Woman, 83, Still Runs Her Lawn Business—Her Uniform Just Won the Internet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A boomer aunt from Indiana is going viral on Reddit for what her comical uniform she wears for work.
Phyllis, who is 83, still runs her own lawn care operation and dons a pink T-shirt that reads: "I'm sexy and I mow it" as she works.
Her nephew Derek posted the photos of Phyllis on the r/pics subreddit under the handle u/nlderek, and within 24 hours the post has racked up more than 2 million views.
Photos of the Reddit poster's 83-year-old aunt wearing pink T-shirt that reads: "I'm sexy and I mow it" while mowing the lawn.
Photos of the Reddit poster's 83-year-old aunt wearing pink T-shirt that reads: "I'm sexy and I mow it" while mowing the lawn.
u/nlderek
Derek told Newsweek that his aunt's business started around 15 years ago. "She noticed that the neighbor of my now 97-year-old great aunt wasn't keeping his lawn kept up, [so] she contacted him and he agreed to let her mow it for a fee," he said.
From there, Phyllis' business grew by word of mouth. Most of her clients came from similar situations: she'd spot a neglected lawn, reach out with competitive prices, and quickly became the go-to mower for neighbors and friends.
"Sometimes she mows yards without them even asking! She just wants them to look good," Derek said. "Let's put it this way—you're very lucky to have her as a neighbor."
Phyllis's green fingers aren't the only things wowing customers—it's her uniform. Years ago, her family bought her a t-shirt that said: "Phyllis's lawn care—you grow it, I mow it", and she wore it constantly.
Then Derek found her current T-shirt with the LMFAO reference to their song "I'm Sexy and I Know It," knowing she'd love it.
Phyllis had even attended an LMFAO concert during Super Bowl festivities in Indianapolis. "So she knew the song and she adopted the shirt as her uniform," Derek added.
The 83-year-old, who retired more than 20 years ago from a career as an accounts receivable administrator, hasn't slowed down one bit, according to her nephew.
"She has been the taxi to appointments for more people than I can count, and I don't mean as a literal taxi driver, but just someone who volunteers to help out," Derek told Newsweek.
"She is very family focused, and although having no children of her own, she has more 'adopted' children and family members than I can count," he said.
Her off-hours are no-less packed. She never misses a Colts, Pacers or Fever game, frequently watching from local bars if she doesn't have tickets. She's also attended the Indy 500 every year for over three decades and even finds time for international travel, from Caribbean cruises to adventures as far as New Zealand.
At the time of writing, Derek's post has received 25,000 upvotes and over 200 comments, with many users calling her a "diva" and a "powerhouse."
For Derek, Phyllis has been more than just an aunt. "Growing up she was essentially a third parent to me," he told Newsweek. "She would do virtually anything I could ever imagine, be it taking me to the park and having a picnic or going on road trips, we did it all together."
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