Is Brooke Shields the next big thing in menopause and midlife empowerment?
Twas the eve of the 2007 economic crash, and I was a wee 30 years old the last time I set foot in Austin for SXSW.
I loaded up on cheap booze and shows ranging from indies at bars to Public Enemy on the main stage. Twitter won the SXSW Interactive Web Awards, and I promoted my music magazine, Venus, at the tradeshow and a few label showcases.
I fluttered about as the single, scrappy music journo-turned-entrepreneur I was, smoking a pack a day (ugh, Gen X–dom). My biggest problem at the time was using my shitty flip phone to stay in touch with Venus teammates as we moved from event to event.
Things have changed a bit since then. SXSW is now entering its 38th year — on its way to the modern midlife experience, right?
Fast-forward to March 2024, and now at age 47, I was ecstatic to flee from my Grown-Ass Lady responsibilities (day job + The Midst + kids). The “Let’s see where the day takes me” chapter behind me, I flew to Austin with an inspired Grown-Ass Lady agenda. For me, some of the highlights of SXSW 2024 included Meghan Markle on “How Women Lead On and Off the Screen,” Selena Gomez on Mindfulness Over Perfection, and Janelle Monae. I’d be in bed, sans alcohol, by 10 pm every night.
With a whirlwind 1.5 days to see as much as possible without burning myself out, my main focus was SHE Media’s Co-Lab — a total of three days of programming about the science and stories of women’s whole life health featuring thought leaders on the latest innovations in health and wellness. Just some of the many speakers included Tamsen Fadal, Kara Swisher, Katie Couric, and Dr. Jessica Shepherd.
Will Brooke Shields become a leading voice in the Menopause Awareness Movement?
It certainly seems so after hearing her speak at the SHE Media–hosted event at SXSW on March 9. Shields, 58, positioned menopause as the start of the most empowered phase of a woman’s life.
“At this phase, we’re not just in menopause — yeah, my eggs need a chisel, I don’t know if they’re there anymore,” she joked. “But there are all these things happening and they’re terrifying and embarrassing, but why not talk about it and say, ‘OK, this is a part of being this age’ but it’s not the only thing about us.”
During the interview with SHE Media CEO Samantha Skey, Shields talked about stepping into a new role as a CEO when she launches the next iteration of her platform, Beginning Is Now, later in 2024. She didn’t share too many details, but I learned that her company involves midlife, wellness, skincare, and social networking. Brooke started Beginning Is Now in 2021 as an online community with ecommerce during the thick of the pandemic. The philosophy resonates with so many women in midlife: the idea that “every second, every minute, and every day is a chance to start something, whether life-changing, small-scale, or anything in between.”
Before Sam Skey asked Shields about her menopause experience, she highlighted the fact that Shields pioneered the open discussion of postpartum depression. Shields’ struggle with postpartum started after the birth of her first child in 2003. In 2005 she went public with her story in her book, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression.
But back to menopause. “… Don’t make me laugh too hard; I’m going to pee my pants,” Shields said, before talking about how, surely, she can’t be the only person feeling baffled by menopause and midlife. “I found women all over the world saying, ‘I’m not sure where I’m at in my life,’ and realized there’s something here. We all want to understand what this life phase is.” She went on to say that the discussion is bigger than just Shields’ idea of community — this was an opportunity to switch the way women view midlife, also our jam at The Midst.
In midlife, “we get to experience a whole other portion of our value,” she said. “This could be unchartered territory now. We’re living longer. I have no shame about aging. Sometimes I’m really unsure because I’ll think ,’what if my ovaries don’t work,’ but who cares?”
Shields’ take on midlife is at once honest and optimistic. “Don’t you just want to live in this age and grow? Enjoy friendships, and get rid of the people you don’t want to be around?”
The future of women’s health is bright. We hope.
Ah, the next generation of voices and leaders in women’s health. “Investing in the Future of Women’s Health” was among the highlights of SHE Media Co-Lab panels. The moderator was Sophia Bush — yes, the actor from One Tree Hill. She’s also co-founder of Union Heritage Ventures and an adviser for First Women’s Bank — the first women-founded, -owned, and -run bank in the U.S.
Bush and Nia Batts, COO of Union Heritage, poignantly pointed out that 42% of small businesses are founded by women, but women are only accessing around 6% of lending capital. As angel investors, she and Batts (previously one of the youngest executives at Viacom) are looking to change that.
