Commentary by ElenaBurt

The age of Botox, fillers and lifts has morphed society’s views on aging. Society has even claimed the term “Instagram baddie.” It refers to women and men affected by social media who modify their appearances to look airbrushed, like a filter on Instagram. 

I don’t judge whether you do or don’t get fillers or plastic surgery, but there are pressures on celebrities—especially women in Hollywood—to befriend Juvederm in an attempt to stay young. 

For example, Kris Jenner, 69, is a woman with many titles, and one of them is being openly close with her plastic surgeon. There are controversies surrounding this. Some people assume she only gets so much done to boost her wealth, while some think she looks beautiful and ageless. 

It’s important to consider the double-edged sword here. As Jenner is frowned upon for getting too much done and wearing too much makeup, Pamela Anderson, 59, is praised for doing the opposite. Anderson publicly gave up wearing makeup and getting age-preventative procedures in 2019 when her longtime makeup artist died of cancer. She said she doesn’t want to “chase aging,” seeing her imperfections as remnants of life rather than age. 

The paparazzi, interviewers and even her fans have been astonished to see her bare face after a long career of walking around in a smokey eye, red lip and perfect blowout. People call her brave and find it unbelievable that a woman would not wear makeup and showcase her age in public. Others find it unappealing and cynical. 

How peculiar is it that we as a society can shame someone for looking too young and shame someone for looking too old? 

Let’s zoom in on Hollywood’s obsession with youth and the way aging actresses face disadvantages. Women like Meryl Streep, 75, and Sandra Bullock, 60, were once cast as the central characters and even love interests. As they get older, they are often limited by the industry to portraying characters like mothers and grandmothers.

While that does make sense for an older woman to play someone her age, there is a difference in the roles that men book. Many who are growing older, like Tom Cruise, 62, George Clooney, 63, and Glen Powell, 36—and before you scoff at me adding Glen Powell, know that he is nine years older than Sydney Sweeney—are still portraying the main character and love interest in movies. 

More importantly, they continue to be paired with actresses much younger than them. Cruise, for instance, starred opposite 26 year-old Vanessa Kirby in “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” when he was 57. Meanwhile, women like Julia Roberts, 57, who once starred in romantic comedies as the object of affection, are more often cast as someone’s mother or mentor.

This phenomenon highlights the glorification of aging men and the witchification of aging women. As an older woman, the stereotype is to cast them as a grumpy, stubborn pessimist with a dark or grey wardrobe. Older men like Tom Hanks, 68, are cast in films are intelligent heroes who overcome obstacles. 

Even when these women are portraying “the old woman,” they still face societal pressures to look younger through cosmetic procedures. If you compare famous women in their 60s 20 years ago to women in their 60s now, there is a big difference. 

With social media and high quality  cameras in film, people are convinced that “staying young” through plastic surgery is the only way to fit in society. Pamela Anderson does not fit in, but neither does Kris Jenner. I’m saying there’s a double standard for women vs. women and men vs. women.  

Some exceptions to this are Anne Hathaway, 42, Reese Witherspoon, 48, and Demi Moore, 62. Anne Hathaway starred in two movies in 2024: “The Idea of You” and “Mothers’ Instinct.” Reese Witherspoon is starring in “You’re Cordially Invited,” 2025. Demi Moore just starred in “The Substance” and won a Golden Globe, 2025, for best female actor in a motion picture. 

These women are breaking the standards in Hollywood. They lead others by facing the inevitable clock of time yet still proving their talent to the industry.