THE BEAUTY OF AGE!

I was visiting my Uncle the other day and he brought out a photo of me when I was 19. I had the picture taken for my husband the year we got married. When I showed it to him he said that he thought I was more beautiful now. I love him for that. I looked at the photo and realized that I actually do like my face better now.

As the Academy Awards approach and actresses are primping for the show I wonder how many are having a little touch up. The photo of the model Carmen, above, shows a woman of beauty in her early 20's on the cover of Vogue and a woman in her 70's on the cover of Madame. Carmen has never had any work done and I think she is more beautiful now than she was then.

I do not want to show the woman who may or may not have had work done, but I would like to show the beauties like Sophia Loren who have aged with the grace and beauty than can only be attained by living life.

A few years ago, I watched the Oscars red carpet and Jessica Lange was interviewed. She has a smoldering attractivness that put the young starlets to shame. Here is a woman who has embraced her age and wears it well.

Peggy Lipton (remember Mod Squad?) is truly ageless. She has that lovely hippie look she had as a young girl and she just seems to enjoy life. She is the mother of the actress Rashida Jones and I have seen them in photos looking more like sisiters than mother and daughter.

These two English Roses Helen Mirren & Julie Christie, have not only had long and successful acting careers but have a beauty that has taken them from the ingenue roles to roles that show them for the older gorgeous woman they are. Helen Mirren was photographed in a bikini last year and look fabulous.

The ever honest Diane Keaton is very open about aging and how she feels about it. She is a spokesperson for one of the makeup companies that focus on older woman and she is an actress who makes movies about strong woman who love life at any age.

Last but certainly not least is the fabulous Blythe Danner, mother of Gwyneth Paltrow. I think that Blythe Danner has become more beautiful each year. She is an amazing looking woman and I enjoy her films because she really stands out not just as an actress but I think her features are incredible. Gwyneth is a lucky girl to get such good genes.

I chose these woman because I truly think they look more beautiful today than they did in their twenties. Would I like to be in my twenties again, I would be lying if I said no, but not for my looks. I would love to have the energy I had then but I love the way I am now. I think if women would embrace the second stage of their lives with a positive outlook and take a look in the mirror and see the beautiful women we are now, how our lives have shaped our faces, they would see that you only get that beauty living life. Beauty radiates from within, a beautiful soul, a beautiful mind, a beautiful you. Look in the mirror today and see that you are beautiful!