When I think back to the time of my childhood in the 1960s, a woman of 50 was considered to be old. She would, most likely, have her 50 years etched on her face and would be presumed to be completely past it.
My own grandmother, in her early fifties when I was born, despite having beautiful, peachy skin and long lustrous auburn hair to her waist, still seemed old and grandmotherly. Her hair was always in a bun at the nape of her neck and she wore sensible shoes and matronly dresses.
I adored her and she was the most wonderful grandmother, but when I discovered she was only in her fifties when I first remember her, I was shocked.
Even the athletic types with lean, toned bodies, tended to have leathery, lined skin and were still thought of as old, despite running around the tennis court. Of course, there were none of the skin treatments we have today. I can’t remember my mother or any of her friends ever going for a facial. The hairdresser was a regular weekly event for a full set and do, but other than creams and potions, nothing at all on the face.
The one thing they tended to be, however, was slim. The usual diet then was more home cooked meals than processed ready meals and the low-fat craze, that has been such a disaster for health, hadn’t started yet. Obesity was a rare condition.
Women look so different now
Despite the slimness, women around the 50 mark looked like old women.
It could not be more different today. In my youth, I presumed that at the age of 70 I would be at death's door and if not actually dying, then would look so old and wrinkled that I wouldn’t WANT to live.
It makes me laugh when I think about it. Here I am, having reached that grand old age, with a busy work life, engaging continually with new technology, and living life in much the same way as I did at 50. With a few carefully calibrated adjustments.
I continue to exercise at least five times a week, work harder than ever and am juggling more plates than at any time in my life. I love clothes and fashion, take care of my skin with lots of the less invasive treatments and am very pro-active with my health.
I used to be an anomaly when it came to my interest in health and my organic lifestyle. When I first started making changes to my diet in the 1980s, people laughed and scoffed. But how that has changed in the last decade. Everyone is now a self-styled biohacker.
Most of my friends are in their fifties, sixties and seventies and they’re well informed (thank you Instagram and podcasts!), fit and looking good. They exercise, work or volunteer and adore fashion.
Social media inspiration
You only have to scroll on Instagram to find multiple women saying, “this is 60”, “this is 70” or even “this is 80”. There they are doing workouts, weightlifting, styling and more.
In my opinion, women in their sixties and seventies today, look the same age as women used to look in their forties and fifties - except that women now are much more stylish and with better hair. It’s amazing how your hairstyle (nothing like a set do to age you) and how you dress can take decades off how you look.
We girls know how to work it these days. When I look back to photos from my 50th birthday, I can’t believe how young I look. I was super slim and my skin was smooth and unlined.
Now, at the age of 70, I’ve acquired some lines and creases and am about 7lbs heavier than I was at 50. In my youth, this is what I presumed 50 would look like. But the truth is I don’t look 50; I look like what 70 looks like today.
It’s also so much more than just the superficial. I’m far from alone when it comes to exercising multiple times a week. Women now know that they must work hard to maintain their muscle mass. They know that they need to lift weights to keep their bones strong.
HRT didn’t exist in our mothers' day and has had a transforming effect on women’s lives. Most women today will also take supplements to boost health, alongside a healthy diet.
Very few women now retire in their sixties or even necessarily in their seventies. Besides the fact that few can afford to retire, they find purpose in their work, despite all the obstacles mature women face. This is why so many women are creating their own businesses in midlife. Every time I go to a health or beauty event where brands are showcased, 9 out of 10 of these companies have been founded by midlife women. I’m always in complete awe to see what these incredible women have created, usually from their kitchen table.
As far as I’m concerned, 70 now looks a lot like 50 used to look. Except that it’s more dynamic, more entrepreneurial, with a very different mindset.
My knees may be a bit creakier - not that I let that slow me down! - but I feel like I’m just getting started. There’s a sense of there being more to accomplish. Creating my own opportunities through my work on Ageless, is exhilarating, while still doing my day job of acting, as well as voice overs. And now I’ve added writing to my roster of work.
So yes, 70 is definitely the new 50. And some.
