A feminist stance on botox

The general feeling, amongst my female friends, is that it’s up to women to do whatever they like to their bodies and faces and we shouldn’t cast judgement. I’ve come round to this way of thinking

When I was growing up, my mum always had her lips painted red. She was never without lipstick. I thought she was very glamorous with her red lips, blonde hair, mohair jumpers and knee-high black leather boots. 

In her 50s, she said to me: I will still be blonde and wearing a bikini when I’m 70. I liked this statement, because I don’t believe there should be rules around what you do with your body, as a woman, except the rules you create for yourself.

She is now in her 70s and that statement remains true.

A few weeks ago, when the wonderful woman whose book I’m ghostwriting appeared on our Zoom call, she smiled and said, in her soothing voice: here you are, Annie, all ready and made up with your signature red lips.

I was surprised that she had noticed; I shower and put my make-up on every morning without much thought. But she was right: I am never without my lipstick. Though I’m not sure when this began. 

My son asked my recently when I started wearing lipstick and I decided it was probably after I became a mum. Painting on my lipstick - a splash of colour on an often-tired face - brings me to life. 

I didn’t intend for it to become a statement, or signature style, but this has naturally happened.

Women who don’t wear make-up

When I see women without make-up, I feel two things: