Aging in Hollywood almost feels like a curse word. It seems like the worst thing a celebrity, especially a female celebrity, can do is age. How messed up is that? It seems like men are able to grow old and be celebrated for it while women are supposed to, what? Disappear? Slink away?
Not anymore! Women are taking a stand and loving themselves, just ask Jewel.
It's hard enough just being a woman, period. Now imagine being a woman in a world where men are celebrated for their age and women are shamed for having gray hair and wrinkles.
Everyone will want you to age gracefully while also not letting you age gracefully because they will mock you for it.
While celebrating her 47th birthday, the songstress took to Instagram to address the sexism in the industry.
“47 and feeling myself today,” she wrote in the caption. "I wasn’t sure what getting older would feel like. I was never afraid of it, luckily I’ve loved every year."
"I made a promise to myself when I was pretty young to ‘do no harm’ to myself. To try to be kind to myself in a business notoriously [explective] about women’s bodies. I was called a chubby Rene Zellweger when I came in the scene in the 90’s. But I wouldn’t let myself be bulimic or anorexic because I felt that was letting bullies win."
"And to be thankful for the looks I do have, and not take them for granted just because I wasn’t classically perfect."
"My skin is changing. Gravity definitely takes its toll. But I’m surprised by how good I feel. How vital. How happy. How healthy. And yeah, I feel sexy."
"Eat what you want because you want to- not because your afraid of how it will look on you. Your worth lies in your wisdom and your joy. Don’t be bullied out of enjoying your own life! Feel the sensuous joy of being alive. And absorb every single bit of pleasure out of this life- your worth it!"
What an amazing message! Happy birthday, Jewel!
