To think Catherine Zeta-Jones is an inspiration!

[Parisa5]

I was in the hairdressers yesterday and so provided with the obligatory copy of “Hello” magazine. Anyway, in it was CZJ and I just thought she looks fantastic. I’m 45 now, so the 50s are looming and I love seeing a woman like that who is 50, but more stunning than ever. I also think the same about Amanda Holden who I’ve met a few times and she’s another one who has improved with age. I know AH is not popular on MN, but why not? AIBU to think these two defy the myth that women should just let it all go as they get older?

I know 2 women who started off having little bits of Botox here and there, you wouldn’t recognise them from photos of themselves 10 years earlier

The trouble with getting work like this done is that you need to keep topping it up

I personally found the nurses who looked after my mum inspirational, the microbiologist who helped find out what the infection in a friends wound was, not women who are paid millions and fawned over for having to sit looking pretty on a tv show, its 2019 I thought we were beyond this

Well again, colourless, I would suggest that’s because you’re taking it all too seriously. If it’s too “vapid” for you though, go and search for a suitably high/brow thread? Or take a break from AIBU?

Is there any particular reason why you’re focussing so intently on me, when pretty much every other poster on this thread is similarly commenting that finding plastic surgery inspirational is an incredibly shallow perspective?

OP "there does seem to be this insinuation in society that I should accept the fact I’m “past it”, or not be interested in how I look any more"

I'm 43. I think there's just relentless pressure to look a certain way, usually young. I get comments because I choose not to dye my hair.

I also love watching Kylie on stage; in fact I thought she was too young to have the Legend slot at Glastonbury, but I suppose she is a legend and I shouldn't age discriminate that way either....

I mean, the idea of not being interested in how you look....I feel as if society is obsessed with it. I work in Central London and it's all promos for what procedure you can have done at lunchtime because "how very dare you show your age".

Amanda Holden can barely move her face anymore she has had so much work done.

CZJ is without doubt beautiful. Helen Mirren and Emma Thompson look great too. You do have to remember they have lots of money, professional make up artists, hair stylists etc. They probably don’t look so great when they wake up.

There is nothing inspirational about her looks. She is a walking advertisement for how you can look if you have the money to invest in your looks with chefs, surgeons, trainers...

CZJ's candidness regarding her mental health is inspirational and far more important than her looks.

“It’s all out mindset.”

Yes it is Roussette. As they say, you will never be as young as you are today.” I’m not even sure if I’m in the pre-menopause or not, though one symptom may be that I fall asleep in the cinema and I can’t watch anything to the end on tv past 10pm.

I saw a sign for “yoga for the over 45s” the other day and it made me wonder if something was supposed to have changed . But I remember feeling the same way when a doctor told me repeatedly that I was, after all, an “older mum” when I had my last DC at 36.

No I don't think she is inspirational, I know women in 40s 50s and 60s who have had no work done and naturally look better. My mums friend is 67, I learnt this a few weeks I generally thought she was 50s. I know women who truly look young for their age.

The women you mentioned have time and money and have had work done and that is not inspirational.

Looking good at all ages especially after 50 is inspirational when it's done naturally.

There is nothing wrong with looking your age. Women shouldn't be made to feel bad about ageing!

I see no evidence for a trend in society that women over 50 are past it and should give up on their appearance. On the contrary you are not supposed to give up even at 70 plus, after all there is a great maketing opportunity to be exploited. I do however detect a tendency to dismiss people's opinions when they are over 60 and stereotype older people (silly old biddies) perhaps that is why pepple try to look young.

If that's what inspires you then yeah she's inspirational. Most women aspire to more than just looking pretty.

I was an ancient mum OP! And what a good idea that was, they are now late 20s/30 and they are my inspirational ones and keep me on the ball (no choice in that!)

And luckily they have never ever felt under pressure to have anything done, thank god.

I think fillers and Botox don’t do most people any favours after the first few. CZJ would look much better if she’d let herself age more naturally in my opinion. She has a beautiful face and now it’s got that sort of stretched shiny look and it makes her eyes look small.

But my opinion isn’t hers. Her face, her right to do whatever she likes with it!

I do admire the fact that she’s managed to stay married for nearly 20 years though. That’s an achievement in Hollywood (and out of it!).

I don't see inspiration in a rich older woman having the best treatments in "keeping" her looks but I think it is ok to push back at the way women are supposed to "be past it" just because we look older.
real inspiration is a woman without the massive amount of money on surgery etc and who still looks good.
I saw a woman on TV recently who is a sheep farmer in Cumbria and she radiated energy. she as also very attractive and in her late 50"s.

OP's idea of an inspirational woman is depressing, I'm relieved to see so many normal women on here disagree.

CZJ & AH are beautiful for their age, because they have had lots of artificial work done on themselves, this plastic manufactured beauty is not something we should be encouraging our daughters to aspire to, firstly it's unachievable for most and secondly we should not hold our looks as important.

Now this is someone who I think is a beautiful older woman and it doesn’t look like she’s had any work done.

Helen Mirren has had a brilliantly done face lift.

Could people get give it a rest with the facetious comments about “Oh well if all you’re inspired by is looks.... blah blah.” Of course this is not all I’m inspired by I’ve explained the context of the thread. It is what it is and no more. I’m not well today with a cold and fever and I’m just having a chat about this one particular topic.

OP I hope you feel better soon.

posting in AIBU wasn't a great idea.

but it's interesting that you have these perceptions, as I just feel woman are bombarded with "look younger" and general expectations of how to look.

my mum is 81. She used to look a lot younger than her age, but after my dad died, she began to look her age. She made great effort to attend the 40th birthday of a friend's daughter, and got told she should have dressed up more. Yes, that was a very rude person who said that, but sadly it's someone she knows well, and I think, a sign of the times. There is an expectation that everyone should be glammed up and it's horrendous.

Toni Collette is gorg, IV always loved her though.

Y'see, I don't think CZJ and AH look at all beautiful for their age. Not at all. At first glance, yes, lovely clothes, great figures, but than the ridiculously contrive features take over and they look plastic and false. Too much botox, too many face lifts.

Also meant to say originally, OP do you honestly imagine that photo hasn't been touched up?!

AH is on TV quite a bit and stood next to younger stars like Alesha Dixon so I can understand why she'd feel pressured to invest in Botox etc (being friends with Simon Cowell who's equally Botoxed can't help either)

More people would look like her if they had the time and money to invest in their looks.

Op do you have lots of money to spend on botox etx? If so I can see you seeing someone like CZJ or AH and thinking wow that's worth xK, I'm going to do it.

If Helen Mirren is paying for someone to plump out her lines and make her look younger she needs to sue.

If I want looks inspiration I'll stick to Katie Piper

Absolutely, if Helen Mirren’s had work, she must use the worst plastic surgeon in Hollywood. And Amanda Holden looks like a Barbie doll. My inspiration looks wise is women who don’t fight the ageing process, work with what they’ve got and look stylish, groomed and confident.

Botox and fillers look much better in photos than in real life.

They are fine looking BUT
Naturally beautiful
And rich

If you are older , not beautiful and poor ..... well you will never look like them !