Music Legend and Beauty Icon Florence LaRue Shares Insights About Beauty, Aging, and Growing Up Black in New Book “Grace in Your Second Act”

“Don’t regret growing older. It’s a privilege denied to many.” —

Florence LaRue 

LOS ANGELES  – Florence LaRue, six-time GRAMMY-Award winner and lead singer of legendary group The 5th Dimension, shares revelations about beauty, aging, and self-improvement in her debut book, “Grace in Your Second Act,” released this week. The book seeks to inspire its readers to celebrate their senior years, with particularly powerful moments where LaRue gets vulnerable about her experiences as a Black woman.

Filled with lessons learned over a 50-year career as a performer and lead singer of one of the most successful music groups in pop culture history, LaRue tackles everything from style tips, makeup and fitness, to her experiences growing up as a Black woman and overcoming beauty standards. With overarching themes of growth, confidence, and self-love, the book has lessons that resonate far beyond its initial audience. LaRue shares an emboldening perspective on age, inviting readers to re-think modern beauty standards that prioritize a particular age, style, or skin color.

“We have to stop buying into the myth that the only people who matter are the young,” she states in her book. “An often-quoted saying is, ‘Don’t regret growing older. It’s a privilege denied to many.’ … For that reason alone, we have to embrace aging with grace and thankfulness.”

Her words serve as an encouragement to older readers to enjoy their senior years, rather than fear them, but they also serve as a reassurance to younger readers. LaRue is at her most vulnerable when she discusses her youth, when she struggled with euro-centric beauty standards both throughout her childhood and in her early career. Now, as an award-winning, world-renowned performer and an icon in the Black community, she has learned to embrace her beauty, especially as she ages into her “second act.”

“Initially, I was inspired to write the book by friends and fans who constantly asked me how I had so much energy and looked so young for my age. However, as I began writing, I was led to delve deeper into the aging process, and I noticed how people (especially women) feared aging – something we can’t prevent!” says Ms. LaRue, reflecting on her experience writing the book. “It was then that I changed my focus to giving one’s self grace while aging, and to inspiring young people in their ‘first act’ to take care of themselves, while preparing for a fulfilling ‘second act,’ and to assure seniors that it is never too late to begin living a happy, healthy, fulfilling ‘second act.’”

“Grace in Your Second Act” is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

“Grace in Your Second Act”

By Florence LaRue with Jenny Paschall

Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 192 pages | ISBN 9781664227095

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 192 pages | ISBN 9781664227088

E-Book | 192 pages | ISBN 9781664227071

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Singer, writer, actress and activist Florence LaRue is perhaps best known for her role as lead vocalist of legendary group, The 5th Dimension. Revered for her melodic, soulful voice, she dominated Billboard charts with the group, earning a staggering six Grammy Awards together. Additionally, she pioneered a solo theatrical career met with critical acclaim for her one-woman show, “Just as I Am,” her lead role in the Canadian play “Mo Magic” and extraordinary cabaret show “Musique a LaRue.” Over the course of her award-winning career, she has earned 14 gold records, three platinum records, has sold over 35 million albums and received numerous other awards. Now, she ventures into the realm of written word with her first book, “Grace in Your Second Act: A Guide to Aging Gracefully.” In it, she reflects on the wisdom and knowledge of her experiences, sharing style tips, life advice, and inspiring anecdotes on how to get the most out of life. Far from pessimistic, she embraces her seniority, sharing an empowering philosophy of excitement and freedom because of her age, rather than in spite of it. When not performing and giving back to her community, LaRue enjoys spending as much time as possible with her family, which includes six great grandchildren.