Let’s talk about ageism for a moment. Actress Eva Mendes, known for her stunning presence and iconic roles, recently addressed a not-so-nice comment she received on Instagram. A troll had the audacity to say she was “getting old” after the 45-year-old shared a photo flaunting her new haircut. Now, Eva could’ve easily let that slide or gotten upset, but instead, she turned it into a powerful moment of reflection. During an interview on February 24, she explained why comments like that are so “dangerous” in today’s society.
Eva Mendes Speaks Up About the Harm in Ageist Comments
“I was actually excited by the reaction because I truly don’t believe the person who left that comment about me getting old was trying to be mean,” Eva, star of 2 Fast 2 Furious, told People. “I don’t think it was a malicious comment at all. But that’s exactly why it’s more dangerous—it wasn’t meant to hurt. It’s just something that’s ingrained in our society. We’ve been taught to fear or feel ashamed of getting older, and that’s a problem.”
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Age Shouldn’t Be a Secret: Why Eva Is Proud of Turning 46
“And this whole notion of not asking a woman her age? That’s outdated,” Eva continued passionately. “It’s like, ask me! Go ahead. I’ll tell you, and I’ll even be shocked—because turning 46 is somewhat shocking to me. But I’m proud of it. I’ve earned every single one of those years.”
When the troll initially left the rude comment back in early February, Eva responded with grace. She wrote, “Yes, you’re right. Thank God I’m getting old. That means I’m still here. I’m about to turn 46, and I’m grateful every single day that I’m aging. Was your comment supposed to make me feel bad? It didn’t.” In the new interview, Eva explained why she felt it was important to acknowledge the hater.
“I wanted to respond to that person because I had something to say,” she shared. “I don’t think the comment was meant to be cruel, but it was definitely intended as an insult. And I wanted to show them that I take it as a compliment. I’m still here, thriving, and I’ve got 46 years of experience under my belt.”
Changing the Narrative Around Aging
“Instead of saying I’m 46, I wish we could shift the way we talk about age,” Eva added thoughtfully. “In Spanish, it’s beautiful—they say, ‘Tengo cuarenta y seis años,’ which means ‘I have 46 years.’ It’s such a positive way of looking at life. In English, it’s a little different, but the semantics matter. Words shape how we think about ourselves and others. We need to start celebrating the years we’ve lived, not hiding from them.”
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Eva’s message resonates deeply. “It’s not about feeling 46; it’s about having 46 years of experience,” she said. “That’s empowering. It’s about embracing who you are and what you’ve accomplished. And that’s something worth celebrating.”
