Becoming a viral sensation was not on Jan’s radar for 2026. One Instagram post + over 2k likes later, Jan shares a short piece she wrote for her creative writing group as she recounts her RUBY social media debut...
It all started with a text...
"Hi Jan, Bailey here, a friend of your granddaughter Lili. I work for RUBY – a clothing label based here in Auckland. I was wondering if you would be free and interested in helping me tomorrow – to take a quick photo in one of our tops – like the one in the photo to share on our socials”
Next text shows an elderly lady back on, looks like she is waiting at a bus stop, wearing a very drab unimpressive, dress. [Not RUBY’S] Followed by a pic of a crinkle adorned see through short sleeved top
I look at the first photo – very uninspiring - both model and dress, and I reply saying how sorry I am, but I don’t think I would be in ANY WAY suitable – especially since my fall, as I have had to let my iconic hairdo grow out and now feel my head looks like a pimple on a pumpkin – teeny head on large body.
I go to the RUBY Instagram site. The label is for young trendies - I am 82!
Back and forth go texts as I protest my unsuitability, but Bailey’s assures me I would be EXACTLY what the company wants – something “Authentic.”
Lili rings to say she will have an hour off for lunch and will come with Bailey, who will bring garments.
My denials fall upon deaf ears, so I say come over now and see me, convinced they will see there is NO way I would be suitable.
I rushed about the house, so delighted my Granddaughter would be coming here – she so rarely visits, throwing things in cupboards and making sure there are flowers in the vases.
I am outside – picking parsley, and as invariably happens, getting waylaid by some weeds. I am still lingering there in my gardening clothes and 12-year-old embroidered slippers when they arrive.
Bailey is ecstatic about doing the shoot, I will be perfect he tells me. He darts about the rooms, but the house, though great, is too busy, too much to see, can he come back and see all my paintings another day?
He is out in the tiny garden [not many flowers at this time of year] running across the back of the house he spies the dilapidated garden shed. NOT the cute shed with the monarch butterfly – the rusted, moss embellished one – dismantled from my daughter’s garden years ago – ready to go to the tip – installed here where it is unseen – storing all the detritus of previous gardens - old rusted tools, bags of compost, sticks, bottles, and cartons of scraps and recycle treasures for a friend’s kindy. PERFECT !! he says – SO authentic.
I am hustled into a pair of overly long black trousers – sadly we can’t get the zip up properly, and I take off my gardening cardigan etc and on goes the top – it fits! Lili has rushed out front to my car and returns with my new sunglasses. Having rummaged through my earrings box, she has found some [almost] matching earrings. Shoes – “Nah, those slippers look cute – they will be fine” from Bailley.
Hair pulled back in a rubber band, not brushed since I’d got up at 8 a.m.
I am told to lean against the shed doors – I ask for them to be shut so all the mess doesn’t show – “NO Grandma Jan - THAT is what folk want to see”. Photo taken. Then we literally run to the side garden where a plastic watering can is shoved in my hand. I protest as I have great rustic arty old metal ones {“sorry no time “– Lili has to go back to work!”} As we head out through the garage/painting area I walk around the opposite side of the tables past my big easel – Bailey takes another unexpected last minute shot.
Then the whirlwind is gone - I am somewhat stunned. WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!
Several hours later my Granddaughter from Melbourne rings – “Grandma!!!! Have you seen the RUBY Instagram site? You have dozens of “likes” already! “I look at the site – “rubytakessnaps” there are the photos – 4 of them and the “likes” are going up rapidly as I watch.”
A week later there are over 2,130.
From Bailley I get a text – “Hi Jan just wanted to say that we had our marketing meeting today and got some feedback from our store managers that the post of you brought a lot of attention to the business- and we had lots of older customers wanting to purchase the top. So thank you. Made a mark for sure!
[I am going to buy the top]
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