Y’all know I rarely rant. Well, at least not out loud. But there are times when I just GOTTA SAY…
As I was trawling the internet today looking for super, life-changingly important things like the benefits and drawbacks of lash extensions and the importance of wearing Spanx under a jersey dress, I came across something that really got my feathers in a proper ruffle. In some spammy ad banner, I saw a link to view a certain number of celebrities who were “aging horribly.” The link, which I will NOT share, featured photos of a bloated and orange looking Mickey Rourke, Meg Ryan’s Joker smile, a post-motherhood Britney Spears, post-rehab Lindsey Lohan, Val Kilmer’s obvious weight issues and various other celeb victims of our image-obsessed society.
I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by a wave of pity for these people, who, while I may not endorse their lifestyles or life choices, are, after all, mere flesh and blood beings who pull their trousers on one leg at a time, eat, sleep, break wind and – yes, heaven forbid – AGE – just like the rest of us. Granted, some if not all of these people have chosen to put themselves under the microscope of public scrutiny and have enjoyed being “on top” of the beauty pile at some point. But come ON. Would Meg Ryan have destroyed her sweet face if she had not been under such pressure to remain cute? Even when she was entering her fourties? Fifties?
And Val Kilmer… isn’t he allowed a meatball sandwich on occasion like the rest of us?
Ugh. I’m feeling properly peevish about all this, actually. Peeved, most especially at myself for having clicked on the link out of morbid curiousity.
Viewing the before and after shots of some of these celebs I couldn’t help think they were not so much aging “horribly” as – quite simply – aging. Would it be becoming for Pam Anderson to still look 22 at her age? Seriously? And Keith Richards. Honestly, the man is 71 and looks every day of it. Where is the crime in that? Why, oh why must we – myself included – feel compelled to boost our own egos at the expense of others?
Please feel free to comment below, so long as you do so kindly. I’ll be 50 this year, so I’m sure I’d be in someone’s crosshairs for age/beauty criticism if I were that important. As it is, I’m not really, and that is just fine with me. This is not an appeal for flattery – I am well aware I look on the young side of my years. But goodness – isn’t it about time we gave ourselves and the rest of the world a break?
Rant over.
Mother Hen
© motherhendiaries 2015, all rights reserved.
Categories: fashion
Mother Hen Diaries 
First of all, lovely photo of you!
Secondly, I completely can understand about the curiosity towards celebrities who have aged or gotten botched surgeries or who look different than they did in the past…I suppose it’s a way that we can “tisk, tisk” at celebrities’ imperfections, thereby raising our own status to be higher than the celebrities’ former selves.
Your post was eye-opening and real. Thank you for bringing this important issue to the table — I like how you say to give ourselves and the rest of the world a break…very well-said!
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Thanks, Lia – you are very kind. I don’t rant often, but this really upset me on behalf of everyone – public and private – who is “aging horribly” according to the lens of this crazy world. We all have a right to look our age, be that young or old. Sure, I miss the tight bod I had at age 19, but alas, it is 30 years distant and I know a whole heck of a lot more about how to be happy now than I did then. I’ll take old and happy over 19 and insecure any day of the week. 🙂 xx MH
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AmenSister! This is yet another reason(excuse) I give for not ever wanting fame or to be in the spotlight. I feel conspicuous enough already. Turning 56 in a few weeks does not make me any less aware of aging. I do what I can to eat right, care for my skin and keep youth alive in Spirit. Other than that I plan to accept my age. Hell, when I was a kid I looked forward to growing old like my Maw Maw, sitting on the pirch and snaping beans , greeting my grandkids when they came on the weekends and sharing my wealth of experience and funny life stories. Well, some of those things are hopelessly out of view and unfortunately for and because of current attitudes out of vogue. I had a patient the other day who had beautifullu aged, deeply wrinkled dark skin from years in the sun, but she was so healthy. I looked at every line and thought, “There is a road map to her life.” I wantt hat too. It is my right. I earned it. I’d rather have someone be able to see life’s hand on my face than be unrecognizable to my sassy savvy grandkids, who, by the way, are not. They would love it if I had a porch to run up onto. You look terrific, you are terrific, and the plastic bubble is full of smoke and mirrors? Cheers!
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You look gorgeous and I would rant but I think no one would stop the hands of time for me, ha ha!
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I saw that article and had the same reaction. I’m not a real follower of the stars so I was expecting to see 30-somethings who were looking much past their (unrealistic) prime. When I saw who they were profiling, I realized they were just buying into the “perfect” young culture that reigns.
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It does my head in, honestly. Once we get our first wrinkle or other signs of having lived an actual life, some would see that as a foot in the grave. What nonsense… 😊
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Fifty is just fifty. I am sixty-for now and wouldn’t trade one of my years. Everyone of them has brought me something wonderful as well as challenges. What would we be without growth, love, and character. There is a time for everything.
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