Celebrities are showing pride in their age on runways and at fashion events

Andie MacDowell walked the L'Oreal Paris runway, flaunting her grey hair. Photo: Reuters

The fashion industry is rather harsh when it comes to ageing – or rather, that being always the perception.

There is the belief that a model becomes less in-demand as she hits 30-years-old. The same goes for celebrities – those who sport greying hair apparently lose their appeal when it comes to fronting campaigns.

Things have been changing though, and the pro-ageing revolution is garnering strength.

Recently at the Spring/Summer 2024 Paris Fashion Week, Pamela Anderson made headlines for going makeup-free.

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The 56-year-old actress was spotted attending several runway shows with just moisturiser on her face, plus her hair casually styled.

Pamela Anderson made her recent Paris Fashion Week rounds with no makeup on. Photo: Reuters

“I didn’t come to Paris Fashion Week and think, ‘I’m not gonna wear makeup,’” Anderson said in a Vogue France video, as she prepared for the Vivienne Westwood show.

“Something kind of came over me and I was dressing in these beautiful clothes and I thought, ‘I don’t want to compete with the clothes.’ I’m not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room.”

Fellow actress Jamie Lee Curtis applauded Anderson’s decision. On Instagram, she declared that “the natural beauty revolution has officially begun”.

“I am so impressed and floored by this act of courage and rebellion,” her posting read.

Helen Mirren looks stunning on the runway, advocating for ageing naturally. Photo: AFP

Curtis, 64, has worn her natural grey hair for years. She is known for speaking out against impossible beauty standards.

Also at Paris Fashion Week, Helen Mirren and Andie MacDowell (78 and 65 years old, respectively) walked the L’Oreal Paris runway with grey hair.

Sarah Jessica Parker is seen here attending the New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala early in October. Photo: AP

Both actresses flaunted their natural hair colour with confidence – and to the applause of guests.

“We’re never too old to be bold! Confidence has no expiration date,” MacDowell said in a L’Oreal Paris video.

Mirren appeared on the runway with 25-year-old actress Elle Fanning, an act which the brand describes as “embodying sisterhood through the ages”.

Sarah Jessica Parker, who is known as a fashion icon, said in an interview last month with Prevention magazine that she has no interest in looking younger.

Having played Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex & The City television series (which ended in the early 2000s) means that Parker has always had a big influence in the style industry.

The sequel series Just Like That revived her popularity. Her fashion postings on Instagram are now getting “likes” numbering hundreds of thousands.

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“It’s important to me that someone is minding my skin versus somebody who is like, ‘I can make you younger,’” Parker, 58, said. “Which is of no interest to me and isn’t a reality.”

Anderson, Curtis, Mirren, MacDowell, Parker and lots more are proving that age is no detriment in being fashionable or beautiful. Yes, it is indeed just a number.