Model and TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson has shut down the ageist social media trolls who made “nasty” comments about her skin.
The 57-year-old spoke with Spencer Matthews on his podcast Untapped earlier this week and opened up about her sobriety. But in clips of the conversation shared online, people focused on criticizing her complexion and made jokes about her age.
Highlights
- Ulrika Jonsson confronted ageist trolls mocking her skin and "aging" appearance.
- She revealed eczema makes wearing makeup painful, so she often opts for no makeup or uses filters.
- She urged critics to focus on her words rather than judging her looks and called out ageism online.
Ulrika responded to the criticism with a photo of herself in a sunhat, writing, “‘I feel I need to address something.
“I don’t get a lot of nasty comments – or if I do, I don’t see them or send people love in response. But a couple of weeks ago I took part in a fab podcast @untapped.podcast to discuss my sobriety with the smart @spencermatthews."
Image credits: Youtube/UNTAPPED
“I wore no makeup. Partly because I kinda forgot that a project for the ears is nowadays also a feast for the eyes.
“But as someone who has had to wear heavy makeup on screen from 5 am for years, I’m not a fan.”
Image credits: Instagram/ulrikajonssonofficial
Ulrika went on to explain that she has suffered from eczema since her childhood on her face and body, and that makeup has been “an agony” to wear.
Eczema is a skin condition that causes your skin to become dry, itchy, and bumpy. Symptoms can flare up if you come into contact with an irritant or an allergen, the Cleveland Clinic notes.
The model and TV presenter was mocked for her complexion after appearing on the Untapped podcast
“In a few weeks, I will be 58. I will never look like the fresh 21-year-old that used to greet you first thing in the morning by the weather board.”
Image credits: GETTY/Avalon
She also mentioned the effect that exposure to UV rays has had on her body. “I’m not ashamed to say that I am a sun worshipper and will no doubt pay the price for that.
“But UV lamps and salt baths, astringent solutions and creams were a feature of my life since I was a small child. I have uneven pigmentation doubtlessly not helped by ageing. I sometimes use filters in my pics because it’s easier than foundation and less painful.
“I work tirelessly in my garden year round and often in the sun. I rarely sunbathe any more. Haven’t had a sunbed for 6 months – which I do occasionally in winter months. Not ashamed.”
The 57-year-old British-Swedish star began her career as a weather presenter
Image credits: GETTY/Gareth Cattermole
The Swedish-British star concluded: “So, I understand that an over-tanned, imperfect and AGEING face offends you. But try to listen to the words rather than constantly judge women’s appearance. You might learn something. And making people feel s**t doesn’t make you a hero.”
In the late ‘90s, the mom of four presented the Eurovision Song Contest and the Miss World pageant.
She has participated in several reality shows, including Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity MasterChef, and First Dates Hotel.
"I will never look like the fresh 21-year-old that used to greet you first thing in the morning by the weather board," she said
Image credits: Instagram/ulrikajonssonofficial
Ulrika previously faced ageist comments by former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace. Amid accusations of s*xully inappropriate behavior, he complained that he was being targeted by “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age.”
Speaking with The Telegraph, the TV star said the comment was “absolutely wild” and that it showed “the arrogance of a man who has zero introspection or self-awareness.”
“When we refer to women ‘of a certain age,’ they tend to be women my age, over 50, which is ironic because we are some of the hardest working women out there. When I was starting out, we had to put up with all sorts of sexist, misogynistic comments, and we put up with them,” shared the model.
Image credits: Instagram/ulrikajonssonofficial
Ulrika opened up about aging in an interview with The Sun, in which she said that she tries to avoid mirrors because she knows she will criticize her image, which is “collapsing and diminishing.”
“Goes without saying that the ageing process is not as fun as you hope,” she penned. “Or as gracious and forgiving as you think it will be when you’re in your twenties.”
The mom of four revealed she often avoids looking in the mirror due to her insecurities
Image credits: Instagram/ulrikajonssonofficial
Image credits: Instagram/ulrikajonssonofficial
In her recent podcast appearance, the former Playtex Lingerie model discussed her sobriety journey after celebrating one year without drinking.
“I believe that I will never drink again. I’m tapping into the person that was always there that I didn’t think was there when I was drinking,” she said on July 14.
“I thought I was s**t. My opinion of myself was never very high. My mindset, my approach has just completely changed, and at nearly 58, I didn’t think that would be possible.”
"Apparently, women aren't allowed to age," one reader commented
