It’s no secret that celebrities are always striving to look their best. Women, in particular, have a unique pressure to look flawless, even as they age.
While some famous older women who look young seem to have discovered the fountain of youth, they’re not ashamed of aging. Rather, their confidence and grace inspire fans to embrace themselves at any age — regardless of what society deems “beautiful.”
Ahead, meet 14 celebrities who look way younger than they actually are.
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Famous Older Women Who Look Young
Jennifer Lopez
When it comes to famous older women who look young, Jennifer Lopez immediately comes to mind, as she seems to be aging backward. J.Lo has vehemently denied getting any kind of plastic surgery, yet somehow looks better and better with every birthday. When she turned 50, the triple threat shared some inspiring words about being proud of her age. In a YouTube video from her ‘It’s My Party’ tour diary, Lopez recalled wanting to go out and celebrate her big birthday.
“Everybody thought I was crazy when I wanted to go out and let everybody know that I was 50,” she said. “For me, it was important. It was important as a woman to do that; to let people know that you don’t get to write women off at a certain point in their life. You don’t get to write people off.”
Vanessa Williams
Entertainment industry veteran Vanessa Williams isn’t about to let antiquated beauty standards stand in her way. In a 2016 interview with Essence magazine, the actress, singer, and Miss America winner recalled when a director of photography once said her face didn’t look right on screen. “The DP asks my makeup artist, ‘What am I to do??’ Williams said. She then said that she told her makeup artist: “This is 53. This is what it looks like. Tell the DP to learn how to light it!”
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani looks as incredible now as she did in the 90s. Though the former No Doubt rocker has never confirmed any plastic surgery procedures, she alluded to the possibility back in 2004. In an interview with People, Stefani said “I’m hoping my children will save me from my vanity. If it doesn’t, plastic surgery is an option…It sucks to have to grow older. We all have to accept it.”
Naomi Campbell
The iconic supermodel isn’t about to let her age dictate her life. In fact, Naomi Campbell welcomed her first child in 2021 at age 51. While she obviously struck genetic gold, the model says she also maintains a strict diet and beauty routine. “For me, carbs are a treat now,” she told BAZAAR.com. But ultimately, she told the outlet, “I don’t worry about a number. I’m fine with aging.”
Helen Mirren
When it comes to famous older women who look young, Helen Mirren takes the cake. Her secret? Aging disgracefully — yes, disgracefully. “I don’t want to age gracefully, I want to age disgracefully,” the actress, who gained a L’Oreal endorsement deal in her 60s, told BAZAAR.com in 2020. “Aging is a cause for celebration and the reality is that it’s a non-stop adventure. That’s what I enjoy.”
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union looks like she could easily be in her 20s. Lucky for us, Union has shared her top tips for looking fabulous at nearly 50. In 2016, she shared with Elle that her top tips include face oil, salicylic acid, LED light therapy, and most importantly, staying hydrated.
But at the end of the day, Union loves embracing her natural skin. “It’s how my friends and my husband and my loved ones appreciate me most,” she told the magazine. “I think makeup can be a mask…So I’ve made peace with this [as] my face and I’m okay with it. I’m at an age where I have zero F’s to give.”
Vera Wang
Fashion designer Vera Wang looks absolutely incredible. After Twitter users discovered her age, fans began asking Wang what her secrets are. Under one Instagram photo of the designer showing off her flat tummy, one follower commented: “I need my stomach to be like yours. What’s your routine?” Wang’s reply couldn’t be more legendary: “Work, sleep, a vodka cocktail, not much sun.” Now, that’s an “anti-aging routine” we could get into.
Christie Brinkley
It’s been over 40 years since Christie Brinkley started modeling, and she shows no signs of slowing down. And why should she? The model is as gorgeous as ever. “Women are not to be brushed under the carpet because they’re a certain age,” Brinkley told PEOPLE in 2014. And while she credits much of her youthful looks to a healthy lifestyle and solid skincare routine, Brinkley isn’t afraid to admit that a little maintenance helps.
“We’re modern women, we’re not living in the dark ages. There are scientists that are working every day to try to help women look their best, and they’re coming up with all kinds of different opportunities,” admitting without shame that she has done injectables for fine lines and wrinkles, fillers for facial volume, and body contouring treatments.
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Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston first captivated people’s hearts as Rachel Green on Friends, and now in her 50s, her talent and grace continue to wow fans. In a 2019 cover story for Instyle’s, Aniston reflected on her 50th birthday, saying: “Fifty was the first time I thought, ‘Well, that number,’ I don’t know what it is because I don’t feel any different. Things aren’t shutting down in any way.’
The actress added that she felt “physically incredible”, but that she found it strange when people began to tell her that she looks amazing for her age. “I think we need to establish some etiquette around that dialogue and verbiage,” Aniston said.
Michelle Yeoh
In addition to being a prolific actress, the Crazy Rich Asians star is also a skincare aficionado — which is probably why she looks so incredible at almost 60. In 2019, Yeoh told InStyle that she credits her glow to Augustinus Bader’s The Cream and Tatcha’s The Essence.
SPF is also a crucial part of her routine. In 2014, Yeoh told Stylist: “I also used to suntan back in the ’80s when it was trendy to do so. But I noticed that doing so aged my skin, so I stopped and now, I never go anywhere without slapping on sunscreen first.”
Halle Berry
Halle Berry, is in favor of aging naturally and has something to say about plastic surgery. “Aging is natural, and that’s going to happen to all of us,” she told Yahoo! Beauty in 2015. “I just want to always look like myself, even if that’s an older version of myself. I think when you do too much of that cosmetic stuff, you become somebody else in a way.” Instead, she credits her youthful appearance to a healthy lifestyle, including an intense fitness regimen, yoga, meditation, and nutrition (her secret weapon: bone broth).
Gwyneth Paltrow
Though she’s undeniably beautiful, the almost 50-year-old actress and Goop founder has been honest about how public scrutiny has impacted her confidence. “I’ve always felt so funny about my looks,” Paltrow said on the 2019 premiere episode of Goop’s new podcast, The Beauty Closet. “I think that it’s very rare to think that you’re a beautiful person, and so, I feel like every other woman, like I don’t see that when I look in the mirror.”
But, Paltrow continued, getting older has allowed her to connect more deeply with her inner beauty. “And so, it’s this funny shift that’s happening,” she said. “It’s like you feel so good, you know who you are, hopefully you value the relationships in your life and your work and your contribution to the world.”
Lucy Liu
Over 50, Kill Bill star Lucy Liu looks as gorgeous as ever. Though the actress doesn’t reveal a lot about her personal life, she told Women’s Health that she relies on acupuncture and exercise such as SoulCycle to keep herself looking and feeling her best. Liu also stated that her reason for doing the magazine’s cover was to prove a point about aging, specifically that “you don’t have to be 20 to wear a bathing suit.” She continued: “With all the flaws and all the life that a body experiences, it’s still something that you should carry with confidence.”
Angela Bassett
According to the over 60-year-old actress, life only gets better with age. “Maybe if you’re younger you have more energy — but that’s a big maybe,” she told Good Housekeeping. “Because at this stage of life, I have more patience, understanding, wisdom, resources — and a husband. I didn’t get him until I was 39. But I got a good one.”
