Exclusive | Gen Z, millennial women celebrate themselves with ‘success showers’ — life’s not just marriage and motherhood



Morgan Prouse, a public relations executive in film, was on cloud nine after recently earning a huge promotion on the job. 

But there was no shower of praise for the go-getter Gothamite. 

So, she gave herself one. 

Prouse (right) and her pals applaud each other’s accomplishments with annual “success shower” parties. MayaRose Creative
“Its a party, similar to a bridal shower or a baby shower, but it celebrates the personal and professional successes that my friends and I have accomplished,” Prouse, 28, explained. MayaRose Creative

“I had a ‘success’ shower,” Prouse, 28, a downtowner, told The Post. “Its a party, similar to a bridal shower or a baby shower, but it celebrates the personal and professional successes that my friends and I have accomplished.”

The feat-focused fêtes, rooted in female empowerment, see working women of the Big Apple and beyond being spotlighted for life achievements outside of marriage and motherhood. 

And while becoming a bride or a mommy are, indeed, noteworthy wins — they’re certainly not the only gains a gal has to gush over. 

As fewer Gen Zs and millennials are prioritizing tying the knot or welcoming tots, owing to the slime-laden dating pool and the high cost of child-rearing, dynamo divas nationwide are, instead, hustling for big titles and paychecks. 

A recent Pew Research study found that young women earn as much, or more than, their male co-workers in 22 metropolitan cities across the country — including NYC, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles — per US Census Bureau data.

Still, their workplace triumphs rarely warrant any festive fanfare. 

Gerardi tells The Post that the women in her family regularly host career showers in support of one another. Courtesy Kellie Gerardi

Kellie Gerardi, a married mom and astronaut for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), says her “career” showers remedy that wrong. 

“I have a lot of supportive women in my family,” Gerardi, 35, from Jupiter, Florida, tells The Post. “We’ve always had a ‘celebrate all the things’ approach to important life milestones.”

Gerardi, who’s set to take off in 2026, hopes career showers become normalized. Emily Farthington

‘I love that my 6-year-old daughter is growing up to see that not even the sky is a limit on her dreams.’

Kellie Gerardi, married mom and astronaut

In honor of her upcoming 2026 spaceflight — she’s one of the first 100 women in history to fly to space and it’s the second trip in the payload specialist’s otherworldly career — Gerardi’s mother, Marion, hosted a “Space Shower” brunch this July. The celestial shindig came complete with cosmic-themed cookies, decorations and friendship bracelets. 

“My favorite part was probably the heartfelt toast from my mom,” said the researcher, who’s helmed career showers for friends attaining Ph.D.s and relatives breaking ground in the world of gardening. 

“I love that my 6-year-old daughter is growing up to see that not even the sky is a limit on her dreams,” Gerardi added, “and that all of her [victories] are worth celebrating.”

The astronaut says career showers teach her 6-year-old daughter to be empowered. Courtesy Kellie Gerardi
Gerardi’s mom, Marion, purchased special cookies and decorations for her big party. Sweet Gypsy Bakery
Gerardi’s career shower came in celebration of her upcoming mission into outer space. Courtesy Kellie Gerardi

Amy Chan, 42, an author and relationship guru from Vancouver, agrees. 

“Why do we only consider having a baby or getting married as significant enough reasons to celebrate a woman when there’s so much more that makes up a woman’s identity?” she posed to The Post. “I’ve attended many showers and spent a lot of money on gifts for these events, but since I’m child-free, I’ve never been on the receiving end of such a celebration.”

That all changed in June when Chan’s chums commemorated her second book deal with an intimate career shower dinner. 

The trailblazer (left) insists that parties held in honor of a woman’s personal or professional successes don’t take away from the importance of bridal or baby showers. Amy Chan

Rather than physical presents, guests were asked to bring “a gift of wisdom,” such as a well-taught life or work lesson, to share with all eight attendees. And, instead of playing games, revelers took turns asking for career-related advice and support. 

A cutesy cake with “Rich Independent Woman,” spelled out in icing served as the pièce de résistance. 

“Celebrating a professional success doesn’t take away from someone having bridal or baby shower,” said Chan, who’s hosted several good-job jamborees for loved ones over the past year. “I take my friendships seriously and it brings me happiness to throw these showers for my friends.”

Chan says she enjoys showering her friends with praise and wisdom during the girl-power gatherings she hosts. Courtesy Amy Chan

Prouse, and her party-giving partner Brooke Azzaro, 27, who’ve hosted annual success showers for themselves and members of their girl crew since April 2022, echoed those sentiments.

The twosome held their most recent soirée for 20 trailblazing belles in Central Park this June. 

“New York City is a unique place — if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere,” said Azzaro, an ad agency producer. “Women have this additional pressure to perform at an exceptional level- and we’re constantly comparing ourselves to others.”

“Because of that, it’s extremely important to lift up the people around you,” she added, “and remind them that they’re doing exceptional things.”



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