During last week’s State Visit, it wasn’t the couture gowns or glittering jewels that caught everyone’s eye — it was Melania Trump’s hair.
At 55, her bronze waves gave her a youthful glow that no dress or diamond could compete with.
It made me wonder: what if she had kept her hair grey? Instantly, the elegance would have looked years older, decades even.
Hair, as trivial as it may seem, is powerful in how it shapes the way we appear and the way we feel about ourselves.
The Relentless Battle With Grey
At 67, I consider myself lucky to have thick, healthy hair.
The downside? It grows so fast that every four weeks I find myself racing to Mel, my trusted colourist, to cover nearly an inch of grey roots.
The last time I went, I realised it wasn’t just my hairline anymore — even the back of my head had begun to betray me.
A snapshot from above revealed a parting sprinkled with what looked like snow.
Every so often, Mel and I toy with the idea of letting it all go natural — allowing the chocolates and caramels of my dye jobs to fade into silvers.
But every time, I decide the same thing: absolutely not. For me, my dark hair is part of my identity.
To give in to grey feels not just like ageing, but like giving up.
Friends Who Embrace the Silver
Plenty of women I know have made the opposite choice. Some look stunning, their skin tone and bright eyes allowing them to wear grey with grace.
Others, though, simply look duller — not old, necessarily, but drab. That’s the real risk of embracing silver too soon.
It’s true, black dye can be equally harsh. When it’s overdone or badly applied, it can make you look like Morticia Addams — spooky, rather than chic. But at least it’s not dreary.
For me, it’s worth every penny of the £3,000 a year I spend to keep my hair as “me,” not younger, just not washed-out.
Why Women in Conflict Captivate Audiences
While hair is a deeply personal subject, there’s another kind of drama that endlessly captures public imagination — women in conflict.
I recently binged The Girlfriend on Amazon, a gripping tale of a mother clashing with her son’s manipulative partner. It’s not just fiction.
The public has always been fascinated by high-profile female rivalries: think of the alleged tension between Kate, the Princess of Wales, and Meghan Markle, or the strained relationship between Victoria Beckham and her daughter-in-law, Nicola Peltz.
Even in the workplace, stories of women accusing other women — like Gwyneth Paltrow being labelled a “toxic boss” — seem to grab more headlines than similar disputes between men.
Why Female Rivalries Feel Different
There are endless examples of male feuds — from Prince William and Prince Harry to media heirs Lachlan and James Murdoch — but they don’t spark the same cultural chatter.
Perhaps it’s because society still expects women to nurture, not to fight. When men go head-to-head, it’s seen as ambition. When women do, it’s framed as cattiness.
Whatever the psychology behind it, one thing’s certain — The Girlfriend delivers plenty of that addictive tension, and that’s what makes it such a binge-worthy watch.
Victoria Beckham Brings the Humor
Speaking of female figures in the spotlight, Victoria Beckham is about to release her own Netflix documentary.
I, for one, can’t wait. Despite her “Posh” image, Victoria is hilarious and has always been able to laugh at herself.
One of my fondest Vogue memories is a shoot where she posed in a fake kitchen piled with dirty dishes, wearing a T-shirt that read: Too Posh To Wash.
When asked if it was true, she replied without missing a beat: “Quite right.
I don’t ever do the washing up.” That sharp wit is exactly what will make her documentary so fun to watch.
A Touching Moment From Lady Starmer
Not all recent moments in public life were about glamour or rivalry.
During the State Visit parade, Sir Keir and Lady Starmer sat front row as the King and Queen arrived.
While Keir seemed distracted, perhaps mulling over political challenges, his wife gave his thigh a gentle nudge, prompting him to leap up in time with the rest of the audience.
It was such a small but relatable gesture — the kind that reminded us all of everyday partnership in a marriage.
A Corkscrew That Stood the Test of Time
And finally, on a lighter note, I must sing the praises of my humble corkscrew.
I’ve tried them all — flashy French levers, American gadgets shaped like rockets, and cheap supermarket versions.
None has matched the efficiency and durability of my simple wooden bistro-style corkscrew.
It’s been with me for over 40 years, and it still works flawlessly. Sometimes, the simplest tools truly are the best.