‘The White Lotus’ star Aimee Lou Wood revealed she's 'very anti-Botox.' She's not alone.
"The White Lotus" star Aimee Lou Wood is "very anti-Botox" − and she's not alone.
The breakout star from Season 3 of the hit HBO series opened up on The Run-Through with Vogue podcast earlier this month about her reasons for not wanting Botox for herself.
"I'm, like, very anti-Botox," Wood said. "People can do whatever the hell they want, but for myself because, you know, a lot of my career relies on these facial expressions... so I can't start freezing my face. It needs to move."
She added that she does sometimes think her face "moves too much": "Sometimes I watch things back and I go, 'Jesus, I wasn't aware that I was using my face that much in that moment.'"
Wood, 31, is not the only person in Hollywood to speak out against Botox and other cosmetic treatments lately. Justine Bateman, for instance, has also said she doesn't want Botox, saying she doesn't mind seeing herself get older. In August 2020, Kelly Ripa poked fun at her gray roots, and, in March 2021, Katie Couric went makeup-free for a People magazine spread, saying the experience made her feel "liberated and vulnerable." Pamela Anderson has also hit multiple red carpets lately make-up free.
Cassandra Bankson, a medical esthetician and YouTube skincare personality, previously told Paste BN that "being able to age is a privilege" and "we should embrace how our skin takes care of us and the stories it tells." Here's how you can follow the example set by these celebrities and embrace your own natural beauty.
Aimee Lou Wood's looks keep getting talked about. She's standing up for herself
Wood's looks have received plenty of commentary following the release of the latest season of "The White Lotus." The actress wrote on her Instagram Stories recently that she did not appreciate a "Saturday Night Live" sketch about the show over the weekend, in which "SNL" cast member Sarah Sherman wore fake teeth while playing Wood's "White Lotus" character, Chelsea.
"I did find the 'SNL' thing mean and unfunny," Wood wrote on her Instagram Stories, adding that she "felt righteous" but "might delete" her post later. Wood also described the sketch as "such a shame" and said that, while she's fine with "SNL" making fun of her, there "must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way" to do so.
On social media, Wood's fans have shared about how much they appreciate seeing the actress stand up for herself. One follower wrote: "I have a big gap in my teeth and an overbite and you've genuinely made me feel so much better about myself."
Wood joins a slew of other celebrity women who've pushed back against societal beauty standards. Anderson, for instance, has opened up about her decision to ditch make-up on red carpets, telling Vogue France she hopes to model the multitude of ways women can express themselves.
"I'm not trying to be the prettiest girl in the room," Anderson said. "I feel like it's just freedom. It's a relief."
In an interview with "60 Minutes Australia," Bateman said she believes cosmetic procedures like Botox "would erase" the authority she's gained through the years
"I like feeling that I am a different person now than I was when I was 20," she said. "I like looking in the mirror and seeing that evidence. ... I think my face represents who I am. I like it.”
Tips on embracing your natural beauty
Remember that social media isn't real: Michael Keyes, M.D., a plastic surgery fellow at the University of Louisville, believes that "celebrities and influencers often use filters and photo editing apps to minimize skin discoloration, wrinkles and extra fat in unwanted places."
"It's important from a wellness standpoint to recognize what's real and what's not," he previously told Paste BN, adding he encourages following influencers who post unfiltered and raw photos instead.
Adjust your makeup routine: Aging is inevitable, but you can still take steps to look and feel good. Heidi Goodarzi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology, previously told Paste BN she suggests replacing foundation with tinted sunscreen for a wash of glow that won't conceal your natural features.
Be kind to yourself: Susan Yara, founder of Naturium Skincare and the YouTube channel Mixed Makeup, previously told Paste BN that as we age, we should be proud of our bodies for the experiences it has gone through. "My confidence is truly my secret weapon, and I gained it through years of experience and becoming comfortable with myself," she said.
Contributing: Jenna Ryu and Brendan Morrow