Brooke Shields, synonymous with Hollywood glamour and resilience, releases her latest memoir, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old. This candid work delves into the complexities of aging, self-worth, and women’s challenges in maintaining agency over their bodies. Set to hit shelves on Tuesday, it reflects on Shields’ journey from a child star to a 59-year-old woman reclaiming her narrative.
From the tender age of just months, Shields’ life unfolded under the public gaze. By 11, she was acting in films such as Alice, Sweet Alice and Pretty Baby, the latter sparking controversy with her portrayal of a young girl posing nude. Shields’ memoir boldly confronts the enduring scrutiny and objectification she has faced, declaring that valuing herself in her late fifties is her most “provocative choice.”
In a revealing interview with NPR’s Leila Fadel, Shields emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy, particularly in medical settings—a space where women’s autonomy is often undermined. She recounts a distressing personal experience: after opting for a labiaplasty to alleviate discomfort, she woke to find that the surgeon had also performed a “vaginal rejuvenation surgery” without her consent.
“I was horrified, but also at a loss,” Shields writes. Despite her shock and anger, she chose not to pursue legal action against the doctor, fearing the media frenzy it would ignite. Reflecting on this breach of trust, Shields acknowledges the familiar sting of being reduced to her anatomy—a theme that has haunted her career.
Shields’ book also revisits her 1985 publication, On Your Own, where her disclosure of being a virgin sparked a media frenzy. In hindsight, she expresses regret over the public’s invasive obsession with her sexual status, revealing how it cast a long shadow over her personal and professional life.
In a 2022 episode of her podcast, Now What? With Brooke Shields, she discussed how the public’s fixation on her virginity equipped her with resilience, helping her navigate the relentless scrutiny of the media industry. Shields’ narrative is one of triumph over objectification, a testament to her strength in carving out her identity amidst relentless external pressures.
Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old is more than a memoir—it’s a manifesto for women’s empowerment, a call to reclaim agency, and a poignant exploration of the aging process. Shields’ raw and unflinching account of her life offers readers an intimate glimpse into her evolution as a woman who has refused to be defined by others’ expectations.