Glamity-Jane

Sitting in my bedroom, scrolling through the usual blur of social media content, I paused on something that hit a nerve — the online discourse surrounding Jennifer Love Hewitt and her recent red carpet appearance. An actress who defined an era, she has stepped out of the limelight in recent years to raise her three children and live a relatively normal life, away from the unrelenting glare of Hollywood. Now, reappearing publicly, she is subjected to a tidal wave of critique — and not about her work, her character, or her voice, but about her face.

Let’s be honest: Jennifer Love Hewitt has aged. Like the rest of us. Gracefully, naturally, and in a way that reflects her personal journey. So why are we still trapped in this exhausting cycle of scrutinising women’s appearances as if their worth hangs on it?

The commentary — often driven by incel men and overly critical women — reeks of societal discomfort with female ageing. And it’s always the same tired pattern: If a woman chooses to intervene (through tweakments, surgery, or medication), she’s “fake.” If she doesn’t, she’s “let herself go.” If she puts on weight, she’s lazy. If she loses it, she must be on Ozempic. It’s a no-win situation that benefits no one.

Here’s the truth: bodily autonomy matters. Whether a woman opts for Botox or embraces her wrinkles, undergoes surgery or chooses to age naturally, it’s her decision. There is no moral high ground in being “natural” any more than there is shame in choosing to invest in one’s appearance. You get one body — and how you care for it is entirely your prerogative.

As someone who’s worked in the aesthetics industry for years and spoken about this on-air more times than I can count, I’ll tell you this: most professionals in the aesthetic field care deeply about patient wellbeing. Yes, there are outliers — unqualified practitioners who ignore mental health red flags — but the majority are ethical, patient-centred, and supportive of their clients’ choices.

What’s striking about the Jennifer Love Hewitt conversation — and recently, the scrutiny around Kelly Brook too — is how often it circles back to male desirability. As if a woman’s value is tied to whether some bloke, eating Domino’s in his mother’s basement between PS5 sessions, finds her hot. It’s laughable if it weren’t so insidious.

Thankfully, we’re seeing a quiet rebellion. From Pamela Anderson’s fresh-faced moment at Paris Fashion Week to Sarah Jessica Parker’s candid conversations about greying hair, more and more women are choosing to show up on their own terms — no filters, no apologies.

Cameron Diaz once said she didn’t want to look in the mirror and see a face that didn’t feel like hers. And that sentiment sums it up perfectly. Whether your look is high-maintenance or low-key, whether you’re sculpting with syringes or skipping skincare altogether — you deserve to feel at home in your own skin.

So let’s stop dissecting women’s faces like they’re public property. There’s no gold star for suffering through ageing. There’s no shame in seeking support to feel your best. Just do what makes you happy — and let others do the same.

Because frankly, life’s too short not to.