Women are rallying for Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones following she encountered disparaging remarks on social media over her looks at a recent red carpet function.
Zeta-Jones attended an industry gathering in Los Angeles last month where a TikTok interview featuring her part in the latest Wednesday was eclipsed due to discussion focusing on her looks.
This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, described the negative reaction "utter foolishness", adding that "men don't have such a timeline that women do".
"Males escape this sell-by/use-by date that women do," argued Ms White.
Writer and commentator aged 50, Sali Hughes, said differently from men, females are unfairly judged as they age and she ought to be free to look as she wishes.
During the interview, uploaded to social media and had over 2.5 million views, Zeta-Jones, who is from Mumbles, Swansea, spoke of the pleasure of delving into her character, Morticia Addams, in the new episodes.
Yet many of the numerous remarks focused on her years and were disparaging about her appearance.
This criticism triggered significant support of Zeta-Jones, featuring a widely-shared clip online which stated: "People criticize women for having too much work done and criticize them if they avoid enough work."
Others also rallied in support, with one writing: "She is aging naturally and she appears beautiful."
Others described her as "gorgeous" and "so pretty", with another adding that "she appears her age - which is simply life."
She appeared for her interview recently with a bare face to "prove a point" and to show that there is no fixed "template" of how a female in midlife is supposed to look.
Like many women her age, she said she "maintains her wellbeing" not for a youthful appearance but so she feels "better" and be "in good health".
"Getting older represents an honour and if we can live as well as possible, that is what truly counts," she added.
She argued that men aren't held to the same beauty standards, noting "nobody scrutinizes the age of famous men might be - they just are described as 'wonderful'."
She said it was one of the reasons she entered the pageant's division for women over 45, to prove that females of a certain age remain relevant" and "retain their appeal".
The author, a journalist of Welsh origin, stated that although Zeta-Jones was "gorgeous" this is "not the point", noting she deserves to be free to appear however she liked absent her age facing scrutiny.
Hughes argued the social media vitriol demonstrated not a single woman is "exempt" and that females should not face the "constant narrative" which says they are lacking or youthful enough - an issue that is "infuriating, no matter the individual targeted".
Asked if men experience equivalent judgment, she said "not at all", explaining females are criticized simply for demonstrating the "nerve" to exist on social media as they age.
Even with the beauty industry advocating for "longevity", Hughes said women were still judged regardless of if they grow older naturally or chose interventions like cosmetic surgery or fillers.
"When a woman ages without intervention, others claim you ought to try harder; when you have work done, you're accused of trying too hard," she added.
