WESTWOOD — For resident Gale Herzing, making the Top Five in the nationwide 2025 Fab Over 40 competition is less about titles and rankings and more about the message behind it: confidence, resilience, wellness, and community.
Herzing, 59, has long been active in women’s wellness advocacy, shaped in part by the loss of her sister and two close friends to cancer. The Fab Over 40 contest raises funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and Herzing says the mission resonates deeply.
“The best part of life over 40 is truly knowing yourself and feeling confident in your own skin,” she shared in her competition interview. “At 59, I live healthy, stay active, and still enjoy life’s little indulgences. My three amazing kids keep me inspired every day… and I love motivating others to care for themselves, stay positive, and embrace every age with gratitude and joy.”
Herzing weight trains five days a week and follows a disciplined diet, but she’s quick to point out that wellness is more than strict routines.
“I feel fabulous because I make my health a priority,” she said. “It’s important to enjoy life… to spend time at the beach, savor good food, and laugh with friends. At 59, that balance of strength, health, and joy keeps me feeling my best.”
Fab Over 40 invites the public to vote for contestants, with daily free votes and optional paid votes that support breast cancer programs. Herzing’s profile and voting link are at fabover40.org/2025/gale-6f1c. Voting continues through Thursday, Nov. 20.
If she ultimately wins the $40,000 prize, Herzing says it won’t be about personal gain.
“I’m very blessed financially,” she said. “I would use it to create experiences that bring joy and connection — travel, shared meals with friends and family — or to support causes that help others live healthier, happier lives.”
In Westwood, Herzing is also known as the mother of two local Boy Scouts: her older son Erik, whose Eagle project was covered in these pages, and her younger son Henry, who is preparing an Eagle project in partnership with Hackensack Children’s Hospital.