Women >40: Backside or Beauty, Choose One!

A story in the Times of London claims that every woman eventually has to choose between maintaining a youthful face or a great body. Fashion editor Lisa Armstrong quotes actress Catherine Deneuve: "A 30-year-old woman must choose between her bottom and her face." Basically, the "theory" assumes that as a woman gets older, she can either maintain her face or her body, but not both.



Armstrong writes that while attending fashion shows, she found that though the front row celebrities may focus on Botox and face-lifts, for the international editors, stylists and buyers in attendance, "being thin has always been more important than having a dewily youthful complexion.

According to Armstrong, former model Rachel Hunter singles out Teri Hatcher as someone who has clearly chosen "backside over beauty." Armstrong also calls women like Nigella Lawson, Oprah and Judi Dench "sitting beauties" who "have clearly decided to pamper their faces and let their bodies get on with it." She adds: "...fat women might have lovely, plump skin, but an out-of-shape body can be just as aging as a lined face."

I beg to differ with Armstrong's theory. With good exercise, proper nutrition, and a great esthetician, women can have their cake and eat it too (perhaps not literally). I have the pleasure of seeing beautifully fit women in their 40's everyday at Equinox. Here are a few pictures of gorgeous women over 40 that have amazing bodies.