FORMER journalist Penny Bassett Hackett will be featured in an upcoming issue of , a popular magazine geared towards women of 40 and older.

A Bermudian, Mrs. Bassett Hackett worked at for approximately five years before relocating to the United States in 1987.

Although not involved in the fashion or beauty industry ? she runs the New Jersey Transit system's press office ? her looks caught the attention of the magazine's editors, who decided to make her the subject of a column, 'Looking Good'.

According to Mrs. Bassett Hackett, none of it would have happened without a series of behind-the-scenes manoeuvres by her sister, Tiffani Carter. Her work in public relations in the beauty industry led to a meeting with one of the editors of magazine.

"She mentioned how much I love their magazine; how I never read any other magazine but I read theirs because I really, really love it. And then the magazine asked for a photograph of me, which she sent."

The snapshot was impressive enough that wanted to use Mrs. Bassett Hackett as a model for one of its regular columns. However time restraints on her part prevented that from happening.

"But then they called again about eight months later. They said: 'We have another section called Looking Good. Would you be interested in doing that?'"

Modesty made her somewhat wary of the title and one of the questions posed to all who agree to be featured in the column, Why do you look good?

"What I said to them is I don't know how I look," Mrs. Bassett Hackett said. "I can't say whether I look good or not. It's for other people to determine. I know that I run and try to stay fit and healthy. If there are external benefits that's fine, but I can't judge that."

A member of the family of publications, bills itself as the only magazine that celebrates women over 40. Featured topics run the gamut, everything from relationships to health to style.

"The models used are all over 40. It's geared towards women over 40. It's very hip, I think. Very informative. I don't know how they choose (their models) ultimately, but I was certainly taken aback. I'm honoured that they would select me. I was so surprised. I kept saying, 'Are you sure?'"

An avid motorcyclist, Mrs. Bassett Hackett was photographed for riding her Yamaha V-Star which she regularly uses to manoeuvre through the busy streets of New York City.

Although she doesn't appear in the magazine until this coming November, her friends and family ? including her Bermuda-based mum, Nell Bassett ? are thrilled with the prospect.