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?

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

No. I have the time and the money but no desire whatsoever.

I thought this was going to be about CZJ and her openness about her mental health struggles. I don’t admire them for having plastic surgery, and I say that as someone who does Botox twice a year.

You see, I would suspect maybe 50% of women I know have had Botox, No I’m not advertising it before anyone accused me of having shares in it! I think, for most people who have Botox, it’s very subtle. I have never had a bad experience with it and I’ve been having it every 6-8 months for maybe five years. I can only think of one woman I know who looks a bit “overdone”, if I could say that, but I think that’s the look she’s going for tbh. Most people just look less tired. I also tried filler once in the lines between the nose and mouth, but if the truth be known, I couldn’t tell any difference afterwards. After 3-4 months, Botox has gone, and it’s about 9 months for filler I think, so if you don’t like it, you can just stop. People who have highlights and certain hairstyles spend more on their hair.

this is interesting....

I feel as if you're actually saying "Thank god I don't have to look my age". This is the attitude I feel is really damaging to women, and from some of the other posters, I suspect I'm not the only one.

Amanda Holden has had so much Botox. I saw her in a show in the West End a few years' ago. She was talented, there's no doubt, but as we sat near the stage my DD who was about 13 at the time, asked me what was wrong with her face. It barely moved. If that doesn't put you off Botox, nothing will.

Absolutely, if Helen Mirren’s had work, she must use the worst plastic surgeon in Hollywood.

She’s definitely had a lower face lift but I suspect it looks so natural precisely because she didn’t use a Hollywood plastic surgeon. British facelifts are far more understated.

I’m not inspired by women who try to pretend they’re not ageing...cosmetic work and dyed hair.

I saw Floella Benjamin on the Chelsea flower show and I swear to God she looked exactly the same as she did when she was on Playschool. She is now 70 years old! I was in shock.

I think CZJ is inspirational in how honest she has been about her bipolar.

Honest? Or attention-seeking?

Agree Toni Colette is fab, though.

Everyone says, “oh they’ve had loads of work done”, but what is “loads?” Like it or not, fillers and Botox are available and here to stay. It’s not about having “loads” done, more about a good practitioner - and the test of a good practitioner is that they will generally tell you less is more.

Or, we should stop telling women they need to see a “practitioner” in order to look an acceptable way.

This isn’t the face of a woman who’s had a facelift.

www.hawtcelebs.com/helen-mirren-at-directors-guild-of-america-awards-in-los-angeles-02-02-2019/

Or, we should stop telling women they need to see a “practitioner” in order to look an acceptable way.

Well, the OP and 50% of the women she knows have Botox and fillers, so in her world that well-intentioned message would be nothing more than hot air.

I don’t find rich women who spend tens of thousands of dollars on their face and body each year at all inspiring. I’m constantly amazed by those people who do wonderful selfless acts for others. Those who donate their money and time to change lives. When thinking of those people Amanda Holden and CZJ don’t spring to mind.

Why would inspirational = has had loads of work done and/or is beautiful? It's not a good ideal to show our young women they should be aspiring to.

I've no beef with them but no inspirational particularly no.

I actually think it's nice to make an effort with appearance etc but there is so much more to women.

Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, Mary Beard, Lady Hale? They are the inspiring kind women to me.

Yes to all of those and I would add Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Now she is truly inspirational, great Netflix programme on her.

Both have had a shit load of work done. I don't think that's especially inspiring tbh

I barely recognise czj in either of those pics

looking good is inspirational? Fuck me, is it still last century?

I think they're the opposite of inspirational to be honest - have surgery/work done all the time to 'look good' .... how does that help the average ageing 50 year old feel inspired or better - ageing gracefully is inspirational, being good at what you do, helping others and being supportive and caring ... AH albeit I don't follow her just seems to be self centred and how she judges who has talent when she's not exactly talented herself I'll never know?! CZJ is rarely seen these days

I think it's unhelpful for women to aim to emulate celebrities whose job it is to look like 38 forever, with a professional budget to match. It's so unrealistic. I go to the gym a few times a week but I'm not expecting to look like Serena Williams as a result.

YES, of course CZJ isn't going to 'let it all go' - she can't afford to! It's her job! Look at Kelly McGillis, snapped by the Daily Fail this summer looking like a normal 62 yr old drama teacher. The thinly-veiled contempt that she no longer looked the same as she did in Top Gun THIRTY YEARS AGO was vile.

I don't find her an inspiration. It looks to me like she has had a lot of work done. She has got that cats eye thing going on.

The most beautiful inspirational woman I know is my mum. She is 70 this year and looks fantastic.

AIBU to think these two defy the myth that women should just let it all go as they get older?

Yes.

Firstly, for touting the odd notion that there is a "myth that women should let it all go".
Secondly, for believing that plastic surgery & access to millions of dollars is all that stands between a middle-aged woman & "letting it go".
Thirdly, for failing to recognise that too much plastic surgery just makes women look weird, & plays into the belief that the only acceptable way for a woman to look is like a fucking Barbie doll.

Inspirational? Seriously??
Have they developed a cure for cancer, fostered loads of orphaned children, worked every week in a food bank/homeless shelter...etc?

What have they actually done that's genuinely inspirational to us ordinary mortals?

As far as I can see, they've spent a fortune on making themselves look attractive and then married wealthy men. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This isn’t the face of a woman who’s had a facelift.

erm ... many would disagree, @Alsohuman! It's subtle, but definite signs of neck/facelift. In 2014, Helen Mirren told The Times she was considering cosmetic surgery 'very, very soon'.

www.hawtcelebs.com/helen-mirren-at-directors-guild-of-america-awards-in-los-angeles-02-02-2019/!

Well all I can say is that she wasted her money. She looks her age in that picture.

I really can’t be inspired by someone in the public eye with lots of work done. They haven’t done anything inspiring.