Why is it still shocking for Carol Vorderman and Demi Moore to be considered sex symbols in their sixties?

Is it just me or is anyone else feeling like a rant after reading I’m A Celeb fans’ reactions to Carol Vorderman? Comments such as “There’s no way Carol’s in her 60s! and “Carol Vorderman is such a milf # I’m a Celeb,” annoy me not because they are pointing out how amazing Carol looks (which she certainly does), but having to make it about her age! 

I would even go as far as to say annoy me might not be a strong enough word to describe how I feel. Why is it still shocking in 2023 for a woman in her sixties to be considered sexy? Why does age always have to come into it when it comes to female celebrities and women in general?!

When I saw photographs of Demi Moore hitting the beach recently in a leopard-print bikini, along with her pup Pilaf, my immediate reaction was, “Wow!” I didn’t think, “Wow, she looks amazing for a 60-year-old!” However, of course, her age played a part in most of the headlines around the stories. 

The reason without question for this is that women unfortunately still have to contend with sexist ideas such as ‘women are no longer sexy after 40’ that are endemic in our society. In 2022, Demi Moore spoke to People about her inclusive swimwear brand, Demi Moore x Andie capsule and revealed that “it’s about breaking outdated rules of what women should and shouldn’t wear after a certain age.”

She went on to say that “It’s changing this idea that women become less desirable as we get older. We don't want to look matronly or not feel sexy.”

Hopefully, thanks to the likes of Carol Vorderman and Demi Moore, the idea of a woman looking ‘sexy’ in her sixties in a bikini will be seen more as a norm rather than shocking. 

Although former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson is not yet in her sixties (she is 55), she has also recently ventured into swimwear and is releasing her capsule collection with Frankies Bikinis on May 4th. Included in the collection is a red one-piece that of course everyone associates Pamela with from her time on Baywatch. 

Pamela posted the ‘red one piece’ on her Instagram and described the collaboration with Frankies Bikinis as ‘a dream come true.’ Her sons Brandon Thomas Lee and Dylan Jagger Lee were quick to offer their mum support. Brandon Thomas Lee said: “Incredible!!” while Dylan Jagger Lee said: “ICONIC.”

I truly hope that there will come a time when women in their sixties/seventies and beyond no longer feel restricted by society’s perception of what they should be and should not be wearing because of their age.

I love this quote by the incredible fashion icon Iris Apfel that I intend to make my mantra (Iris just happens to be 101) “What’s wrong with being 72 or 82 or 92? If God is good enough to give you these years, flaunt them.”

Flaunt them indeed, Iris. We should all take your advice.