June Editorial

Today there’s a lot of talk about longevity: in the past few weeks I attended two conferences devoted entirely to this topic. At the first—where I served as host—the focus was on nutrition, a universal theme for both men and women, aimed at giving clear guidance on how to choose the foods that truly benefit us.

I learned that blue fish—mackerel and sardines—those small fish often overlooked by haute cuisine, which favors tuna or swordfish, are essential for boosting our body’s omega-3 levels (far more effectively than any supplement) and for keeping our blood vessels healthy. I also appreciated that a company like Delicius, which produces these types of tinned fish, has created a discussion platform called Be Blu—bringing together doctors, experts, and distributors—to present the findings of a landmark study commissioned by the Cardiovascular Research Institute.

At the second event—where I spoke at the invitation of Elle magazine—the conversation turned to longevity as a challenge for women to overcome prejudices about mature beauty, and that topic truly captivated me as well.

So I want to share my own view.

Longevity doesn’t mean staying young forever, but rather living well for as long as possible. Thanks to incredible advances in science and medicine, this is now within reach—but for women, it’s still hindered by age-old prejudices that need debunking: “Sure, you age, but don’t let it show.”

Over the last 50 years, women have conformed to this diktat: first the myth of the eternal youth, then cosmetic surgery that altered countless faces, and today the post-production filters on social media that erase features, age, and identity from so many women’s faces.

None of this has helped us.

Yet I sense a change: we can turn the battle against time into a cultural challenge—stop fearing the years and start embracing them as an opportunity and an expression of freedom. Wrinkles aren’t flaws; they’re stories, they’re our lived experiences. They’re an achievement, not a defeat.

How do we do it? We must dismantle the equation “youth = value” and replace it with a richer, more human narrative. Overturning this paradigm is a revolutionary act that many celebrated women have already undertaken.

Icons like Helen Mirren, Jane Fonda, and Andie MacDowell embody this new beauty: authentic, self-aware, free from youth-obsessed diktats. Likewise, Frances McDormand and Isabella Rossellini speak openly about acceptance and the female power that matures over time. It’s not about “defying age,” but about living it with pride.

I loved when Paulina Porizkova—the 1980s supermodel and now a radiant sixty-year-old with silver hair—declared, “I don’t understand why cosmetics companies always label products ‘anti-aging’… I’m pro-aging, and I’ve never been happier than I am at this age.”

Let’s listen to her, ladies, and together spark this great little revolution: stop chasing an unattainable ideal of beauty and build over the years an identity grounded in experience, emotional intelligence, and genuine presence.

I leave you with this thought to ponder this summer when you look in the mirror in a swimsuit and hesitate. Smile instead and love yourselves: let’s stop fearing time’s passage and live it as an act of freedom! Longevity is not a race against time but a steadfast alliance with life.