Olivia Newton-John has proved there’s no need for heels on the red carpet to look glamorous and elegant, as she stepped out in a pair of comfy and glittery sandshoes for an event close to her heart.
The talented actress went against the norm of dressing up in a fancy frock and sky-high pumps and instead opted for a loosely fitted white suit, the snazzy shoes and a silver top to match at the 2019 Industry Dance Awards in Los Angeles. Sporting a huge smile on her face, Olivia looked beautiful while posing for cameras and accessorised with a classy pearl necklace and silver earrings.
Meanwhile, the 70-year-old chose to keep her blonde locks down and straight in her usual style and added a pop of colour with a soft pink lip and a swipe of blush on her cheeks. Olivia was also snapped posing for snaps with fellow Aussie Delta Goodrem, who went full glam in a pair of glittery gold, flared pants and a black blazer.
The event at Avalon Hollywood had a special importance for the Grease star, as it was raising funds for charities including Dancers Against Cancer, an organisation which aims to provide financial assistance to dance educators, dancers and family members impacted by cancer. During the important event, a selection of talented dancers and teachers received awards in several categories for their achievements and contributions while they were also treated to performances from the Dancers Against Cancer foundation.
Her appearance at the event comes days after the star opened up about her health and battle against cancer as she continues her fight with the illness for the third time in her life. Olivia spoke exclusively to 60 Minutes about her journey to date and positive outlook on life as she enjoys down-time with her husband John Easterling at their home in Santa Barbara, California.
The star was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. The talented actress had a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction to beat the disease. It was a success and the mum-of-one went on living a happy a joyous life until almost two decades later when the cancer re-appeared in 2013 and then again in May 2017. However, Olivia hasn’t let that bring her down, admitting she is “back to full force” and not letting the cancer take over her life.
“I had moments when I was concerned I may not walk again, I had one leg that was pretty wonky for a while but I was determined that I would,” she explained on 60 Minutes. “So I started out in a wheelchair and then a walker and then a cane and now, I’m back in full force again.”
Unlike others who may constantly focus on the cancer infecting her body, the Grease star said she’s not letting it become a demon and engulf her. Olivia explained “everything’s a choice” and that she doesn’t like seeing the cancer as something in her body she’s getting rid of.
“I don’t talk about a battle or a war because I think that sets up that feeling in your body that you’re battling something strange inside you,” she said on 60 Minutes. “I say ‘let it go’ and tell it to leave and talk to my body to heal itself and don’t try and make it that because that takes up your whole life and your whole being.”
Olivia added: “I kind of have a way of disassociating and compartmentalising it. Otherwise you become a victim, which I don’t want to be and I’m not. Or you become a slave to it and talk about it all the time which I try not to do either. In my meditations I visualise it leaving and I see the herbs and medicines that I’m taking making it go.”