We speak to three influencers in their 50s and 60s about what ageing & beauty mean to them, & finding comfort (and confidence) in their own skins
It has often been promoted that to be beautiful, you have to look a certain way – preferably young and slim.
However, with the rise of the ageful influencer, many women are challenging these outdated ideals and proving that getting older doesn’t make you invisible. A challenge that’s not only resonating with their audiences, but causing brands to sit up and take notice too.
We sat down with three such women to discuss what beauty means to them, how they feel the industry is changing and their secrets to claiming their space as women over 50. Meet Alison, Coral and Pam, three women who are seeing each decade in on their own terms…
Meet Alison Monteith, 64
Beauty has nothing to do with age
Alison describes herself as coming into her own and loving it. "Beauty has nothing to do with age," she says, "it’s an inner spark, an inner vibrancy. It has nothing to do with being classically beautiful either. To me, feeling beautiful means [having] a calm confidence that removes any awkward feelings of self-consciousness."
Known as the @thin_latin_moose on Instagram, where she’s amassed more than 12,000 followers, Alison shares her fashion, beauty and fitness advice with the world, as well as snippets from her life in Birmingham, where she lives with her husband and three Burmese cats. "In my small way by showing up on Instagram, I hope to give comfort to women younger than me that life is starting not finishing. You don’t lose your edge just because you aren’t 25 you know," she says.
On her relationship with ageing, Alison says: "I certainly feel more comfortable in my skin than I did when I was younger. I’m not sure if feeling more beautiful is how I would describe it, but rather feeling more at home as me. I am certainly far more confident and care little for how others may judge me. For example [if I’m going to a] business awards lunch with mainly men in suits? A pink suit it is. Never blend in!"
Her advice for other women? "Stop feeling like you have to apologise for existing. That is so confidence sapping. You deserve your place: you have wisdom and experience on your side. So just be and do it magnificently."
Follow Alison at @thin_latin_moose.
Meet Coral Manson, 50
I feel beautiful in a different way
"Ageing was a scary process for me initially," says Coral, a 50-year-old content creator from London. "But I’ve embraced getting older and I’m making the best of my features with make-up and healthcare. Now, I’d say I feel beautiful in a different way [from how I felt in my 20s or 30s] and that’s from feeling more confident as I’ve gotten older."
As a content creator, Coral is first to hear about brands’ new launches and campaigns and thinks there’s been a "change in perception of women over 50 and brands are more aware and are catering to this age group."
"I also think we have more of a voice now, partly down to social media, as it’s connecting so many like-minded women who have shown that we’ve had enough of the outdated views for older women," she adds.
When it comes to beauty, Coral believes it’s about finding what works for you. "As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found I’m really open to trying new beauty ideas," she says.
"As women over 50, we’re told we’re supposed to wear less make-up, but I feel every person is unique and should decide for themselves. If you’re having an identity crisis with your beauty routine, I always recommend a consultation with a make-up brand and hairdresser. It’s great to try some new products and styles. Wear what makes you happy!"
Follow Coral at @stripeycoral.
Meet Pam Davis, 58
We grow into a deeper kind of beauty, one that works its way from the inside out
Pam is a busy woman. Alongside her jobs as a fashion stylist, model and speaker, she’s a wife, mother of two and grandmother of two. Pam believes beauty is something that grows as we get older. "As we age, we grow into a deeper kind of beauty, one that works its way from the inside out," she says. "I believe our 20s and 30s lay the foundations to learn about your inner beauty in preparation to embrace our older years. As we get older, our beauty becomes more authentic and less superficial."
"Personally, I feel more beautiful in my older years, as I feel I have come into my own as an older woman. Outdated beauty ideals for the mature woman have always been ingrained into our way of thinking but these notions are annoying and tunnelled vision. I want to embrace and champion ageing beauty in its own right."
As a model, Pam regularly finds herself in front of the camera, a task many people would find daunting. "My confidence comes from my inner self," says Pam, "but there are good days and bad days. It’s how you deal with them that counts. My advice to anyone over 50 who wants to feel more confident is to be kind to yourself and spend time with supportive and inspiring people. Self-esteem is important for your soul, so always embrace being you."
Follow Pam at @pammystyles.
