Women have known for decades that ageing naturally is unacceptable. Older women are rarely seen on screen compared to younger women, or are praised for their age-defying looks. Now, as a reminder of the increasing impossibility of beauty standards, it’s clear that appearing to age unnaturally, or “too soon”, is also seen as a failure.
In early March, 21-year-old actor Millie Bobby Brown spoke out about “bullying” by journalists, after columns and social media comments accused her of looking too old for her age.
