Hollywood icon Brooke Shields recently imparted a dose of unvarnished wisdom in an interview with Glamour for their 2023 Women of the Year edition, where she gave voice to a philosophy that is both empowering and liberating.
At a time when societal pressures to maintain ‘eternal youth’, the actress couldn’t care less.
Brooke Shields’s approach to ageing
Brooke’s approach to life is simple yet profound: embrace the joys, health, and self-care in forms that make you happy.
Gone are the days when she would subscribe to the punishing regimes that dictate how a woman’s body should look. “I don’t like going to the gym,” she confessed to the outlet. Rather, she finds solace in Pilates, a mind and body-based practice.
While she openly admits to yearning for her younger physique at times, Brooke admits she’s grown out of striving for physical perfection, preferring the pleasures of life: “having lunch, reading a book… going to my daughter’s games.”
Her newly-found mantra
Her stance is the epitome of her ‘IDGAF’ attitude, a mantra signalling a shift from self-improvement to self-acceptance.
“You really have to tread through it,” she said, acknowledging the growth that leads one to such liberation.
Beauty, in the eyes of the 58-year-old, is a personal journey, not a societal mandate. She shared her view on cosmetic surgery: “I am all for any of it if it truly is done for yourself, for the right reasons.”
“Listen, I’ve seen it give women such confidence. But I think it’s easy to go down the slope of overdoing it. I’m scared of not looking like myself; the times that I’ve had Botox, I end up with this Spock eye and I’m like, ‘I don’t look like myself.’ But I’ll get Fraxels, and peels, and whatever the newest thing is, and I’ll try it. I just don’t want to not look like myself,” she said.
In 2023 Brooke is embracing the journey of writing her own narrative.
“I’m changing the narrative that I’ve been playing over in my head: not good enough, too famous, not this, not this, not this. I am so proud,” she told Glamour.
She explored this in her documentary Pretty Baby, an exploration of the toll that incessant sexualisation and exploitation takes on women in the entertainment industry.
Now, it’s time for Brooke to live unapologetically, to indulge in self-kindness, and to proclaim, in whatever form it takes, ‘this is me’, with the quiet confidence of someone who has nothing to prove and everything to enjoy.
Main image credit:Getty
What do you think about Brooke’s words of wisdom? Does anything resonate with you?
I also love doing pilates!
I have never tried pilates, perhaps now is the time to start?
I have tried yoga but nor pilates.
Yep, I share the IDGAF mantra. The sooner you learn it, embrace it, the happier you are.
Agreed – ageing is a privilege!
You have to enjoy life today as no one knows tomorrow
I really want to see this Pretty Baby documentary, I’ve heard good things about it
Same here! It’s on my to watch list
Me too.
Pretty Baby doco. Please tell is it on Netflix?
Oh I see now that it is on hulu. Never heard of it and do not have access to it. Too bad.
Ooh I don’t have hulu either
I saw her give an interview recently (Stephen Colbert?) & she was very candid about her early work & the exploitation that was acceptable at the time.
Yes she has had a tough road.
The IDGAF mantra is a good one to have. Just do what makes you happy and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Sounds like a sensible way to live.
She is just so lovely.
Yes, well said Brooke.
ditto
Very natural and very honest.
Brooke is lovely
Love her mantra and she is still a gorgeous woman
She shines from the inside and that is real beauty.
She is learning to be true to herself-A wise woman.
Gorgeous woman and fantastic mantra!
She sure is gorgeous and always looks fantastic
I try & mostly succeed in not giving a F—, but it’s sometimes a struggle. Good on Brooke!
You are allowed to care just remember each day has it’s own blessings.
Yoga and pilates are good for peace of mind
I also love doing pilates!
I can’t believe her parents didn’t protect her.
This year, after all the crap I’ve had, my mantra is ‘not my problem’ (within limits of course).
Changing any negative narrative you have running through your head, into positive and affirming statements is such a healthy & conscious step to living a happy life.
I don’t know about her.
Some great words! I agree with
I totally get the thing about sometimes wishing for your younger body, even though you’re largely okay with how you look now.
I wouldn’t GAF either if I looked like her!
IDGAF, definitely =)
I remember when her mum would not let the beauty/makeup artist on set pluck her eyebrows. Good on her!
Good for her.
Im in my late 50’s also and my body has served me well with producing 3 wonderful children. Sure I would love to have a flat tummy without sagging skin but there is no way i would go through surgery for it and I wouldnt trade my kids for anything. I have a wonderful man in my life that finds me very sexy despite my stomach and the way he adores me makes me forget about my stomach. Im just loving life.
I love the IDGAF mantra, I realized it during Covid and my life has changed drastically since then and I love it.
Good on her!
She looks great and happy
We need to let people, especially women, age how they want. It’s sad to see how Hollywood treats older women versus older men.
I love Brooke’s attitude. Women need more Women to remind us of this.
I really like her quiet confidence.
Brook is down to earth and we could learn a lot from her.Be happy in yourself.
I like her attitude