‘Keeping it real: The struggle of ageless beauty and how I’m ageing’

Reality television is probably about as far from reality as we can go. In fact life in general has a fairy tale gloss about it. Take the beauty business. Not much there is real. What you see is not what the person started life with, too often it cost a few thousand dollars and/or a trip to Thailand.

Beauty is no longer a gift of nature, as we gaze in awe at beautiful hair on a model and wish our locks were glossy and thick, it is noted that this may be false hair pieces, a wig, or woven hair. There are so many clever ploys to make it look what it is not.

Look at those sparkling blue eyes on the pretty girl, they are lenses covering her brown eyes. She is gorgeous anyway, but she doesn’t accept it. Why do we need to appear what we are not? Searching for perfection or change is not the road to happiness.

The ugliest trends are more connected to extreme plastic surgery. Removing fat and replacing it to make buttocks that could easily have their own post code. Or a bosom that arrives at a destination a few minutes before the woman in question. Can they not see that excess is ugly? Okay so there have been rare moments when I wished my small bosoms were larger, but only for a mere second or two. When I became a feeding machine it was apparent there were disadvantages to more meaty mammaries; I welcomed back my size 36B.

Dentistry is now a wonderful art and if you have a healthy bank balance you can easily have a smile to dazzle. I have not a smile to dazzle, it is helped by some basic dentistry and teeth that come out like stars at night. Well not true I keep them in! I am vain in that way, I admit. I use make-up, I put a cheap men’s moisturiser on my face and, at nearly 82, I am still coping without the surgeon’s help.

Yet if I wished I could sport dimples or tighten the skin under my chin … so many options. I could have a tummy tuck or sport a new belly button. But I would not go down that road, any surgery is risky, and I’ve seen some horror plastic surgery (enough to give you nightmares).

Hollywood stars from yesterday go too far sometimes too. There are actors and actresses with smiles fixed on like a mask. Beautiful dewy young women have lips changed, blown up and pouting and never has the same charm.

You can have your private bits rearranged, which is a frightening thought. I think mine will be staying just as they are. I have no complaints and I am in my 80s with no continence problems, so I feel lucky there.

It’s not just women who make modifications to themselves either. I’ve heard of men creating false six packs, but just imagine as they age and the stomach catches up they might have a 12-pack. There are reasons sometimes to enhance, I can understand a person having nasal plastic surgery, or droopy eyelids fixed. Surgery that enhances life and can make people happy. But lips like two large sausages, a 60inch bosom or a bottom that has a life of its own, No please don’t do it.

I do understand surgery can sometimes help if there is a serious life impacting problem. I know people who have been grateful for that help. There is a great need for help — after an accident, when cancer strikes, losing a lot of weight too quickly, or mending birth defects, or burn scars. The surgeons doing that are just amazing in my opinion.

Betty White is one of my icons. At 99 I think she is wonderful. She is still good looking and seems untouched. I think her attitude to life is like mine, make the most of every day and keep a sense of humour.