Tess Daly has slammed sexism and ageism in TV.
Tess Daly
The 'Strictly Come Dancing' presenter says that women are under huge pressure to look good on TV and she is sick of having to defend herself for having a successful career at 49.
Speaking to Health and Fitness magazine, she said: "Why are we labelled? We shouldn't be," vented Tess. "As soon as you hit 40, you have to defend your right to be that 'great age', and still working in the media. But why should I defend my great age?
"I feel fantastic. I have the luxury of being alive and healthy, and I'm very grateful for that.
"You only notice [the age question] when you keep being asked about it. It just seems sexist and limiting. I hope it changes for our daughters."
Former model Tess - who has daughters Phoebe, 13, and Amber, nine, with husband Vernon Kay - says she has always felt pressure to stay in shape.
She explained: "All my adult life, I've worked in media that demand you maintain your shape. For example, when you're in the fashion industry, if you don't fit the sample sizes, you're not going to get booked for jobs. So I've always looked after myself to a degree."
Despite the pressure to look good on TV, Tess has not succumbed to plastic surgery yet.
She said: "Despite being in a business that tends to obsess over looks, I try not to as I think it's really unhealthy.
"Like everyone else, I have good days and bad days, but I tend not to beat myself up about that. I'm all about the big picture. I mean, I've got wrinkles and it's ¬inevitable they'll get worse, but I'm not ready to go down that line.
"You can see in the flesh I haven't had any work done because there are wrinkles. But you know what? I embrace it. I'm happy. Life's a journey, right?"
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