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Gone are the days when turning 50 meant slowing down. Now it’s about reinvention, empowerment and embracing life with confidence.
It’s not midlife – it’s your prime. In fact, 50 is said to be the new 30.
Proof that aging can defy conventional expectations is seen in actresses like Jennifer Aniston, 56, Nicole Kidman, 57, and Sandra Bullock, 60. However, the phenomenon is not limited to Hollywood stars and biohackers.
Three everyday Aussie women have shared with me the secrets to their age-defying looks – and none of them had to spend thousands on facelifts.
Patsy Tierney – 54
Mother-of-two Patsy Tierney, 54, cracked the code to staying youthful without even trying.
The personal trainer, from Queensland, is often mistaken for being in her mid-30s.
With her toned physique, wrinkle-free complexion and long, healthy hair, it’s easy to see why clients and strangers assume she is decades younger.
Patsy Tierney, 54, cracked the code to remaining youthful without even trying
‘I don’t wear a lot of makeup during the day and always wear SPF. Like your diet, you have less room to move so you can’t skip your skincare’
‘I’m genuinely really surprised when people think I’m younger than I am,’ Patsy says.
‘When I teach a class, people often guess my age and express admiration, saying, “I want to look as great as you do when I’m 50.” It’s not just about appearance, but also about staying active and maintaining vitality that serves as an inspiration.’
Rather than dreading getting older, Patsy embraces each passing year, especially since losing her two sisters, who died aged 48 and 55.
‘For me, having lost loved ones around my age has really changed my perspective on life,’ she explains.
‘I’ve come to appreciate life more, aiming for continued health and longevity to be there for my children. While nothing is certain, focusing on my own well-being gives me the best odds of achieving that goal.’
NON-NEGOTIABLES
To keep looking young, Patsy’s non-negotiables include wearing SPF sunscreen, regardless of the weather, and drinking two litres of water a day.
She has been obsessed with fitness since the age of 18 and exercises daily, but admits she has slowed down in recent years.
‘I’m genuinely really surprised when people think I’m younger than I am,’ Patsy says
Having young friends in their 30s also motivates Patsy to take care of her body and health (pictured on the right in 2020)
‘I’m in the gym five days a week, and do a mix of strength training, weights and cardio. I go for a leisurely walk two or three times a week,’ she says.
‘I love having something to train for too like a fun run – something with a competitive element to it.’
In addition to staying active, she eats ‘all the right things’ to fuel her body with enough protein and fibre to stay lean, but insists she ‘doesn’t obsess over it’.
‘As we age, we have less room to move and can’t bounce back as easily, so I don’t diet as such. I just ensure I maintain a well-balanced diet 90 per cent of the time,’ Patsy says.
Patsy begins her day at 5am with a coffee and a run with friends, followed by a protein shake then overnight oats for breakfast. Lunch is often leftovers and dinner is ‘meat and three veg’.
While it’s important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise every day, Patsy says to not underestimate the power of your mind when it comes to ageing.
‘You do come into your own once you’re in your 50s because you don’t care about what anyone else thinks, which is a really powerful thing,’ she says.
Patsy also prioritises sleep ‘above everything else’.
In fact, she is ‘obsessed’ with getting more than eight hours of shut-eye and monitors her sleep with her WHOOP wristband, a fitness device that continuously tracks your physiological data, including heart rate, sleep and stress levels.
As she gets older, the main difference Patsy has noticed is changes to the texture and elasticity of her skin. As a result, she always wears SPF, opts for only light makeup and never skips skincare.
Nikki Ellis – 58
At 58, Melbourne mum Nikki Ellis looks closer to 30 than 60.
While it’s considered impolite to ask a woman how old she is, Nikki doesn’t mind and is happy to answer questions about what she eats, how she trains and the products she uses to maintain her youthful complexion.
For Nikki, the ‘unsexy stuff’ is the secret to looking 30 in your 50s and beyond.
‘Lift the weights, eat the protein, go to bed early, wear the SPF. But when you do it with intention and joy? That’s when it becomes magic,’ Nikki tells me.
When she turned 50, Nikki says she was ‘ridiculously devastated’ but her mindset shifted when she considered the death of her mother.
‘I see ageing as a privilege, and one that not everyone gets. My own mother died at 51 so I am always aware how lucky we are to grow old,’ she explains.
‘But I am invested in ageing well, which to me means staying strong, sharp, and joyful for as long as I can.’
Nikki Ellis, from Melbourne, is two years shy of 60 but many assume she is in her early 30s
Nikki lifts weights three to four times a week. This helps maintain her strength, keeps her bones dense and provides mental clarity needed to run her business
DIET AND EXERCISE
Nikki lifts weights three to four times a week, explaining that resistance training is one of her ‘non-negotiables’.
This helps to maintain her strength, keeps her bones dense and provides the mental clarity needed to run her business. She also manages to clock up 10,000 steps a day.
Importantly, this routine is drastically different to how she used to work out in her 30s when she was hyper-focused on pushing herself as hard as possible.
‘I did a lot more cardio back then – spin classes, long runs, rowing and lots of aerobics classes,’ Nikki says.
‘I thought working out meant being drenched in sweat and completely exhausted. I wasn’t lifting nearly enough for my health or hormones.
‘That’s probably my biggest “what I wish I knew then” moment. Although I was still lifting weights back then, I could have had more focus on lifting heavy.’
When it comes to her diet, she eats 100g of protein daily, has lots of fibre and starts her day with a high-protein smoothie at 4.30am.
Nikki doesn’t eat processed meats, such as ham or salami, and avoids sugar and foods that generally make her feel ‘foggy or bloated’.
Nikki swears by ‘consistent, progressive resistance training’
One of the ‘best decisions’ she ever made was giving up alcohol three years ago.
She noticed her skin, energy levels, sleep and workouts all improved since cutting out drinking; however, she still enjoys a non-alcoholic gin and tonic on occasion.
After being diagnosed with a melanoma five years ago, she is also ‘super careful’ with how much time she spends in the sun and always wears SPF.
Plus she has a great social network and spends time with friends and family.
‘I also need to include having something fun to look forward to – like a trip or a holiday,’ she adds.
Nikki does confess to having ‘anti-wrinkle injections’ like Botox every three months and a facial every four weeks.
At night, she sleeps on a silk pillowcase as the smooth texture is believed to reduce friction and the appearance of sleep creases on the skin.
After being diagnosed with a melanoma five years ago, she’s ‘super careful’ with how much time she spends in the sun and always wears SPF (pictured left at age 30, and right at 57)
Taryn Gray – 47
While she may be pushing 50, Taryn Gray has never felt better or more energised – and she doesn’t look a day over 35.
The Sydney mum, who is a holistic wellness and beauty specialist and founder of A Centred Life Wellbeing Hub, prioritises her skincare regime with high-quality products to ensure her skin isn’t ‘thirsty’.
Working in the beauty industry, she has a wealth of knowledge to help maintain her youth and keep wrinkles at bay.
‘I have used sunscreen every single day since I was 17. I see all these teenagers buying 12-step skincare routines for anti-ageing, and I wish I could shout from the rooftops to wear sunscreen daily!’ Taryn says.
Sydney mother Taryn Gray (pictured) has used sunscreen every single day since she was 17
‘What most people don’t realise is the skin is your body’s largest organ and the ingredients that you use matter. What you put on your skin can potentially impact its function and appearance, just as what you put in your body does.
‘Choosing high-quality, non-toxic ingredients can support both the health and appearance of your skin and your overall well-being. I love the concept and products of Edible Beauty Australia; I am really enjoying trying their range.’
Taryn found it hard going to the gym in her mid-30s while juggling work and children, but her husband helped by converting their garage into a workout haven complete with a cross trainer, free weights and TV for streaming yoga and Pilates classes.
Now that her twins are 13, she has more time to focus on her fitness and wellbeing.
Three years ago, Taryn made the decision to stop eating meat, mainly for ethical reasons.
While she may be pushing 50, Taryn (right) has never felt better or more energised and doesn’t look a day over 35
Now that her twins are 13, she has more time to focus on fitness (pictured in her 30s)
As for her exercise routine, Taryn aims to move her body daily but no longer focuses on strenuous exercise.
‘Exercise is essential, but I no longer put pressure on myself. I find the flow of movement is more natural now, driven by motivation to age and move well into my later years,’ Taryn explains.
‘My focus is around the overall wellness of exercise, stretching, movement and mental health. Fresh air, salt water, connecting with friends, keeping our poodle Chester happy. And of course, our no-excuses, no-membership rain, hail or shine garage workout space.’
In the name of balance, Taryn still enjoys the occasional wine – in fact, she describes herself as a ‘wine connoisseur in the making’.
‘Visiting wineries is a fun hobby where I enjoy learning about the different aromas, flavours and the entire winemaking process,’ Taryn says.
‘Personally, I enjoy wine in moderation as part of a balanced lifestyle. I also enjoy a month-long stint of no alcohol each year.’
