Hello again and welcome back. Now lately there has been a bit of a buzz about a new reality slash talent show in China. And what makes this show unique is the fact that instead of choosing a bunch of pretty girls in their twenties, this show decided to focus on a group of female celebrities over the age of 30.

This new show has attracted a lot of publicity, positive and negative. While you may choose to like or despise the show, the way I see it is that it is still somewhat of a trailblazer, the first of its kind to put women at different ages in a spotlight. Because if you think about it, all these information around us, all these messages we get, from the internet, from social media, even from people around us, tells us the aging process is our biggest enemy, especially for women. In China as in many other cultures, 20 something girls or even teenage girls have long been held up as the essence, an ideal of female beauty and womanhood in popular culture, especially in China, when every official picture of any actress at any age, art retouched and photoshopped to the point that it doesn't allow any single wrinkle. We also have all these beauty apps, beauty cameras that allow us to erase any sign of aging to achieve and almost unreal image within a few taps.

Sure there are frequent stories and articles about how 30 is the new 20, or 40 is the new 30. But rarely do we see women over a certain age unretouched, unapologetic, not medically intervened upon held up as desirable and admirable or even held up at all.

Now we may see the aging process as a nightmare and try everything to fight it. The good thing is plenty of female role models have the guts to face the reality or face the mirror with grace.

So in today's episode, I would like to share with you a collection of thoughts on aging from some of the truly iconic women in the English speaking world.

First, we start with one of your favorites. Kate Blanchett. When asked about her opinions on plastic surgery. I haven't done any cosmetic surgery， when you have children your body changes, there is history to it. I like the evolution of that history. And I'm fortunate to be with somebody who likes the evolution of that history. I think it is important to not eradicate it. I look at someone's face. I see the work before I see the person. I personally don't think people look better when they do it. They just look different.

And if you are doing it out of fear, that fear is still going to be seen through your eyes. Moving on from your favorite actress to a fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg.

Diane von Furstenberg is the fashion designer behind the famous wrap dress. She said there is a saying that with age you look outside what your insight. If you are someone who never smiles, your face gets saggy; if you are a person who smiles a lot, you will have more smile lines. Your wrinkles reflect the roads you have taken, they form the map of your life.

Personally I think that's a very elegant saying. And what about this one from the always eccentric Yoko Ono, John lennon’s widow, an artist in her own right. She said some people are old when they are 18, and some people are young when they are 90, you can't define people by whatever society determines as their age. Time is a concept that human beings created. The thing is when it comes to aging, there's always been somewhat of a double standard for men and women. Cher, the one scholar is a pop and the winner of Oscar, Gramm, Emmy and Golden Globe.

She said I do think that when it comes to aging, we are held to a different standard than man. Some guy said to me, don't you think you're too old to sing rock and roll？I said you better check with Mick Jagger.

Now I know many people would say, does that mean that even if you're older, you still need to pretend to be very young, actually quite the opposite.

Iris Apfel, the fashion icon at the age of 98, aging gracefully is about no heavy makeup and not too much powder because it gets into the wrinkles, to not try to look young.

I believe it was Coco Chanel who said nothing makes a woman look so old as trying desperately hard to look young. I think you can be attractive at any age.

Another woman who gracefully accepted the aging process is Helen Mirren. The best thing about being over 70 is being over 70. Certainly when I was 45, the idea of being 70 was like ah~ but you only have two options in life, die young or get old. There is nothing else.

The idea of dying young when you are 25 is kind of cool, a bit romantic. But then you realize that life is too much fun to do that.

It's fascinating and wonderful and emotional. So you just have to find a way of negotiating getting old psychologically and physically.

And in the next quote, one of the most successful talk show hosts Opera Winfrey. She simply said the way I see it, every year can be a brand new journey. Think about it, you get one chance to be 25, 38, 44, 61, and every age before and between. Why wouldn't you want to experience all the wonder in each step on your path. And then moving on to a more emotional quote from Patti LaBelle, an American singer, songwriter, actress, business woman with a career spanning 60years. She said, here is what I know, I'm a better person as I get older. I'm calmer, easier to live with, all this stuff is in my soul forever. Just don't get lazy, work at your relationships all the time. Take care of friendships, hold people you love close to you. Take advantage of birthdays to celebrate fiercely. It's the worrying, not the years themselves that will make you less of a woman.

Susan Sarandon also said I wouldn't want to be 20 now. I know so much more and I'm much more comfortable in my skin, saggy as it is.

We end today's program with a powerful quote from an actress and director Sally Field. She said, I've gathered strength behind my years. I owned them, I've earned them, I've deserved them, I have a right to have them.

In the end, I just want to say so no matter what age you are right now, you deserve to shine, to radiate, to be attractive in your own way. I hope you enjoy today's episode. If you have any other quotes you wish to share with us, can't wait to hear from you. I'll see you next time. Bye.

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