‘I’m trying to imagine myself at 50…and I still look amazing’

There are lots of things that can change your body, the key is leaning into what it needs and not chastising yourself for the outcome

Modelling days

I once went to an adult netball class and found myself – at the time in my early 20s – surrounded by older mums who were using the team sport to get some exercise and find community. As a competitive GD (Goal Defence and arguably one of the most aggressive roles in the line-up), I quickly realised that my casual attendance at a hot yoga class had not prepared me for the athleticism I had forgotten I needed for my favourite sport. At the end of one of the first games, panting and slightly winded, I remarked to my team mate that I definitely wasn’t as fit as I used to be, having been the netball school captain at 18. She replied that she had never been fit at school because she had avoided PE as much as possible and was actually much fitter now than she had ever been in her teenage years.

Last week I finally got my summer wardrobe down from the loft and swapped over my cosy fleeces and ski socks (that are absolutely necessary living in a Georgian building in the UK) for backless linen dresses and cut-off denim shorts. Since I haven’t been on a hot holiday in a while, the last time I can remember wearing any of them was last summer, almost eight months ago, and as I shook out the moth balls and wrinkles, wondered whether any of them would still fit. To be honest, if it wasn’t for the fact that writing currently isn’t paying my mortgage, if they didn’t fit, I would just buy new clothes. However, my wardrobe is more High Street than my desired Haute Couture and I am still wearing the flowery Topshop denim I bought as a teenager almost 20 years ago.

Young Tola

I think the media has been successfully chastised for its use in recent years of the term “summer body” as in ‘Are you summer body ready this year? If not here’s our diet pill/tanning lotion/intense moisturiser to help you get there!’ I have yet to see signs of these gross campaigns this year. But still, there is this underlying idea, especially for women although not exclusively, that we are required to have smooth, silky toned skin before we are allowed to display our bodies to the world. (That is, unless you profess to be a Christian, in which case YOU NEED TO DRESS MODESTLY OTHERWISE MEN WILL THINK YOU ARE A WHORE. Honestly I can’t with some of these religious leaders and their unasked for opinions but more on that next week…)