You are sovereign, self-confident and have a lot of style: women over 50 have the world at their feet. Julia Roberts, Naomi Campbell & Co. are leading the way.
Finding love or the right job, becoming a mother, emigrating or changing the whole world – do these dreams sound familiar to you? That never-ending daydream full of plans and visions that makes the future look so sweet and rosy in your early 20s? That’s right, not everything has come true for a long time, but now comes the good news: It’s never too late! From the age of 50, scientists agree, so-called life satisfaction increases. And gives women nothing less than the best time of their lives.
A kind of second puberty
In the forties, life was put to the test, strengths and weaknesses recognized, explains the economist Hannes Schwandt in a study. A phase characterized by disappointed expectations and a “that’s it now?” feeling. But also, according to Schwandt, a kind of second puberty, which finally clears the way for a new beginning. Whether it’s Naomi Campbell, 52, Jennifer Aniston, 53, or Ulrike Folkerts, 61, there are many examples of women over 50 who seem so energetic, vital and full of life as if they still had their whole life ahead of them.
In fact, thanks to prosperity, social recognition and modern medicine, today they feel an average of eleven years younger than their passport says. And according to statistics, at 50 they still have 34 years of life ahead of them.
A good three decades that want to be filled with love, desire and passion, with adventure, education and pleasure. “I don’t want to try to look young, I just want to keep getting better and happier with myself,” says Brooke Shields, 57, adding, “It feels like I’m just starting out. I feel more attractive than ever.” The actress, who began her career at the age of 15 in the erotic cult film “The Blue Lagoon”, is now, at 57 and a mother of two, doing lingerie advertising. Accepting one’s own self with its rough edges, one’s own body with its dents and curves, becomes easier for women as they get older.
The best time is now
Confident, relaxed and self-confident, they stand up for their own wishes, do not bend over backwards and thus appear all the more attractive. “Internalize who you are, what you can do and accept your age,” advises Petra van Bremen, 63, in her book “Your best time is now.” Divorce, unfulfilled desire to have children, skin cancer and a job that didn’t make her happy – the Dutch woman had a lot behind her when she became a model and influencer at 50. With gray hair, a few wrinkles and waving arms. Her motto, which she lives by today, at 63, is also her advice to all women: “I celebrate my life and my appearance.”
enjoy the love
Simone Thomalla, 57
She has never cared about conventions. And I don’t want to start anymore. The actress (“Spring”) was in a relationship with the 20-year-old professional handball player Silvio Heinevetter, 37, for twelve years until the end of 2021. And now has a younger partner at her side again. DJ Nicolino Hermano is 45 and meets exactly the demands that Thomalla has made of a man since the last separation. “I don’t want to wash sportswear anymore and spend more time together.” How happy the new guy makes them becomes apparent when the couple strolls through Berlin, laughing and exuberant. “I’m completely satisfied with my life,” Simone Thomalla said on her 50th birthday. And it has stayed that way.
Simone Thomalla and Nicolino Hermano
© Tristar Media / Getty Images
Finally mother
Naomi Campbell, 52
The model never revealed how great her longing for a child was. It was only when Naomi Campbell surprisingly published a photo with her little daughter in May 2021 that she gushed: “She’s the best thing I’ve ever done.” The girl, who is now “the greatest blessing” of the capricious Briton, was born via surrogacy. It doesn’t mean a career break: Naomi takes her daughter in front of the camera.
No compromise
Julia Roberts, 54
Growing vegetables, making jam, raising three children. The actress quite liked family life in the country. Now the twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, 17, are going to high school, Henry is 15 – and Julia is interested in Hollywood again. She moved back to Los Angeles with her children and husband Danny Moder and was in front of the camera for the film “Ticket to Paradise” with George Clooney, 61. Her condition was that her old friend and colleague play along. And she no longer makes any compromises when it comes to the screenplay either. Her motto: “As I like it.”
Belated satisfaction
Queen Letizia, 50
The look and the well-trained figure make her a style icon, her approachable, warm manner the popular mother of the nation. Until then, Letizia had to be patient: as a divorced woman and TV presenter, she was highly suspicious of the people at the wedding to Crown Prince Felipe in 2004. Today, the mother of two daughters is considered the savior of the Spanish monarchy, which on the one hand continues the royal tradition, but also introduces contemporary changes and thus outshines the past scandals of former king Juan Carlos, 84, and brother-in-law Iñaki Urdangarin, 54.
© Dana Press
Don’t force anything
Renee Zellweger, 53
For years she rushed after her ideals, starved herself to size zero, endured lovesickness and allowed herself to be pigeonholed. A life that burned her out. Only when the two-time Oscar winner took a six-year break in 2010 did she find peace. Now she is happy with moderator Ant Antstead, 43, has even become a bonus mother through him and wants to slip into her prime role “Bridget Jones” again.
reconciled with the body
Brooke Shields, 57
Despite being an idol since the movie ‘The Blue Lagoon’, the actress is only now feeling really sexy, even posing in lingerie label Skims’ new ad campaign. On her online platform “Beginning is now” she propagates tolerance for all age groups, skin colors and body shapes.
own career
Natalia Worner, 55
Being the wife of… is not an option for the actress. Even if many would have liked to see her as a dazzling politician’s wife, she remained in show business when her partner Heiko Maas, 56, was Foreign Minister from 2018 to 2021. Now he’s just a member of the Bundestag and has more time – she has a busy schedule.
Natalia Worner and Heiko Maas
© Gisela Schober / Getty Images
Adjust no more
Ulrike Folkerts, 61
Nothing can frighten her anymore: “I’ve forgotten how to be afraid,” says the actress. It was a long way before she could live so self-determined. She only came out as a lesbian in her late 30s. A “huge effort,” she later admitted. Today she lives with her partner Katharina Schnitzler, 59, in Berlin and is just as popular as the bulky “Tatort” commissioner Lena Odenthal as in her Rosamunde Pilcher roles.
Desire for togetherness
Steffi Graf, 53
When children go their own way, many mothers find themselves in a crisis. Not so the former tennis player. She is happy that she gave Jaden, 20, and Jaz Elle, 18, “self-confidence, respect and empathy” – and uses the unusual freedom to rediscover herself as a couple with husband André Agassi, 52.
Steffi Graf and André Agassi
© Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
Single but not alone
Jennifer Aniston, 53
In her forties, the actress realized how good it feels to look after the offspring of girlfriends or to have a lot of fun with her clique of cool men. Previously, Jen had to deal with the divorces from Brad Pitt in 2005 and Justin Theroux in 2017, as well as her unfulfilled desire to have children.