Celebrities in their 40s who are redefining what beauty looks like in midlife
In a culture that often glorifies youth, entering midlife can be a difficult time for some women as they feel that their beauty, relevance, or worth might start to fade in the eyes of society.
But these Filipino celebrities are having none of that as they strive to redefine outdated ideas of aging, focusing their mind on reinvention, self-assurance, and unapologetic beauty.
Here are some ladies who show us that beauty doesn’t fade—it transforms:
Marian Rivera
Marian Rivera turned 40 in August 2024, but she still looks like a million bucks with her graceful poise, mestiza glow, and her charming personality.
The actress had quite a fruitful last few years, having starred in top-performing films such as Rewind and Balota.
Being a celebrity, a wife, and a mother to two children, Marian's beauty doesn't seem to fade, even if she isn't wearing makeup. On her secret to staying fresh all the time, she shared, "Water talaga ang palagi kong sinasabi. Kailangan uminom ng maraming tubig."
On top of this, she is also fond of working out early in the morning with her husband, Dingdong Dantes. Some of her favorite fitness routines include cardio and weight training.
Marian advised fellow moms feeling insecure about their appearance to do away with those negative thoughts.
"The mere fact na naging nanay ka, naging blessed ka kasi hindi lahat ay pinagpapala na magkaroon ng mga anak... so walang problema kung tumaba ka or may nangitim sa'yo dahil sa panganganak mo. Parte 'yun ng pagiging isang ina na maging proud ka dapat," she highlighted.
Sunshine Cruz
At 47, Sunshine Cruz continues to prove that she can still keep up with the young ones.
The local star wowed the public when she strutted the runway of the 2025 Bench Body of Work fashion show wearing a gorgeous red two-piece lingerie paired with sheer stockings.
This wasn't her first stint with the clothing brand's sizzling show, however, as she also participated in their 2024 holiday show in an orange velvet bra with some long gloves of the same color and black underwear underneath a long sheer fabric skirt. She completed her sexy look with a choker and some dangling earrings.
"To all the incredible women, especially moms and Gen X-ers out there, let’s show the world that age is no barrier. By taking care of ourselves and our health, we can achieve great things," Sunshine said.
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, her trainer Rea Marie Ruff, or Coach Iya, said that Sunshine prepared her body by combining nutrition with exercise. Protein, like eggs and vegetables, as well as carbs, like red rice, are part of her diet.
Upper body and core workouts also helped the actress build defined abs.
Anne Curtis
Anne Curtis recently turned 40 in February earlier this year, but from her flawless looks down to her captivating fashion styles, you'd think that she hasn't aged a day.
The actress has always been confident about her appearance, even when she works daily as a longtime host of It's Showtime while caring for her daughter Dahlia, whom she shares with her husband Erwan Heussaff.
She isn't afraid to go barefaced from time to time, and she even got a little daring when she flaunted her body in an itty bitty chain bra from Gucci’s Fall/Winter 2023 collection.
Her trainer Gabb Rosario told L!fe that Anne trains five times a week. “We always train the whole body every session, but with added emphasis on the core muscles,” he said.
She does sit-ups, leg raises, twists, planks, and V-ups, among others, to tone and strengthen her abs in particular.
Her timeless beauty eventually paved the way for her to become the fourth Filipino to be honored with a Madame Tussauds wax figure in 2024 in Hong Kong.
Iza Calzado
Iza Calzado is another star whose shine is still gleaming brightly after all these years.
In fact, she became a beacon of hope for aspiring moms after she became a first-time mother at age 40, an age when conceiving a child is often seen as more challenging.
While she admitted to struggling with her postpartum body, Iza was nevertheless determined to take care of her health by doing various exercises such as weightlifting, push-ups, and other stretching techniques.
In an interview with The Philippine STAR, Iza urged other people trying to stay healthy not to wait until it's too late.
"There is no better time to be on top of your health than now. Build healthy habits, no matter how small, and stick to them every day until they become second nature to you. Great health of mind, body and spirit—that is my wish for all of us," she said.
Dubbed as one of the most important actresses of her generation, Iza has received a selection of accolades, including an Osaka Asian Film Festival Award, an Asian Television Award, a Gawad Urian, a Luna Award, and three Metro Manila Film Festival Awards.
Heart Evangelista
When it comes to beauty, this list wouldn't be complete without the one and only Heart Evangelista.
While she kickstarted her career as an actress, Heart has since dabbled in fashion and worked her way until she became a staple at Fashion Week, attending shows in Paris, New York, and Milan by top designers like Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and more.
When she entered her 40s this year, the actress was nothing but grateful for her growth as she reflected on her life’s journey, saying, "I’ve come to love every part of me—flaws, fears, and everything in between. I’ve learned things the hard way, but more importantly, I’ve learned to forgive myself."
In a press conference, Heart said that "it's not all about how beautiful your dresses, how shiny your diamonds are, even if it is G.I.A. flawless type of thing, it's about your health—[it's] your ultimate wealth."
"You can look a million dollars by just standing in front of a thousand people wearing nameless clothing, but if you look beautiful, there's something glowing, this is the one that we want. So you can't cover that up with just expensive things. Health is wealth, and this is the ultimate favor that we can do for our body," she added.
