Annette Sharp: Elle Macpherson, 58, silent on Body change

Even at 58, supermodel Elle Macpherson would rather adhere to old-school ad industry mores that speak to lusty men rather than being honest with women her age, writes Annette Sharp.

Elle Macpherson may be fast approaching 60 but in a marketing world in which youth and sex remain the undisputed king and queen, there’s one word that seems to stick in the ageing supermodel’s mouth.

In The Body’s latest promo for a nutritional supplement, Macpherson – quaffing green juice and routinely caressing her own hair – skips over and around a term apparently so odious it must be avoided at all cost.

Macpherson, 58, tells us women are on a “dramatic roller coaster”, “a journey” and may wish to “ignite … vitality” and “relieve symptoms”.

But symptoms from what?

Acid reflux from drinking too much green juice? Hair loss from sensually toying with one’s own hair for extended periods of time? Eye infections from an over-reliance on eyelash extensions?

Macpherson is plugging a new beauty brand, Welle, but misses a captive market. Picture: Instagram

Elle Macpherson’s new ad for beauty brand Welle. Picture: Instagram

G-string abrasions? Covid-19???

Macpherson goes on to say we can “realign and balance our natural feminine energy” with “hormonal support”.

Aha! Our one solid clue.

To reinforce her still vague point, Macpherson shakes her diminutive arse – knickerless and clad only in what this writer suspects is her nanna’s black crocheted tablecloth – to camera. (I’m confident it’s a tablecloth as I have a cream doily version in my own linen press, a gift from my mother, though mine isn’t backless).

“The female body is truly incredible,” Macpherson says over vision of her wagging her box-gap slowly to camera, the sun high in the sky, camera focus soft and dreamy.

Macpherson: “The female body is truly incredible.” Picture: Instagram

Elle Macpherson bares a lot for her beauty brand. Picture: Instagram

“From a young age our bodies indicate (slo-mo medium close-up arse wagging continues …) where we’re at on the journey of womanhood and although it might seem (wagging ends – now saunters into distance with cute brown dog) like our bodies go through a dramatic rollercoaster (kisses dog), it’s amazing to think that we’re given this natural ability to create, to nurture, to grow, to connect with our feminine energy …

“So it’s only fair that we honour our bodies with natural remedies (oh so predictable nip flash, ho hum).”

After ditching the doily tablecloth and changing into a cropped woolly jumper and a pair of bikini briefs that could double as an eye patch, The Body continues: “That’s why we’ve created (hand slides seductively across flat stomach) this science-led collection to support the female body at every stage of the journey. Begin within to awaken and boost your natural feminine energy.”

Elle Macpherson. Picture: Instagram

Elle Macpherson with a dog in the ad. Picture: Instagram

Though she never uses the word, it’s clear to this writer Macpherson is trying to talk about menopause.

Tragic that at 58 she won’t use the term.

Those of us who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s are accustomed to being assailed by metaphors and ambiguous language in the ad industry’s quest to promote and capitalise on products that help manage the female reproductive cycle.

This secret language adopted by the ad industry has contributed to the shame borne for centuries by women concerning entirely natural functions.

From Macpherson’s archive of media interviews we’re led to believe she’s yet to go through menopause herself.

She has never stated she has, throws the word “vital” around and last month gloated she is yet to go grey (perhaps making her a natural balayage …) which this writer would struggle to believe even if she hadn’t been forced to walk back in 2021 an ill-conceived woke claim she is partly Aboriginal, which she’s not.

The closest Macpherson comes to admitting any personal hormonal change of life experience is when – in the interests of promoting her supplements and growing her personal wealth – she speaks of being “perimenopausal”; a term generally used to describe the transition to menopause.

In previous interviews she has admitted needing “hormonal support” for eight years, which some might say indicates she has indeed been through the change.

Whatever the case, for the menopausal women she’s trying to market her products to – a market sector still largely ignored and maligned – it’s a slap in the face coming from a global “influencer” who, at almost 60, would rather adhere to old-school ad industry mores that speak to lusty men rather than the women keeping the ageing Body in crocheted tablecloths.

Originally published as Annette Sharp: Elle Macpherson, 58, silent on Body change