I never thought I was going to like Cameron Diaz, and I wasn't very impressed with her book (I browsed but didn't buy), but the snippet below from an interview with Oprah Winfrey (yes, I know) is quite poignant and very true:
"For me I feel like if I... it's almost as if we have failed if we don't remain 25 for the rest of our lives. Like we are failures. It's a personal failure."
"Like our fault that at 40 years old that I still don't look like I'm 25."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. I wasn't able to defy nature."
Photo via Cameron Diaz onInstagram
Thank you Cameron! Let's just focus on being healthy at whatever age we are and we'll look great. :)
ReplyDeletePeople who make their mark in life in professions that are all about their physical appearance are bound to suffer from doubt and insecurity as they age. If they are fortunate, they will learn to love themselves at whatever age they happen to be. Beauty comes from confidence and confidence comes from knowing their self-worth, developing their interests, cultivating rewarding relationships, and maintaining good health.
ReplyDeleteHow courageous. It's easy to say simplistic nonsense like that when you don't look 41--especially when you have access to everything to ameliorate the aging process, including plastic surgery, in order to "defy nature."
ReplyDeleteHer looks are her livelihood. I wouldn't fault her for having plastic surgery or anything else precisely for that reason, but don't try to spread the gospel of natural aging.
But what is it to look 41? Some people just age better than others, simply due to genes. My mother is in her late 60's, and only has minor wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, facial skin really taut - no surgery, pretty ignorant of skincare other than whatever I get her for gifts, just has superb genes. She's owned to a nose job, because she broke her nose several times prior and it finally needed some sort of fixing, but I'd say she doesn't not look her natural age. Now I probably won't look like my mother due to my own acne issues, but at 39 I don't have any wrinkles bar a little on my forehead if I really scrunch it and a line under my eye, and I can guarantee you I don't do anything except slap on a retinoid at night for the oily skin and some moisturiser. Everyone has their own choices to make in regards to ageing, but I'm not sure it's fair to say if someone isn't a wrinkled crone at 41, naturally, that somehow they don't have the right to voice their opinion.
DeleteI am 49 and that picture of Cameron shows about the same degree of aging as I see when I look in the mirror. I wouldn't be surprised if she's had plastic surgery-- nearly every Hollywood celebrity has-- but she doesn't look unnaturally youthful to me.
DeletePigoletto--I agree wholly with your last sentence. However, how many celebs have said essentially the same thing and sworn that they're aging gracefully due to great genes when it's widely known (or becomes known) that they've had a nip and a tuck and a shot and a peel and who knows what else, thus deceiving women? I'm highly skeptical of any celeb who makes such statements (or especially who are trying to market a book or other product) because their words seem disingenuous and a means to ingratiate themselves with fans (or not fans)--"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful; I can't help it."
DeleteBettina, I agree that she doesn't look unnaturally youthful (that's a great phrase), but she doesn't look 41, either. I'm not a fan, so my prejudice is that I'm less likely to give her the benefit of the doubt about not having had a tweak, but maybe she's being truthful. That having been written, though, I still wouldn't fault her for having plastic surgery or anything else because her face/body are her living. But if she has, I wish she'd be honest.
I'd say she looks 41! (Though admittedly I'm not sure exactly what it means to 'look 41'.)
DeleteShe's being honest and I applaud her for this. When did aging especially for us women become this dreaded taboo we need to fight or run from? It's nice to care for ourselves and be as healthy as we can but more important, to embrace the beauty, blessings and PRIVILEGE of being around to laugh, love and live for a long, long time. I am grateful for everyday, month, year God gives me.:)
ReplyDeleteI agree with her statement but I saw this interview. I like her fine and unfortunately I know insecurity all too well and cannot imagine how much worse it is/gets when you are in her industry! Oprah asked her about surgery, she kinda dodged the question. It is a known fact she recently had a boob job and she's had more than one nose job (she has said due to breaking nose and fixing.) I believe she is healthy and ascribes to the things she's touting in her book (know your body, exercise, eat clean) but I guarantee she's still seeing her derm on the regular (Botox/fillers/minor nips) to "fix" her appearance.
ReplyDeleteAt 43 going on 44 ...I began to realize the pressures of staying youthful at about age 38 . I doubt I will have any form of surgery to stay youthful .I like my authentic aging self at 43 .I have no wish to remain 25 for life. I was an idiot at 25. Wisdom shows in the face and I really don't want to look like a massacred old botoxed barbie when I am 50 . I want my wisdom to show in my face and body .
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