Austin Cougar Purr-sues New Image
Dr. Monica Anderson talks about the "New Age Cougar" and what they are really about.


AUSTIN, TX, July 08, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Cougars, women in their 40's and 50's who prefer dating younger men are an international phenomenon. Monica "Dr. mOe" Anderson, D.D.S., a self-proclaimed "cougar" is on a mission to change their negative image. She's redefined the term and created a list of "cougar commandments" to help younger women become empowered like their more mature counterparts. She dismisses the popular stereotypes of these women in a Sydney Australia newspaper interview saying, "Sexiness is a pleasant side effect of success". "http://nine-to-five.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/eye-of-the-cougar/,

Anderson, a dentist, multi-published author, and speaker, doesn't fit the harsh media portrayal. She doesn't frequent "cougar" bars, preying on men barely older than her two sons. She isn't coy when asked her age, in fact, she brags about being a 47-year-old grandmother. And, she doesn't convene with other cougars, wearing clothes from the juniors department, to exchange the juicy details of her latest conquest. The only thing she has in common with Kim Cattrall's character in Sex and the City is she looks the part. She's tone, fashionable, confident, and camera-ready when she stands before an audience to give a lecture or read an excerpt from one of her romance novels. So why does she call herself a cougar?

"Society is quick to label independent, accomplished women in unflattering terms like the one that rhymes with witch," Anderson explains. "In one sense, it is a compliment to be compared with a cougar when the broader attributes of the animal are considered. Cougars are very family oriented. They hunt night and day unlike most big cats that only hunt during certain hours. And they are survivors, conquering the harshest habitats. I like that about cougars. But they also pounce on their enemies and rip their throats out." She laughs before continuing, "That's not very positive is it? Sexy men who date younger women are called studs. Studs don't kill. They compete for money and breed with the best mares."

Anderson formulated her own definition of a cougar. "It's more about self-reliance and personal responsibility; less aging sex kitten and more big, powerful, cat." she insists. "The bottom line is no one refers to an economically challenged woman who dates younger men as a cougar. The women we call cougars are always successful, health conscious, and unafraid of adventure. They attract men, of all ages, because they have a lifetime pattern of making more good choices than bad. Cougars are forged over a lifetime, not formed in an instant by a single decision to date a younger man. Let's not diminish the reason they have a larger dating pool."

In her popular blog, thecougarcommandments.com, Anderson dispenses motivational wisdom on everything from dating to not dwelling on the past. Central to her philosophy are the top ten cougar commandments:

1. Pursue your passions, not people. Independent women have inner beauty and outer charisma that can't be purchased at a boutique or cosmetics counter.
2. Avoid the fear factor. Every great endeavor has great risks. When you fall, fall forward. Learn from your mistakes in life and love. Then, try again more intelligently.
3. Delegate the dishes. Success requires focus. Don't hesitate to ask for help from friends and family, especially teens. If they can text, they can type.
4. Fake it 'til you bake it. Your life is a delicate souffle, not microwave popcorn. It takes time and effort to reach realistic goals. Concentrate on the outcome you want and always act, dress, and speak like a CEO even if you're only an assistant—right now.
5. Never roar like a lion. You don't have to be one of the boys to play with the boys. Effectively communicate without shouting (or crying) and you'll be taken seriously.
6. Don't compete with your past. They're lying. Forty is not the new thirty. Embrace and flaunt your experience. Don't waste today mourning yesterday.
7. Change your mind often. Change is part of growth and pride is worthless in the store of life. Try new things and test new ideas.
8. Eat lunch with strangers. Only plants follow the sun. You're not a plant and everyone has their unique brilliance. Spend time with other age groups, other cultures, and the opposite gender if you truly strive to reach new heights.
9. Schedule your mental breakdowns. Why randomly fall apart when you can take a vacation, take a nap, or hide in the bathroom ten minutes and relax your mind? Refreshed bodies are creative, witty, and productive.
10. Never close your heart unless it's temporarily under reconstruction. Loving your neighbor is the number one rule of every Cougar. And your neighbor happens to be ten years younger and very handsome, that's called serendipity, a wonderful coincidence.


Hollywood is not the only industry lauding the rise of the cougar. The fashion industry is also very interested in this demographic group's youthful fashion sense and above average disposable income. Michelle Hawley, a marketing major at the University of North Texas, recently participated in a research project on cougar women. The twenty-year-old was pleasantly surprised by the results. "I knew there was more to these women than just the media view of them. They don't let their age or society's views dictate the way they live. Now, I realize growing older doesn't mean the fun has to stop." The extensive study concluded this consumer group is very distinct from their peers and they are a market advertisers (and younger men) should not ignore.

About Monica Anderson:

Monica "Dr. mOe" Anderson is a practicing doctor of dental surgery, motivational speaker, journalist, and published author of four books, including the Essence bestseller When A Sistah's FED UP. She is a graduate of Baylor University and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Dr. mOe resides in Austin, Texas.

Media Contact: Tony Anderson
TyMAC Books, Director of Marketing
Ph (817) 798-8933
info@drmoeanderson.com
http://www.drmoeanderson.com

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