Flipkart has pared its senior leadership ranks over the past two years, reducing the number of senior vice presidents (SVPs) to fewer than a dozen from about 18 earlier, ahead of a planned initial public offering. Budget 2026 Critics' choice rather than crowd-pleaser
The defining moment of Oman's cricketing journey came during their spirited showing against India at the Asia Cup 2025 in Abu Dhabi. Though the Jatinder Singh-led side went down by 21 runs, the performance of the world No. 20 side against the Men in Blue turned heads across the cricketing world
Apple Tax Exemption: Under the new rule, foreign companies can provide machinery to Indian contract manufacturers operating in bonded customs zones without triggering taxes in India. Apple Tax Exemption: In Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a major policy relief for
Elon Musk's social media platform X was back up after a brief outage affected more than 19,000 U.S. users on Sunday, according to outage tracking website Downdetector.com. The outage lasted about 45 minutes and was largely resolved by 12:04 p.m. ET
Nipah scare recently sounded an alarm across the world with several airports reinstating COVID-like health checks. Following the Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal, World Health Organisation (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned against the “serious disease
Is 2026 the year of the Queenager?
Is 2026 the year of the Queenager?
Last year saw a greater awareness of older women in fashion and beauty. But 2026 marks a milestone: the first wave of millennials in India will turn 45. And this shift is set to reshape how fashion and beauty brands look at age, representation, and aspiration.
According to a Morgan Stanley report, India is home to over 400 million millennials, making it the largest millennial cohort in the world. This generation not only witnessed women entering the workforce in unprecedented numbers, but also wields significant spending power, particularly for the fashion and beauty industries. With that comes an expectation: they want to see themselves, and older women, represented in campaigns and on screens.
Some early signals are promising. Kareena Kapoor Khan, now 45, returned as the face of Lakmé. 50-something Bollywood icons Kajol and Twinkle Khanna anchored a show on Amazon Prime, while 60-year-old Kim Cattrall (of Sex and the City) became the face of Charlotte Tilbury and featured in London-based Indian designer Ashish Gupta's collaboration campaign with British department store Debenhams.
Kim Cattrall in London-based designer Ashish's campaign with Debenhams
At Lakmé Fashion Week, industry veterans Tabu, Neelam, and Madira Bedi (all women all in their 50s) walked the ramp. Clearly, a “maturity quake” is underway.
Tabu, Neelam, and Madira Bedi at LFW 2025
Being called an “aunty” was once considered dismissive or even insulting. Today, it's being reclaimed as a badge of experience and style. Designer label Nor Black Nor White even launched a slogan T-shirt celebrating the term, turning the once-ageist term into a symbol of empowerment and playfulness. It has been worn by actors Alia Bhatt and Zeenat Aman.
‘Which genius decided that “aunty” is a derogatory term? It certainly wasn't me,' asks Zeenat Aman on social media | Photo Credit: Courtesy @thezeenataman
Campaigns featuring older women are receiving positive feedback, too. And fashion magazines are increasingly turning to celebrities from the 1990s for their covers. Yet, despite nostalgia becoming a key driver of fashion storytelling, such inclusions are still the exception rather than the rule.
Representation remains uneven. Even when fashion stores feature older women in their campaigns, the products themselves are largely designed for the tastes and lifestyles of those in their 30s and younger — showing that inclusion has often been about marketing optics. Terms such as “anti-ageing” and “age-defying” continue to dominate marketing and fashion lexicon, signalling that the industry's mindset has a long way to go.
Culturally, not much has changed in how India views women once they pass 40. Society celebrates men as they grow older — becoming distinguished, charismatic, or even “foxy” — while women are expected to age “gracefully”, according to rigid standards. Age-positive advocates, from Delhi-based artist Mukta Singh to actress-author Lisa Ray, frequently challenge this on social media, asking to be called Queenagers. They believe having fun with fashion is ageless.
A post shared by Sujata Assomull (@sujstyle)
You still see ageist comments on social media about Aishwarya Rai. Just a few weeks ago, actor Dia Mirza called out the double standard where older male actors continue to be cast opposite much younger female leads, even as older women are seldom shown as romantic equals.
Perhaps change will accelerate now that millennials, the generation that shaped culture significantly, are moving into their 40s. These are the women and men now occupying leadership roles in fashion and beauty companies. They understand first-hand that aspiration, style, and self-expression do not have an expiry date.
With women living longer and taking better care of themselves than ever before, it would be wise for beauty and fashion to embrace age-inclusive representation as a way of future-proofing their brands. 2026 could therefore and (hopefully does) mark a turning point.
The fashion journalist and author is based in Dubai.
Published - January 10, 2026 01:08 pm IST
The Hindu Sunday Magazine / fashion / beauty / society / lifestyle and leisure / The Longevity Special
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: Ram Charan, 2-Year-Old daughter mobbed by fans outside hospital Australian Open 2026 women final Judge orders release of five-year-old detained by ICE in Minneapolis IAF airlifts 85-year-old paralysed woman as snowfall blocks Himachal roads Arizona Cardinals hire Mike LaFleur as head coach on five-year deal Is Carrick proving Amorim's Man Utd tenure was a wasted year India's snakebite crisis is killing tens of thousands every year IGNOU extends last date for January 2026 admission Know the last day of the sacred Magh bathing ritual after the Magh month ends Best New Artist To Record Of The Year
Phone charging tips: It may seem like a technical issue, but before blaming the charger or rushing to a service centre, check for dust and dirt trapped inside the charging port of your smartphone. Phone charging tips: You must have been troubled by repeated plugging in and unplugging while charging
5 hours ago
Elon Musk on Monday (February 2, 2026) denied any links to Jeffery Epstein, saying he never attended his parties or been on his “Lolita Express” plane or set foot on his creepy island or done anything wrong at all. In a post on X, on Monday (February 2, 2026), Mr. Musk said
5 hours ago
Billie Eilish's Wildflower won Song of the Year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, making it one of the biggest moments of the night. The award was announced during the main ceremony held on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Billie walked up to the stage with her brother and longtime
5 hours ago
Union Budget of India 2026: India is set for a major sports transformation over the next decade. The government plans to enhance talent development, upgrade infrastructure, and integrate new technology. This initiative aims to make India a global leader in sports goods manufacturing
5 hours ago
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday (February 2, 2026) carried out searches at multiple locations in Srinagar, Bandipora and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a terror case, officials said. The searches were being carried out in Rafiabad, Sopore
5 hours ago
KERALA LOTTERY RESULT MONDAY 2-2-2026 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery result for the "Bhagyathara BT" draw on Monday, February 2, 2026, is scheduled to be announced live at 3 PM. This lottery draw is part of the seven weekly draws held in Kerala. The alphanumeric code assigned to this specific lottery is
5 hours ago
The Magh Mela is observed every year from Paush Purnima to Mahashivratri, spanning a period of 44 days. During this sacred time, devotees take part in six major bathing festivals. These holy bathing dates include Paush Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchami, Magh Purnima
5 hours ago
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi has again requested the Kerala government to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the Kunduvadiyan community. She wrote to Minister O R Kelu highlighting the community's historical discrimination and marginalization. Granting this status would address long-standing social and
5 hours ago
MIC Electronics Share Price: MIC Electronics, a smallcap company which primarily serves to Indian Railways, has announced its results for the third quarter of current financial year (Q3 FY26). The company said that its consolidated net profit stood at Rs 1.88 crore in the quarter
5 hours ago
Trinamool Congress MPs staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha. They protested the Centre's alleged withholding of Rs 2 lakh crore in dues. Party leaders stated West Bengal was ignored in the Union Budget. They accused the Centre of discrimination following the BJP's defeat in the state
5 hours ago
Yamaha EC-06: Yamaha's first electric scooter, the EC-06, has finally been launched in India at Rs 1,67,600 (ex-showroom, Delhi). Yamaha EC-06 Launched: Yamaha's first electric scooter, the EC-06, has finally been launched in India at Rs 1,67,600 (ex-showroom, Delhi)
5 hours ago
Explained: ICC's 2024–27 distribution model and Pakistan's financial risk in T20 World Cup 2026. The Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to boycott the India vs Pakistan league-stage match at the T20 World Cup 2026 has triggered a rare public debate about the International Cricket Council's
5 hours ago
A Russian drone strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro hit a bus carrying mineworkers and killed at least a dozen people, Ukrainian authorities said on Sunday (February 1, 2026), hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the next round of peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian
5 hours ago
The Pakistan government announced its decision on Friday to not field the national cricket team during the league stage match against India on 15 February. Soon afterwards, former Pakistan head coach and captain Mohammad Yousaf came out in support of the decision and went on to call out
5 hours ago
Gold and silver prices have continued to fall after a dramatic reversal of a rally that had pushed precious metals to record highs. In Asia trade on Monday, spot gold prices fell more than 9% to $4,403 (£3,222) an ounce, while silver slumped by 15% to less than $72 an ounce
5 hours ago
The Congress on Monday claimed that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was a transformative law, but the new rural job scheme introduced by the Union government to replace it is “a flaw”. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh contended in a social media post
5 hours ago
The 68th Grammy Awards have taken place in Los Angeles, with Kendrick Lamar the night's biggest winner for the second year in a row. The rapper took home five awards, including record of the year for Luther, a duet with SZA, and best rap album for GNX
5 hours ago
Iran has released a list naming nearly 3,000 people killed in recent anti-Khamenei protests, as unrest over economic hardship turned violent amid rising tensions with the US. Seoul: The office of Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has released a list naming 2
5 hours ago
Indian athletics: At the Sports Ministry's National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR) in Delhi, India's first Athlete Management and Sports Science platform has been developed and put into operation. New Delhi: From dietary recommendations to injury predictions and from age
5 hours ago
The rupee gained 37 paise to 91.56 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Monday (February 2, 2026), a day after the Union Budget 2026-27 was presented, largely as crude oil prices retreated from their elevated levels. Forex traders said for the rupee, the budget offered reassurance, not relief
5 hours ago
YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani has landed in controversy after a video from his recent Italy trip sparked outrage online. The clip, which has since been deleted, showed Ashish making derogatory remarks about an Italian man during a speedboat ride
5 hours ago
The Union Budget 2026-27 has introduced significant cuts to important urban development programs. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is experiencing a major decrease in overall funding. One of the most affected schemes is the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U)
5 hours ago
Pakistan captain Salman Agha says players had no role in India match boycott at T20 World Cup 2026. ICC seeks resolution. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has made it clear that the decision to forfeit the India clash at the T20 World Cup 2026 was not taken by the players or the team management
5 hours ago
The fiscal consolidation for FY27 is the slowest in six years. And the budgeted disinvestment, which is a below-the-line funding item, is likely to see the highest rise in six years, the report from HSBC Global Investment Research said. Mumbai: Lower revenue as a share of GDP has been more than
5 hours ago
New Delhi: Set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), the Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 has been allocated a whopping Rs 95,692 crore under the Union Budget
5 hours ago
Taipei, TAIWAN — China executed four people found guilty of causing the deaths of six Chinese citizens and running scam and gambling operations out of Myanmar worth more than $4 billion, authorities said on Monday. The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court in south China announced the
5 hours ago
A 15-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, will meet Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar today. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who is set to meet Chief Election Commissioner
5 hours ago
