Older women “are happier in their own skins”
06/06/2007
New research reveals that one in ten women over 50 are sufficiently happy with their bodies for them to consider posing naked for a professional photographer, while almost half (43%) of 50+ women say they are happy with their bodies.
The figures seem to fly in the face of the growing trend for women – under pressure from media images – to have cosmetic surgery.
According to the survey conducted by Dove ProAge, sponsors of Channel 4’s How to Look Good Naked, mature women in the UK have a reassuring body confidence, with one in three claiming to have become more comfortable with their bodies as they have grown older – learning to love what they have.
Almost 90% of those surveyed, believing their generation is more body confident than that of their mother’s.
Jean McConnell, photographed above, says she was stunned when she was approached at work by a casting agent. “I work in cosmetics and never expected to be asked to pose naked for a shoot. I have to admit I was a little apprehensive as I’ve never really seen myself as glamorous, but my husband and I had a laugh about it and I decided to go for it.
“I believe you have to make the most of what you have got, and I do feel even more self-confident since the shoot. My family and friends have all been really supportive, and if people don’t approve, well that’s their problem.
“I don’t accept that people are over the hill at 50. It’s all about attitude. I try hard to look after myself and keep myself moderately fit and healthy. I look at people of my age but I rarely think of myself as being that age. It was a great experience but I don’t have any plans to repeat it!”
You can find out more about the programme on the link below. Our other model is 47 year old Beverley Smith and her views are on there too.
But we’d also love to hear YOUR opinion on whether older women DO feel more confident about their body image, or whether unrealistic media images of the female form put pressure on older women as much as they do on youngsters.
Email: editorial@maturetimes.co.uk