Claudia Winkleman is famed for a number of things; that iconic blunt fringe, liberal use of inky black eyeliner, and her no-nonsense, funny and natural manner when it comes to presenting.
So it makes sense that the 45-year-old presenter has a refreshingly honest outlook on ageing, too.
It is no secret that women in the public eye are under an enormous amount of pressure to look a certain way.
From speculation about pregnancy to plastic surgery, it’s no wonder, then, that many feel forced to succumb to extreme methods to stay looking ‘picture perfect’.
And, in a new interview with the Daily Star, Winkleman reveals that she, too, used to feel the glare of the spotlight upon her. So much so that, at one point, she considered cosmetic surgery.
“I am 45,” she says, “and at this point my face is actually falling off.
“I had a go with Botox but looked both scared and surprised at the same time. I don’t like to be either.”
So, instead of pursuing surgical methods, Winkleman decided to adapt her hairstyle – and allow her “unapologetic fringe” to take charge.
“After a little chat with myself, I simply decided I would grow my fringe longer,” she explains. “I prefer to stick to my old-lady goth/Steve Tyler look. I’ve found my look – white lipstick, black eyeliner, black clothes.”
Since then, the TV star has embraced the ageing process, admitting that she feels “more fantastic as I get older”.
“I think I was born aged about 86,” admits Winkleman. “All I’ve ever wanted to do is stay at home under a duvet and now I’m old I can do that.”
She adds: “My twenties were painful. You had to go out to nightclubs. I love not having to pretend to enjoy those things anymore.”
Winkleman, who previously revealed that she grew up in a house without mirrors (her mother’s attempt to teach her daughter that self-worth comes from more than just physical appearance), goes on to insist that “sleeping” is the ultimate beauty hack.
That and, of course, refusing to succumb to worrying about what you look like.
“I suppose my biggest tip would be not to worry about it,” she says. “Sometimes you’ll wear too much bronzer and sometimes your eyeliner will be halfway down your face. No panic – just focus a bit next time.”
And, just as Winkleman refuses to share beauty tips, she also prefers not to share the ‘secret’ to her and husband Kris Thykier’s 16-year marriage.
“I have no idea [what the secret is]; I would not purport to offer marriage advice. It would be like me offering beauty advice – hilarious.
“I love him. I guess that’s the secret.”
Winkleman is not the only celebrity to open up about what it’s really like to grow older in the public eye.
During her 2016 appearance on Running Wild With Bear Grylls, Courteney Cox said: “Being a woman in this industry is difficult, and getting older is not the easiest thing. But I have learned lessons.”
Cox went on to address her previous use of cosmetic procedures, explaining: “I was trying to keep up with getting older and trying to chase that. It's something you can't keep up with. The more you relax with it and the less you try...
“Sometimes you find yourself trying and then you look at a picture of yourself and you go ‘oh god, I look horrible.’”
The 52-year-old continued: “I have done things that I regret and luckily there are things that dissolve and go away. So that's good because it's not always been my best look.
“Now I have a new motto; let it be.”
Images: Rex Features
undefined
By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy
Thank you!
You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.