Model Paulina Porizkova explains how self-acceptance is key to 'freedom' in post-menopausal years

Menopause is a natural phenomenon and has its impact physically, mentally and even emotionally. Several women aren’t ready for the phase to arrive and many others perceive menopause as a negative concept. However, celebrities have been advocating the right cause. They believe that aging, menopause and all the changes the female body brings are beautiful and worth embracing. With many eminent personalities pointing towards the idea that self-acceptance is the key to living a happy and gratitude-filled life, supermodel Paulina Porizkova also weighed in on the changes that happen in the post-menopausal period. Speaking with PEOPLE, she shared how she tries to find "freedom” while also trying to accept her current self in her post-menopausal years.

The model, who has been a diva since the late 90s, has brought much aura and poise to the modeling industry. Porizkova has stolen several hearts with her unmatched beauty. With age catching up, the supermodel has been embracing aging and menopause as it comes. In her interview, she spoke about the need to accept oneself and embrace the changes that come in life. “When you accept yourself and who you are, there’s a freedom that comes with that for sure,” she said. She then revealed that she too hasn’t perfected the idea of self-acceptance with the post-menopausal period. “I, too, haven’t achieved the ultimate freedom,” she said.

Speaking about the gifts of the later stages of life, the supermodel said, “I feel like I have gained an enormous amount of wisdom. I know without a doubt that I am the best I’ve ever been.” She then revealed that maturing and developing with life experiences has been a great outcome. “On the inside, I’m far superior to anything there was in my 20s or 30s,” Porizkova said. “On the outside, still good! It’s fine,” she added. Circling back to the idea of acceptance, she mentioned how one often chases youth and isn’t ready to let it go. “Not chasing youth, not trying to pretend that I am younger is a kind of self-acceptance,” she explained. She also confessed that she’s “still working on” the process.

Porizkova further expressed, “I do feel like freedom comes after that. After that acceptance of, ‘This is fully who I am. I don’t need to fix it. I don’t need to look younger. I don’t need to look in a specific way to please society.’ That’s where freedom lies.” She concluded by revealing, “I’m not quite there yet. I still want to be pretty sometimes.” According to her, "one of the incredible things about aging is that you care less and less about what other people think. You’re like, ‘You know what? I’ve done my bit. I’ve been serving everybody else for 50 years – now, it’s my turn'."

People agreed with Porizkova’s approach towards accepting all phases of life. @theunoriginalmegan said, “Growing old is a privilege not afforded to everyone.” @suewitma said, “Thanks for being real. We shouldn’t have to work on it. We should just be living each moment as they progress.”

The actor and supermodel reflects on her journey toward self-acceptance on Instagram. With images without makeup, gray natural hair, textured skin and more, Porizkova is surely an example for fellow women. Apart from posts of herself, she also posted a glimpse of Pamela Anderson, who went natural at the Paris Fashion Week recently and applauded her. In her caption, she wrote, “This is what self-acceptance looks like. This is what confidence looks like. This is what freedom looks like. And it’s beautiful.”