She’s 52…!

[Doesntfeellikehalloween]

Tess Daly..had no idea, how amazing does she look for 52, ten years older than me. Just been reading she had her girls later in life too, they just don’t look like an ‘In their 50’s family’ 🤷🏻‍♀️
Are we all living longer nowadays? Is 50 actually the new 40 and 40 the new 30?

*..... but not 301 = but not 30!

I am in the holistic therapy business and specialise in fertility. So I often have conversations with clients about my own fertility journey having had children in my forties.

I am not boasting, but if I said I was 30, I don't think many would question it!

I think it's largely down to genes, not smoking etc. Also with Tess Daly, she is pretty and attractiveness is often associated with youthfulness.

@LittleDandelionClock no not for a laugh. They have to ask so many people. If that doesn't happen naturally then they ask middle-aged women because everyone else complains except that demographic. Path of least resistance.

Models and celebs generally look after themselves, work out, eat well etc and continue to do so as they get older. Anyone can potentially do this, but I think a lot of fifty year olds (men and women) don’t feel the need to follow such a strict regime - maybe other things are prioritised.

If your job is to look amazing then you need to stay focused on that don’t you. Tess looks amazing IMO and I imagine she works hard to.

@JedEye yes they focus on looking good, that is not the same as being healthy. Loads of models smoke, drink and take coke.

[quote julieca]@JedEye yes they focus on looking good, that is not the same as being healthy. Loads of models smoke, drink and take coke.[/quote]
Yes very true

Isn’t it amazing, a woman who has access to great hairdressers, make up artists and wardrobe looks amazing. And let’s not forget, her job is to look good.

50 has been the new 40 for donkeys years now. Tess looks fantastic and miles away from what used to pass for a typical 50 year old.

I'm in my 40s and people often think I'm 30 odd. But I think it's very much down to outlook in many cases.

Amazing how, on mumsnet, no-one ever EVER gets anyone thinking they are older than their age; people always think they are around a decade younger.... Funny that...... There sure are lot of young-looking mumsnetters eh?

Except everyone does look their age.

I must admit, black people tend to look younger (for their age) than white people.

Make up your mind!

It's a fact that people look their age. People in their 60s look like people in their 60s, and people in their 70s look like people in their 70s, and so on and so on...

Well, clearly that is not the case. Some people in their 50s, c/- lifestyle - stress, smoking, sunbathing, drink, drugs, whatever - look in their 60s or 70s. Some people in their mid or late 60s look 80 and some look as if they are in their early 60s or late 50s. Some women age well without any so-called tweaks or injected substances whatsoever.

Perhaps your eyes are not attuned to the variations, but there are great variations of what a person of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90+ looks like, and it may not be similar to their chronological age. This is a recognised reality - biological age versus chronological age.

Do lifeless robots age?

Their parts can rust. Their operating systems become obsolete.

She looks about mid 40's to me. but looks great anyway, lovely figure and legs etc. I think she was a model in earlier days. I assume a lot of people in showbiz etc, have spacious houses, and home gyms to keep them in shape..

I’m 45 but have always looked younger than my age - wasn’t a great asset when I was 16 and 17 trying to get into pubs and clubs. The vaccinator panicked when I went for my first Covid vaccine earlier this year as they thought I was under 30 and they only had AZ!

Give me Tess over ghastly Holly 'smug' Willoughby any day !!

I think it’s hard to tell from the tv how old people look. Clearly she looks great. She hasn’t got lumps and bumps sagging nor has she got any wrinkles.
But I agree that you can largely guess a persons age even if they look terrible. They just look like someone who has had lots sun or smokes 20 a day. Although black people definitely age well. I think Alison Hammond looks young for 46 despite not being “ in shape”.

I think it's only when people get to their 60s/70s that you really notice who's ageing well. Some 75 year olds look like spritely 62 year olds and others look like they've been alive since the Middle Ages.

I have no idea why this lives rent-free in my head but years ago, even 25, Tess Daly did an interview with her sister. (Maybe 19 magazine?)
They were talking about looks and how Tess looks like their lanky, tall dad and eats food for fuel and how her sister looks like their petite rounder mum and eats more and uses food as a reward.
They both were adorable but I did felt sorry for the sister as she felt she got the short genetic straw.

I think you're right Henrysmycat. Much of it is genetic, slim with lots of money spent on appearance and the glamour of TV.

A much more normal looking TV presenter, same (or similar age) is Clare Balding, much more gravitas and much more about her. Looks good but not in a 'model' gives too much of a toss about it way.

I don't care why she looks good. It's just part of a whole package. Other people look interesting or attractive, natural or highly polished. There's no virtue in it, just different lives, priorities and expectations.
People are interesting!

I think a lot of people have in their head that 50 is 'old', that was very apparent on here when people were talking about how the over 50s should just stay at home so they didn't catch Covid. Never mind that most of us have jobs in our 50s and some of us have primary school age kids so are still doing the school run every day. I regularly get mistaken for someone 10 years younger (my sister who is 10 years younger complains bitterly to me that all her friends think we look the same age so this is not people just flattering me). I don't think I look younger than my age but there are several reasons why I think some of us repeatedly get told they look younger than they are.

1. Work colleagues tend to think of their professional peers as being the same age without really thinking about any physical evidence to the contrary (only my younger work colleagues think I look younger than I am, those who are older than me never do!).
2. People tend to assume if you have young children you must be young yourself so if you have your children in your late 30s or early 40s lots of people seem to knock 5-10 years off your age.
3. Money makes you look younger because you can afford to keep up with fashion and have a good haircut if you want that. DH is very good at correctly guessing people's ages, he says most people pay too much attention to haircuts and clothing.
4. Genetics. Good looking people are perceived as youthful. Men with a full head of hair are perceived as youthful. Natural hair colour is perceived as youthful (grey roots are very aging). Being short, freckles, round eyes, full lips, plump cheeks are all perceived as youthful (there is probably more).
5. The usual suspects of smoking, drinking, sun damage, diet, sleep, weight, exercise and illness affect your skin and how you move which affect how people perceive how old you are.
6. Some people behave old before their time whereas others are still full of life at a great age. My 85 yo MIL was going down the flumes last time we took her to the swimming pool, and is still travelling all over the world and is very interested in everything. No-one thinks she's as old as she actually is.
7. Generally most of us are really bad at guessing ages of people much older or younger than ourselves.

She's really called Helen, you know. Tess is her middle name. Being called Helen would put her firmly in the 48-54 age range; it's a name that is very time-specific, like Alison or Joanne.

I have several friends called Helen. They are all between 42 and 46

@carpetbugs
except in MNs world where everyone looks much younger than Tess, is as thin as Kate Middleton but eat what they want & has children who are stunning & 6ft tall

🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yes.
Don't forget we've lost sight of what a healthy weight is!!

People who say other people think they look young don't necessarily go round asking to get that feedback. In fact the best indicator that someone is older is feeling the need to ask that question, and replies are invariably going to be flattering. It happens spontaneously. Like when same age people say 'when you get to my age...' Or when people think your DS is your DP or your DD is your friend and are shocked when corrected. Or when young men hit on you and then make a sharp exit, or think you are lying to get rid of them when you tell them. And not occasionally, so frequently that you have no choice but to think there's somethiing in it. Its a lot to general presentation, lifestyle and behaviour rather than just actual looks, as people take in the overall impression rather than the details; and also people's outdated ideas of what certain ages look like. People who have never had their age come up with strangers are probably not presenting as outside of the expectations for their age group, so there's nothing to comment on.

Most people don't really look at other people very closely. So if you dress younger, colour and style your hair in a young style and move in a quick supple manner a lot of people will register you as being younger than you are.

As for ID for alcohol, a lot of cashier's don't really look closely, so especially if you're petite they will ask automatically without looking at your face.