What's wrong with ageing gracefully?

Fiona Bruce. You know her from the telly (BBC TV presenter for our overseas chums).

She's a looker, right? Well, Fiona sparked quite the debate recently by admitting she dyes her hair. This is principally to avoid falling prey to the ageism which she openly acknowledges is rife within the media and particularly within TV.

Several journalists have praised her for doing this, with some of the more populist papers (cough Daily Mail cough) relishing the opportunity to show what female presenters would look like if they let their grey reign free. A fairly comical and unrealistic portrayal at best.

But the problem I have is not the fact Fiona dyes her hair - we all need a little help every now and then. It's the fact she feels she has to.  Is that the kind of message we want to give the younger generation? That (looking) young is best when we get older? Rather than healthy or vital or energised or empowered?

Helen Mirren doesn't hide her age, but still manages to
look radiant and beautiful (image courtesy of IMDB)

You see, I buy into the whole 'feeling good' raison d'être behind beauty and makeup, not its ability to shave off 10 years. For me the power of makeup stems from the way it makes us feel - its ability to hide signs of tiredness, freshen the skin, make the eyes pop or the lips sing. I'm sure most women will agree when I say that the majority of the time, we wear it because of the effect it has on us, not on others. 

Wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a world where women can still enjoy makeup but also have the freedom of choice to grow old gracefully if they so wish. After all, Gary Lineker does and he went grey years ago.