What Women in the Spotlight Are Teaching Us About Aging with Confidence

Lifestyle |
4 min read

Written By

Brittany Dick

Published

January 23, 2026

Medically reviewed by

Alyssa Dweck MS, MD, FACOG, MSCP, Chief Medical Officer

Most of us go through life believing we have little in common with celebrities and women in the media.

But now, more middle-aged women in the spotlight are openly discussing midlife, menopause, and the realities of growing older than ever, underscoring one shared trait among women everywhere: no one is immune to aging. In addition, it’s entirely possible to age with confidence.

In this post, we’ll take a look at what some of the women in the spotlight have to say about their experiences of midlife and menopause, as well as what we can take away from the positive aging inspiration they have to share.

Celebrity Women Redefining Aging as a Gift

Gone are the days when women feel their age is shameful, uncelebrated, or a burden to bear – and good riddance. More recently, it seems like women in the media are more readily adopting the widespread belief that aging is a privilege—and we are here for it.

Perhaps few celebrities are more open about the “gift of age” than Jennifer Garner, 53-year-old actress, producer, and Once Upon a Farm co-founder.

In a recent Bazaar article, she informed interviewers that she doesn’t wish to be younger; in fact, her 50s have been a time for “living in [her] power” as a woman.¹ She goes on to describe a yearning to age, with little expectation to look at age 100 the way she does now. Oprah Winfrey echoes Garner’s sentiments, explaining in one interview that when women shift their perspectives to view aging as a gift, growing older becomes more than something to endure—it becomes an opportunity.²

This message is a powerful reminder to not simply tolerate the changes, lessons learned, and laugh lines that come with aging, but to embrace them as badges of honor of a life well lived.

Aging Confidently in Menopause Is a Lesson in Acceptance

In a recent Prevention interview, 62-year-old actress Julianne Moore said aging has enabled her to let go of the pressure to maintain a perfect appearance.³ While she admits she’s not completely without vanity, Moore mentions a shift of focus towards family, relationships, work, and community rather than how she looks.

Other Hollywood stars, like 64-year-old Michelle Pfeiffer, have publicly redefined beauty placing an emphasis on health and wellness rather than just physical appearance.⁴ Film and fitness icon Jane Fonda, 87, touts a similar message in interviews. In a notable SHAPE interview, Fonda met age with radical acceptance, encouraging “young people to stop being afraid about getting older.”⁵ Similar to Pfeiffer, Fonda states the importance of keeping one’s body strong and prioritizing basic needs, like good sleep hygiene and proper nutrition.

This message is especially important at a time when experts are suggesting that society is conditioning women to value youth and beauty through all stages of life.⁶ Psychology Today goes on to explain how women are told frequently—as well as directly and subtly—that their value lies in their appearance.^7,8

Some superstars, like Halle Berry, are choosing to add their voices to the menopause conversation after having their symptoms downplayed for too long, and they’re doing it on a political level.⁹ Berry specifically has devoted time to her advocacy work dedicated to providing women with credible and reliable information about menopause. She’s most recently called out the California menopause bill veto as a step backward and underscoring what we’ve always believed: menopause isn’t niche, it’s a life stage that deserves real support, visibility, and action.¹⁰

As more celebrities speak up about the physical changes and challenges that come with aging and menopause, with an emphasis on shifting focus towards overall wellness and health, there is hope that this narrative will continue to shift.

Women Redefining Aging with Transparency

As we all know, menopause, the hormonal transition impacting women most often in their late 40s into their 50s, has long been a taboo topic.^11,12

Thanks to many women in the spotlight, however, it’s no longer unmentionable. Many well-recognized women are shedding light on the menopausal transition – a shift that more than 1 million women per year in the United States will experience,¹³ and we’re hopeful this will continue to evolve and normalize the conversation.

Aging With Confidence Is Possible

While menopause and aging once brought forth feelings of uncertainty and embarrassment, women in the spotlight are stepping up to shine a light on what it’s like to navigate both. With the right perspective, radical acceptance, and transparency, it’s possible to meet every new age with hope, energy, and confidence.

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