SUNDAY SPECIAL: But What Have You Done To Your Face
Jan 25, 2025
auto_awesome
Alison Brahe Daddo, a renowned Australian supermodel from the late 80s and a passionate advocate for midlife and menopause issues, joins the conversation. She delves into the emotional complexities of aging and societal beauty standards. The discussion covers the pressure of maintaining youthful appearances versus embracing self-acceptance. They reflect on beauty in the digital age, the impact of diet culture, and the personal journey towards confidence in midlife. It’s a candid exploration of how beauty perceptions evolve, highlighting the importance of self-care and support.
The podcast highlights the emotional challenges women face with aging and societal beauty standards, emphasizing the pressure to maintain youthful appearances.
It discusses the transformative journey of self-acceptance, where women often find newfound confidence and beauty in their current selves compared to their younger years.
Relationships are affected by changing self-perceptions, stressing the importance of communication to navigate intimacy challenges related to body image.
Deep dives
The Reality of Aging for Women
Aging brings significant emotional challenges, especially for women who have historically been valued for their beauty. The podcast features a candid discussion about the struggles associated with observing changes in one's appearance, such as wrinkles or sagging skin, and the societal pressures to maintain youthfulness. The dialogue emphasizes that despite recognizing aging as a privilege, many women often grapple with the perception of themselves in the mirror. This complex relationship with aging is intertwined with the fear of being judged or appearing desperate to hold on to youth.
Re-evaluating Beauty Standards
The conversation delves into the impact of beauty standards that can feel suffocating throughout different life stages. There is a realization that societal expectations have profound effects on self-image, leading to internalized pressures to conform to ideals of what it means to be attractive. The notion of body positivity is presented as a double-edged sword, where not feeling naturally positive can lead to feelings of shame. This discussion also challenges the standard narrative by suggesting that self-acceptance often clashes with external pressures regarding appearance.
Personal Stories of Transformation
The podcast highlights personal transformations in how women perceive their beauty as they age. A key insight shared is that many individuals, including former models, find newfound confidence and beauty in their current selves compared to when they were younger. This shift in perception often involves a journey of self-acceptance, realizing that physical changes do not diminish worth. The discussion brings to light heartwarming moments where women embrace their bodies and appreciate the life experiences that have shaped them.
Navigating Relationships and Self-Image
Relationships are significantly impacted by changing self-perceptions; communication is essential in navigating this intimacy challenge. The podcast features honest dialogues about how body image affects romantic relationships, particularly through the lens of self-esteem and attraction. Men may not always recognize their partner's insecurities, leading to misunderstandings that require open communication to resolve. Sharing vulnerabilities with partners is encouraged to foster deeper connections, where both parties can navigate these changing phases together.
Changing Perspectives on Health and Strength
The discussion emphasizes the importance of focusing on health and strength rather than strictly adhering to societal beauty ideals. As women age, many begin to prioritize being strong and healthy over conforming to traditional beauty standards. This shift in focus can be empowering, allowing women to redefine beauty as being fit and capable rather than merely youthful. The realization that being active and connected with loved ones is ultimately more fulfilling than worrying about body image marks a crucial turning point in many women's lives.
Outlouders, in 2025 many people are celebrating the new and making changes for themselves. We've spoken on the show at lengths about the pressures of beauty standards on women in society. To look younger is a conversation that isn't going anywhere.
Which is why today, we are sharing with you a fascinating episode of MID that Holly did last year... because even supermodels have the same thoughts that we do.
Alison Brahe Daddo was THE Australian model of the late 80s, on every magazine cover and on many a teenage girl’s wall. She had a huge career here and overseas. In recent years she became the most honest, interesting voice about midlife and menopause and all the messy challenges it brings us.
But in this episode, Holly and Ali get deep about surface stuff. Beauty, whatever it means to us - and let’s be honest, there’s a sliding scale of how much any of us can ever claim to have felt beautiful, at any age - is a beast in midlife. Because how we wear our age on our face and our bodies can feel so important, so crucial to how the outside world sees us, even as we know it’s really the silliest of all our concerns. It often doesn’t feel that way.
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.