In a world that often labels women by age, Tricia Connor Jackson decided to rewrite the rules. Once a top-tier executive at Procter & Gamble and Nestlé, this powerhouse left the boardroom, survived an abusive marriage, and reignited her life in her 60s as a successful model and actress—without a single acting class or ounce of industry training. Today, she’s gracing major campaigns, starring in an upcoming Amazon MGM series, and inspiring women everywhere with her story of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-love.
“I’m 66, and every day feels like a gift,” says Tricia. “I never dreamed of this life—but I’m living it and loving every moment.”
Tricia’s story begins with grit. At 18, she packed her bags and left Washington State for Missouri, where she could live with family while pursuing a college education at Southeast Missouri State University. Her parents couldn’t afford to support her financially, so she hustled.
“I worked at the campus bookstore and paid my way through college with scholarships and jobs,” she said. It wasn’t just about getting a degree but building a life. Tricia fell in love with marketing and merchandising and soon launched a career that would span some of the biggest names in business: Procter & Gamble, Stride Rite, Nestlé, and Naturalizer, where she became Vice President of Sales for the U.S.
But success never made her forget where she came from. “I always told myself, ‘One day, I’ll give back to my university that gave me so much,’” she says. And give back she did—through two scholarships, years of mentorship, and even a keynote speech for 1,000 women at her alma mater.
Her contributions to business didn’t go unnoticed. Tricia was honored with the Alumni Merit Award—only the second woman in the university’s history to receive it for business leadership.
Tricia’s life wasn’t a straight climb. She paused her corporate career to raise three children, a decision rooted in love and necessity. “There were no baby monitors back then,” she laughs. “I didn’t trust leaving my son with anyone else.” Twelve years later, with her youngest in school, she called up her former boss. “They took me back. I restarted my career at P&G and kept climbing.”
But her story takes a darker turn. In her 50s, she entered what she thought would be a joyful second marriage. Within 21 days, it turned into a nightmare.“He became emotionally and verbally abusive almost immediately,” Tricia recalls. “I stayed for nine years only because I was ashamed of another divorce. My kids and grandkids would be affected. I didn’t want to disrupt their lives. I stayed until I realized the stress would kill me through illness if I continued to endure his abuse. So I boldly left in May 2020, at the height of the pandemic. “I left with nothing but my savings, Christmas decorations, and memories. No fork, no spoon, no can opener. Just a Ford Explorer full of courage and hope for a safer and happier life.”
At 61, Tricia moved to Palm Springs for a period, and then to her childhood home in Spokane, WA, to spend time with her 90-year-old parents. She became a substitute teacher as a means of giving back to the community. Life was quiet until a stranger approached her at a bar and said something wild: “Are you a model? You should be an actress.”
“I thought he was hitting on me,” she laughs. “But he was serious.” So, she uploaded 10 photos and a few goofy videos to a talent app for $199. What followed was a complete career pivot.
“I gave myself a $10,000 budget to try it for a year. I lost it all—but the gigs kept coming,” she says. “Now, I’ve worked with over 290 brands in skincare, beauty, health, and fitness, and been in over 37 films in lead and supporting roles. I just wrapped filming on Shopping Court with Bianca Del Rio, a new Amazon MGM pilot, and a film, Barked Up written and directed by Jose Ramos, in the lead role as a fashion mogul.”
Her transition wasn’t glamorous at first. Tricia stayed in Super 8 motels and lived out of a 10×20-foot room in Montebello, California. “I slept on a trundle bed with a mini fridge and microwave. But I was working. And I believed in myself.” She also brought her decades of sales and marketing savvy to the new gig. “I used to sell products. Now I am the product,” she laughs. “And it turns out, I can do it!”
Tricia met her current partner, Mark Steilen, in Spokane—another beautiful twist of fate. “He’s been in the entertainment industry for 40-plus years. He wrote Tag, Shameless, co-wrote There’s Something About Mary, and won a Golden Globe for Mozart in the Jungle. When we met, I was a substitute teacher. Now we’re both in the business. I couldn’t dream of a more supportive and encouraging partner.”
For Tricia, age is not a limitation—it’s a superpower. “My life is a tapestry,” she says, voice full of emotion. “Some parts are beautiful, some are awful, but together, it’s mine. And I’m proud of it.”
She doesn’t hide her age—in fact, she embraces it. “So many women are told, Don’t say your age, you won’t get hired. I say, ‘Be proud of it!’”
