I recently saw this photo

 

and it blew me away.

The model is Carmen Dell’Orefice and she is an 83 year old model.

83 years old!

There is no doubt whatsoever that she looks incredible. Unbelievable really.

Previously when looked at fashion magazines I’d see all these very young, very beautiful girls and but no longer felt the pressure to compare myself to them because I was 25-35 years older.

Now though…I don’t have that luxury. The bar has been seriously raised. In fact the bar has been set in another universe. Unattainable to the average person without time travel.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m pleased with the media’s new found love affair with older women. I’m excited they are putting older women on magazine covers and no longer ignoring them. I appreciate that she is beautiful to look at.  And yet upon viewing the photo I immediately thought, “I’m not good enough. I’ll never be good enough. I have more lines on my face than her and she is 35 years older than me! How can I keep up? What is wrong with me?”

Undoubtably the photo has been retouched and I read that she has had cosmetic surgery, but it didn’t quell the negative feelings in the back of my mind.

Then I saw this photo of Cindy Crawford who is the same age as me…

What came to my mind? No thoughts of inadequacy, but rather a feeling of sisterhood. I can relate to her. She feels real to me.

I applaud her bravery. Showing the whole package is much more courageous than simply showing a face and neck.

Both of these women are models and have been blessed with very good looks and genes.

One is showing the truth, one is showing an altered version of the truth. 

Which do you prefer looking at and why?  Do you struggle with the thief of joy? Comparison?