🔗 Share this article

Females are uniting behind Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she faced criticism online over her looks during a high-profile function.

She appeared at an industry gathering in Los Angeles recently during which a TikTok interview discussing her character in season two of Wednesday was eclipsed because of remarks concerning her age.

Voices of Support

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, called the negative reaction "absolute rubbish", adding that "males escape this expiration date which women face".

"Men don't have this sell-by/use-by date that women do," stated the pageant winner.

Author Sali Hughes, 50, said differently from men, females are criticized as they age and the actor deserves to be free to appear however she liked.

Digital Backlash

Within the clip, also shared to social media and had more than 2.5m views, Zeta-Jones, hailing from Swansea, spoke of her enjoyment in delving into her part, Morticia Addams, in season two.

However a significant number of the numerous remarks centered on her age and were critical towards her looks.

This criticism sparked widespread defence for Zeta-Jones, featuring a widely-shared clip from one Facebook user which declared: "People criticize females when they get cosmetic procedures and attack them if they avoid enough."

Online users spoke up for her, with one writing: "It's called growing older naturally and she looks gorgeous."

Some called her as "gorgeous" and "very attractive", and one comment read that "she looks her age - that is reality."

A Statement Arrival

Ms White arrived for her interview recently with a bare face as a demonstration and to demonstrate there was no set "template" for what a woman in her 50s ought to appear.

As with others of her years, she stated she "maintains her wellbeing" not to appear younger but so she feels "improved" and appear "in good health".

"Getting older represents a gift and when we do it the best we can, this is what truly counts," she added.

She contended that males are not subject to the same beauty standards, noting "people don't ask the age of famous men might be - they simply appear 'fantastic'."

Ms White noted it was one of the reasons she entered the competition for women over 45, to prove that midlife women remain relevant" and "retain their appeal".

Unfair Scrutiny

Hughes, a writer and commentator of Welsh origin, said that while the actor is "stunning" that is "irrelevant", stating further she deserves to be able to look in any way she chooses absent her age being scrutinised.

She stated the social media vitriol demonstrated not a single woman is "protected" and that it is unfair for women to endure the "constant narrative" suggesting they are not good enough or youthful enough - a problem that is "galling, regardless of the person involved".

When asked if men experience equivalent judgment, she answered "no, never", adding women were targeted merely for showing "audacity" to be present on the internet while aging.

A No-Win Situation

Despite the beauty industry promoting "age-defiance", Hughes said females are still criticised regardless of if they grow older gracefully or underwent treatments like surgical procedures or injections.

"When a woman ages gracefully, people say you should do more; when you have work done, people say you trying too hard," she added.