Fight Frump in an Organized Fashion

Ready to strut your stuff in a Blue Thong?

It all started on her 50th birthday, according to Mary Jo Wallo, the founder of the Blue Thong Society. “A bunch of us were having cocktails to celebrate,” she recalls and someone gave her a red hat as a gag gift (referring to the Red Hat Society). “But I’m not ready for a red hat,” she wailed. Another friend suggested a red thong was more in keeping with her style.

And an idea was born. Wallo is a bit of a powerhouse — she runs a successful insurance and investment business in San Diego – so she’s not one to let a good idea go to waste.

“The thing is,” she said, “we all have a mindset that’s about 20–30 years younger.” And, to her credit, her body looks to be about that as well. She confesses that she works about 80 hours a week, but always finds time to work out first thing in the morning, whether it’s lifting weights or focusing on another pleasure and passion: surfing.

All these aspects, combined with friends she has like herself, made her reject the notion that over-50 had to mean frumpy.

So, the red thong morphed into a blue one – “blue represents friendship,” Wallo says, plus it reminds her of the ocean which is relaxing as well as expansive and always moving – and from there The Blue Thong Society was born.

The concept combines social club with community activism; she says they modeled it after the Clinton Global Initiative. With a dash of Junior League as well, I’d say. Because Wallo says, “We wanted to make it meaningful” and she points out that that’s what women do so well.

It’s socializing with a social conscious,” Wallo says.

How it works: individual chapters sprout up in different cities and the group has 3 months to decide what local charity they’re going to contribute to, whether it be a local homeless shelter, food bank, habitat for humanity, Planned Parenthood, whatever. “They can change it up too,” she says.

There’s a melting pot of members, Wallo says proudly, articulating another objective:

We want to send a message to young women that it’s OK to get older!”

Wallo has tirelessly devoted herself to growing the Blue Thong Society to the point where there are thousands of chapters all over the country and even internationally. “We’re in Africa, Pago Pago, Costa Rica…”  And she’s formed strategic partnerships with the American Red Cross among several other organizations to both offer help and expand opportunities for members.

Wallo became a grandmother just last year, and turned 56 on March 12. Her birthday was celebrated, along with the Society’s 5th anniversary, on board their now annual cruise (begun last year), which entails workshops with partners like Prudential and the Leads Club, as well as lots of socializing, of course, “Two days in Cabo and a private beach party,” Wallo enthuses.

Blue hair? No way. Blue thong? Any day. You simply cannot be frumpy wearing a blue thong.

For member benefits in the The Blue Thong Society, check here. For chapters in your area, here. Or to start a chapter.