Carol Vorderman, 65, LOVES being called a MILF and slams ‘stigma’ around being sexy in midlife – as she recalls being treated like she’d ‘killed her gran’ for wearing a mini at 39
Carol Vorderman has discussed the stigma around dressing risqué in middle age and proudly admitted she loves being called a MILF, reclaiming the word.
The former Countdown star, 65, teamed up with department store JD Williams to examine attitudes towards aging and the MILF label.
While the suggestive term mostly means ‘I’d Like To Fuck My Mother’, she said: ‘The word MILF should mean middle age today is living fearlessly.’
The star, known for her flashy outfits, recalled the massive backlash she received after wearing a mini dress to BAFTA in 2000, when she was 39, and said: ‘Well, you would have thought I killed my grandmother. The BBC made a Kilroy special about it!’
In a profession that offers inspiration on aging and sexiness, she said: ‘I’ve never felt more at home with my body and my attitude towards life. I think there’s a real sense of power and confidence that can come to you’.
Carol Vorderman discussed the stigma around dressing risqué in middle age and proudly admitted she loves being called a MILF, reclaiming the word.
The former Countdown star, 65, collaborates with department store JD Williams to examine attitudes towards aging and the MILF label
The star, known for her flashy outfits, recalled the massive backlash after wearing a mini dress to the BAFTAs in 2000 (pictured), aged 39, saying: ‘You would have thought I had killed my grandmother. The BBC made a Kilroy special about it!’
Carol, who is mother to scientist daughter Katie King, 32, and son Cameron King, 28, and ex-boyfriend Patrick King, looked jaw-dropping as she stood under a sign reading MILF and talked about the research in the campaign for the store.
The word MILF was first introduced into mainstream culture by American Pie in the early 2000s, but the term remains emotionally divided, according to J.D. Williams’ survey of 2,000 midlife women in their 40s, 50s and 60s through Mortar Research.
The research showed that 29 percent of women admitted they secretly liked being called MILF, 24 percent said it made them proud, 12 percent said it made them feel sexy, while 30 percent actively rejected the idea of liking being called MILF and offended them.
She said of the research and her own feelings: ‘Hi I’m Carol Vorderman and I’m on set with JD Williams and as some of you already know, JD Williams is doing very important research into our attitudes towards being a woman in middle age.’
Of the possibly controversial term MILF, she said: ‘So for me, MILF is more about being gorgeous. F is about being awesome. I always took this as a compliment…
‘As I’ve learned over the decades on Countdown, sometimes words take on a new meaning contrary to what they originally represented. ‘The word MILF should mean middle age today is living fearlessly.’
Discussing the word in more detail, he said: We all know what it originally meant, but words evolve. To be honest, I always took it as a compliment. Sometimes a word is less about where it started and more about how people use it…
‘If I were to redefine it, for me it would be about being gorgeous and fearless. Live your life to the fullest. I ask myself and my children one question every day: Are you happy? Grades out of ten – accept that seven out of ten is a win and you are making an honest living…
Carol is known for her sizzling photos and has vowed not to hold back her image despite her age
Carol looked stunning as she stood under a sign reading MILF and talked about the research during the store’s campaign
These photos make the most of her curves and ageless good looks
The word MILF was first introduced into mainstream culture by American Pie in the early 2000s, but the term remains emotionally divided, according to a survey of 2,000 midlife women in their 40s, 50s and 60s by J.D. Williams via Mortar Research.
Carol rose to fame in the ’80s on Countdown (pictured in the 1984 TV series)
‘I’ve met billionaires and Hollywood stars and most of them aren’t happy. ‘Happiness is the real goal.’
She then recalled the explosive BAFTA crowd: ‘Build up that confidence girls. There was such a stigma around women who turned 35 and dared to dress a certain way. I was 39 years old, the year was 2000…
‘I wore a short blue dress to the BAFTAs. You’d think I killed my grandmother. The BBC made a Kilroy special about whether a 39-year-old woman should wear an above-the-knee dress.’
She previously said about the look: ‘[I have suffered ageism] Let’s be fair most of my life. 20 years ago I wore a blue dress above the knee at the BAFTAs, I was 39 years old…
‘This turned into a huge story, programs were made about it. It was not a dress issue, it was a question of whether a 39-year-old woman should wear a dress above the knee.
Carol is known for not hiding her figure – something the MILF label insists would be perfect
She showed off her famous curves in the photos as she posed in the JD Williams Jersey Polka Dot Pleated Dress, priced at £48.
One of her looks was the Anthology Navy Elevated Trench Coat, priced at £100.
”I’ve been called mutton dressed like a lamb. Can you call a 39-year-old person today a mutton dressed like a lamb because she wears a dress above her knees? Of course you don’t! ‘This is just nonsense.’
The body confidence campaigner continued: ‘We need to continue celebrating women, supporting other women. Many women worry about being sexy or desirable in their middle years. In my experience, this varies…
‘For example, when I was 45 I really thought I was the hottest person I’d ever seen in my life. Once you’re in your 50s, women may look at women in their 30s and think: oh, my skin isn’t as good as that person’s, so I’m not desirable…
‘But when you’re in your mid-60s, like I am now, what do you think it’s all about? You should appreciate the age you are in. And honestly, I’ve never felt more at home with my body and my attitude towards life…
‘I think there’s a real sense of power and confidence that can come to you. And you are reaching such an age that, in a positive sense, how much is left to me? And you think well that I will live through this. What’s holding me back? What am I waiting for?’
The shoot was accompanied by his passionate lyrics about women and aging
The shoot also featured photos of six real middle-aged women wearing the JD Williams Valentine’s Day Lingerie Collection (LR Natalie Russell, Monique Payneeandy, Sarah Annett, Alison Cline-Williams, Marriane Dias and Jayne Hall)
