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Females are uniting behind acclaimed star Zeta-Jones after she faced scrutiny across platforms about her appearance at a recent industry function.

Zeta-Jones attended a promotional function in Hollywood on 9 November where a social media clip about her role in the latest Wednesday became dominated due to remarks focusing on her looks.

Voices of Support

Aged 58, Laura White, labelled the online criticism "absolute rubbish", noting that "males escape this sell-by/use-by date which women face".

"Men are free from such a timeline which women face," stated the pageant winner.

Writer and commentator Sali Hughes, 50, stated unlike men, females are criticized as they age and the actor deserves to be at liberty to look in any way she chooses.

Digital Backlash

Within the clip, also shared to social media and attracted over 2.5 million views, Zeta-Jones, originally from Mumbles, Swansea, talked about the pleasure of exploring her character, Morticia Addams, in the latest season.

But a large portion of the online responses centered on her age and were negative regarding her looks.

The negative remarks triggered a broad defence for Zeta-Jones, including a widely-shared clip from one Facebook user which said: "You bully females when they get cosmetic procedures and bully them when they don't have enough work."

Online users came to her defence, one stating: "She is growing older naturally and she appears stunning."

Many labelled her as "gorgeous" and "lovely", with another adding that "she looks her age - that's called life."

Challenging Perceptions

Ms White arrived at the studio earlier without any makeup to "prove a point" and to demonstrate there was no set "mold" for what a female of a certain age ought to appear.

As with others in her demographic, she explained she "takes care of herself" not to appear younger but in order to feel "better" and appear "healthy".

"Ageing is a gift and if we can do it gracefully, that's what truly counts," she added.

Ms White stated that men were not judged by equivalent appearance ideals, noting "no-one questions the age of famous men are - they only look 'great'."

She explained it was a key factor she entered the pageant's division for over-45s, in order to demonstrate that midlife women remain relevant" and "still have it".

The Core Issue

The author, a writer and commentator from Wales, said that although the actor is "stunning" that is "not the point", stating further she deserves to be at liberty to appear as she wishes absent her age being scrutinised.

Hughes argued the social media vitriol demonstrated no woman was "immune" and that women do not deserve the "ongoing theme" which says they are not good enough or young enough - a situation that is "infuriating, regardless of the person involved".

Questioned on whether men face identical criticism, she said "not at all", adding females are targeted just for demonstrating the "nerve" to exist on the internet as they age.

A Double Bind

Regardless of the beauty industry emphasizing "age-defiance", Hughes said females are still judged if they age gracefully or underwent treatments like surgical procedures or injectables.

"When a woman ages without intervention, others claim you should do more; if you undergo procedures, people say you trying too hard," she added.