-old girls at the gym talk to me

SHE’S a leader of the self-love revolution and a proud vibrator advocate, throwing free sex toys on tour buses across the US.

Meet Lou Featherstonea 50-something mother who now poses half-naked for more than 80,000 fans on Instagram… despite having spent her childhood in a religious home, with her father being a vicar.

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Although life at home was more rigid than that of his peers, Lou, one of three brothers, was always the resilient spirit, shortening his school skirts and rolling up his socks.

“The rule book for my good behavior was actually very high and I was very rebellious.

”My poor, poor father. Everyone expected me to be generally well-behaved – and I absolutely wasn’t.”

Now Lou, who has recently returned from a US tour, talks about the menopause, losing her sparkle – and finding it, and embracing her sexuality in her 40s and 50s.

‘I always said to pull my skirt down’

The “loud” blogger and “accidental middle-aged influencer” remembers being mischievous since her school days – and for Lou, fashion was a way to stand up to her parents.

Not only would she be told to pull her “skirt down”, but the then young student would also find herself sitting at the “naughty table” for talking back, not standing still and “refusing” to do what she wanted. she was informed.

“To then sleep with most of the church choir,” Lou shared in an exclusive chat with Fabulous.

”As a child, I was naughty. I gave him some sleepless nights,” she joked, adding that her brother grew up and became “more conservative.”

”As a mother now, I must say that I deeply apologize to my parents.”

Becoming a mother – and losing yourself

Before becoming a mother, Lou imagined herself with “dozens” of little ones – but her first, and so far only, pregnancy changed her perspective.

”I found motherhood very complicated at the beginning. I didn’t like the pregnancy, the birth was horrible for me.

”I spent two years pretending I didn’t have postpartum depression – when in fact I did.”

During her early years as a mother – which she now loves and adores – Lou’s ex-husband was away working “a lot” and she “really didn’t expect” to do so much of it herself.

Suddenly prioritizing her role as a mother and wife “to support” her ex-partner, over time Lou realized that she “had lost” her identity.

”I lost my voice and the ability to ask for what I needed, which to me now seems shocking – but it lasted a long time.

Starting a new chapter in the US after her ex-husband was offered a new job kept the family “happy” – but the happiness “came at the expense” of Lou.

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The starting point – being naked on top of a volcano

When Lou moved to the United States, she fell in love with CrossFit and soon formed a local walking team after sharing a photo of herself on Facebook.

”I just met so many amazing women and we shared all these incredible adventures together, and I started to get fit and really confident.”

Then one day, upon reaching the top of a volcano, Lou took off all her clothes and asked someone to take a raunchy photo of her completely naked.

Feeling “like a badass”, Lou posted the photo on social media – and this is the first time she has received the dreaded “dumb photo” from a “gym” 26-year-old. partner”.

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Although the nude photo was “unsolicited,” it made the mom feel “horny for the first time in years.”

“When I met my husband, over the years we kind of neglected each other – and it wasn’t anyone’s fault.

”This stupid photo […] made me realize that I had kept this big part of me away because I didn’t want to cause confusion […] and we had this narrative that we had a lot of things to be grateful for.

This, over time, caused “lingering discontent” and, despite seeking couples therapy, it was ultimately the stupid photo that brought about the end of their 20-year marriage.

Moving to the guest room

Sometime after the COVID-19 lockdown, the marriage fell apart and, as he couldn’t afford to live in two different properties, Lou moved into the family’s guest room.

It was also when the mother entered the menopausal phase of her life – and decided to share her journey online, both so she could reflect on it later and to be there for others.

”I found menopause really empowering […] – and a lot of it isn’t sexy, but I started to rediscover my sensuality again after years without much sex in my marriage.

The growing social media presence and message were also spotted by a vibrator company, which offered Lou the opportunity to become an advocate for sex toys.

And soon she found herself with thousands of fans, knocking on her door, looking for advice, before Lou wrote an online course on all things confidence “and how to give less shit”.

Not long after, when his son left home to travel for a year, Lou stumbled upon an old bus that had been converted into a trailer.

”I immediately had the idea of ​​buying a bus and taking it on tour across the United States, preaching self-love and confidence, and holding events locally.

“Make the bus a little bigger, so everyone can see it coming – a bit like my clothes,” joked the mother.

”And I thought I could throw vibrators out the window – […] and I did it!

The idea also had many sponsors interested in participating in Lou’s project, including a vibrator company as well as a vaginal wellness brand.

6,000 miles and 28 states, numerous events – and even more vibrators – to New York, and Lou, who has now boarded the bus back to the UK, also has plans for a similar style tour here.

‘I loved being married… but’

For many years, being married “felt safe” and Lou “will always support that.”

“But there is also life on the other side – it doesn’t always have to be forever.

“If this could inspire just one woman to find her voice, in her own marriage, then it would be worth it.

”If I helped them in some way, that to me is a success.”