Paulina Porizkova isn't in a hurry to find the fountain of youth.
The supermodel and author, 61, shared her candid reflections on women's aging in an emotional Instagram post Sunday, Sept. 27.
"This one is for you, ladies of Instagram — and those of you who sometimes stop me on the street just to say 'Hi' and 'Thank you,'" Porizkova told fans in a video accompanying the post. "I guess the 'thank you' is for making you not feel alone [in] not being psyched about aging."
As a model, Porizkova has graced the cover of many major magazines and fronted campaigns for Estée Lauder, Chanel, Hermès and more. However, in recent years, the beauty icon has become a figure for female empowerment among older women thanks to her outspoken commentary, including
her 2022 book, "No Filter: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful."
"Aging is such a privilege when we get to do it, and yet, it's so on the line, especially when it comes to women," Porizkova said on Instagram. "We do get dismissed from the main tables when we age. We are expected to go silent. We are expected to sort of withdraw from polite society."
Porizkova said the social pressures associated with these beauty standards can lead to a reliance on cosmetic surgery.
"Those of us who are not ready to give it up have to go through surgical procedures, and those of us who don't care can withdraw, sure, and have very happy lives," Porizkova continued. "But there seems to be a lack of balance in here somewhere. Can't we age and still be at the main table? I mean, we have more to contribute now than we ever did."
Porizkova concluded her post by encouraging other women to be mindful of their social media consumption and the impact it has on their self-image. "What makes you feel better? What makes you feel worse? What makes you feel envious? What makes you feel generous? What inspires you?" she wrote in the post's caption.
"I know I feel better when I see women who mirror my experiences," Porizkova added. "I feel generous when I see people I respect doing well and am able to transform the quick flash of envy into best wishes. I am inspired every time I see a woman being unapologetically herself."
The supermodel previously opened up about aging in a 2024 interview for USA TODAY's Women of the Year series.
"When I was a young woman, I didn't think much of aging. I thought of aging as something that happens to other people," Porizkova said at the time. "And I thought by the time I was that older woman, somehow I would not have the same kind of interest in life as I did as a younger woman."
However, Porizkova said that "being in this second part of life now and knowing what age is and what age brings, it's such a tremendous time."
"Life will only get better as long as you're not afraid of it," Porizkova said. "This is a fantastic place to be. Don't waste time trying to be younger. Embrace who you are right now because you are at your very best right now. It's not going to get any better than this, so enjoy it while it lasts."
Contributing: Anika Reed, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paulina Porizkova blasts aging pressures – 'We are expected to go silent'
