Demi Moore and Monica Bellucci’s recent red carpet appearances have sparked a conversation about ageing gracefully after fans noticed how different the sexagenarians looked.
Comparing clips of the actresses, fans on X noted Demi looked thinner than ever in the black strapless gown she picked for last night’s awards.
Meanwhile, X users said the Italian actress looked youthful as Monica turned heads when she arrived at Royal Festival Hall, wearing an off-shoulder gown that showed off her ‘beautiful figure’.
The original post racked up over 7.2 million views and 2,700 comments, with one woman writing: ‘As us women age, skinny doesn’t look good on us anymore.
‘Having some curves fills in the wrinkles and just looks healthier and more confident,’ she added, referring to Demi’s dramatic weight loss that left her looking ‘frail’.
Agreeing with the X user, UK-based Dr Ross Perry told the Daily Mail that shedding too many kilos can give women a ‘very gaunt or petite appearance’ as they age.
The medical director of Cosmedics skin clinic explained: ‘Over the years, women naturally lose bone density, muscle mass density and, in some cases, volume from their skin in their subcutaneous fat.
‘This can give them a very gaunt or petite appearance, and if this is not regulated, then certainly this can make them appear frail.’
Demi’s slim physique was so jarring that fans rushed to social media platforms to express their concern for the actress.
Her appearance sparked speculation that Demi, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of a middle-aged TV host who tries an experimental drug to reverse ageing in Substance, may have used Ozempic to lose weight.
The transformation was even more pronounced when fans revisited her appearance at the Academy Awards last year, as one person wrote on X: ‘I didn’t realise how different she looks until someone posted her from the Oscars last year, side-by-side. It makes my heart hurt.’
‘It pains me to look at her,’ another X user wrote.
While Demi’s representatives did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment, Dr Ross said losing too much weight when you’re post-menopausal can ‘unfortunately accelerate the ageing process’.
Like Demi, if someone is already very lean, that loss becomes far more visible, he explained.
‘You see more hollowing around the eyes, sharper cheekbones, looser skin around the jawline and neck. It can create a more gaunt or fragile appearance, particularly under harsh lighting or high-definition cameras,’ he said.
Fans have repeatedly urged Sharon Osbourne to look after herself after the 73-year-old revealed she dropped ‘three stone [42 pounds] in four months’ due to the diabetes drug Ozempic.
The former X Factor judge later told the Daily Mail that she hasn’t regained any of the weight she lost, adding she’s been left feeling ‘frustrated’ by the lingering effects of the medication.
‘Now, I weigh just over 7st (around 44kg). I need to put on 10lb (4.5kg), but however much I eat, I stay the same weight,’ she said.
The effects of Ozempic left Sharon looking unwell as Ozzy Osbourne’s widow confirmed ‘I’ve given up on all interventions’, adding: ‘It’s taken years for me to say this, but I’ve learned my lesson.
‘This is me. It’s finally time to leave well alone.’
Fans also noticed that already slim Michelle Yeoh, 63, looked ‘alarmingly thin’ when she attended the Wicked For Good premiere in Singapore last November.
Age-defying beauty Jane Seymour previously admitted the old adage that ‘being thin makes you look older’ is true.
Other actresses who realised this include Sharon Stone, 67, who looked remarkably youthful when she attended the 2026 Astra Film Awards in Beverly Hills in January.
Her fresh-faced appearance left fans awestruck when the Basic Instinct star was photographed at a movie premiere the following month, as Dr Ross said ‘those who maintain their weight tend to look healthier’.
‘What we’re seeing on red carpets is that women in their 60s who look the most radiant aren’t necessarily the slimmest in figure, they’re the ones who look strong, well-nourished and glowing.
‘Muscle tone, good nutrition and healthy fats in the diet all help maintain that firmness and vitality. Resistance training in particular becomes crucial post-menopause because it helps preserve both muscle mass and bone strength, which supports the face and body.
‘Hydration, SPF, medical-grade skincare and subtle tweakments can help, but if someone is underweight, the skin simply doesn’t have the same cushion. Cameras are unforgiving – they amplify hollowing and texture,’ he explained.
One fan wrote that despite being similar ages, Demi and Monica ‘come across so differently’, adding: ‘Monica looks confident, comfortable, and proud of how she’s ageing.’
They also addressed comments criticising the comparison, noting that ultra-thin celebrities ‘fuel unrealistic standards’.
‘Young girls see that and become obsessed with chasing perfection,’ they wrote. ‘This is a cultural problem.’
However, some people suggested that Demi and Monica have different body types that can ‘both be beautiful’.
The underlying message is one of ‘balance’, Dr Ross said.
‘In your 20s and 30s, to be slim may feel beautiful. In your 60s, a little softness often translates as healthier and more youthful.
‘Ageing well isn’t about chasing thinness; it’s about nourishment and skin quality.’
