Infuse 5.5 FNCE Special Edition | Page 7

Her modelling profile simultaneously
grew.
Living in Toronto, she took multiple jobs on
top of the aforementioned private practice
to stay financially afloat: research officer at
the University of Toronto, speaker, nutrition
consultant, early childhood education
teacher, director of a modelling school two
evenings a week – and a model. And as her
children got older, she took up part-time
rental offices at a cardiologist, OB-GYN,
chiropractor, fitness center, dress shop…
anywhere she could afford.
Maye would get booked for modelling jobs
three weeks ahead of time, so she would not
book clients those days. “I rented a second
office full-time,” she recalls. “I had three
part-time dietitians who would help me,
as modelling became very busy, speaking
and media interviews increased, and
spokesperson work for the food industry was
regular.”
Maye found herself increasingly asked to
speak in the media on nutrition topics –
but, newly divorced, couldn’t afford to take
a day off from her practice. So, she began
to charge a fee equal to her lost income.
“People paid! That was a nice surprise,” Maye
recalls. Soon after that, food companies
also began to ask her to give talks or write
articles. “That was well-paid and kept me
very busy reading research. I loved that.”
When she moved to New York, she re-
started her nutrition business. But life
intervened. “When I moved to New
York at age 50, I wanted to become the
best dietitian in the world. Then my
grandchildren came along, and my mother
and sister [in Canada] suffered from poor
health,” shared Maye. “My family motto
is ‘Family First’. That meant visiting family
every month, which is more important than
working all the time. Now the ‘Best Dietitian
in the World’ position is open for any
colleague with the same drive.”
Following a move to LA, Maye again started
a private practice and taught at a school
but had to quit as modelling and travel
took over. Her modelling career trajectory
continued to climb, and she hit new
milestones; last year, at age 69, she was
named as CoverGirl’s oldest spokesmodel
ever – making history. Of the many
modelling jobs she’s had in her career, she
says this is her favourite -- and it also came
as a huge surprise!
interview continues overleaf...
© Dietitian Connection
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Infuse | October 2018 - Special FNCE issue