02 - Donna Francis on sobriety, perimenopause and empowerment

Apr 8, 2025

Donna Francis, an award-winning Beauty Editor with over 25 years of experience, shares her journey through sobriety and perimenopause. She candidly discusses how alcohol dependency affected her life and emphasizes the importance of reclaiming self-worth. Donna reveals how exercise became her mental health savior during this challenging time and advocates for rebranding menopause as 'meno-power.' Her mission to support women going through similar struggles is both inspiring and empowering!

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ANECDOTE

Donna's Perimenopause Onset

Donna Francis experienced perimenopause without recognizing it, amidst a stressful period in her life.
This included her father's COVID-19 diagnosis, her husband's absence, and homeschooling her children.

ANECDOTE

Alcohol's Impact on Perimenopause

Increased alcohol consumption during perimenopause led to negative consequences for Donna.
This included blackouts, embarrassing situations, and increased anxiety.

ADVICE

Addressing Alcohol Consumption

Evaluate your lifestyle and consider how alcohol might influence your well-being.
Reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption may alleviate perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.

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In this week’s episode, Dr Louise Newson is joined by Donna Francis, an award-winning Beauty Editor with over 25 years of experience in the industry, having worked with magazines such as InStyle, Company, and Cosmo/Fabulous. Now Beauty Editor At Large at Hello! Magazine, Donna shares her personal experience with perimenopause, opening up about the profound impact it had on her life. She discusses the pressures around alcohol in midlife, how exercise became her mental health saviour, and how addressing her wellbeing helped her regain a sense of self during this challenging time. Now over six months sober, Donna is passionate about supporting women facing similar struggles and is on a mission to rebrand menopause as meno-power!

To learn more about Donna, visit her Instagram: here and check out her podcast, Smiling Gives You Wrinkles, here.

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DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr Louise Newson or the Newson Health Group.