Cover Story
Brooke Shields on Aging, Beauty, and the Diamonds She’ll Never Give Away
Activist, actress, author, and entrepreneur, Brooke Shields is as timeless as a natural diamond.
Photographed by: Paola Kudacki
Styled by: Anatolli Smith
Written by: Ruthie Friedlander
Brooke Shields has always embodied a particular type of American glamour — unapologetically confident, refreshingly candid, and captivatingly timeless. Yet, and perhaps much to the dismay of the patriarchy, her true brilliance might just be emerging now, shining even more vividly than it did decades ago.
The multi-hyphenate is no stranger to reinvention. She has spent a lifetime gracefully navigating the shifting tides of fame, beauty standards, and expectations, but in her latest chapter, she’s doing something even more remarkable: rewriting the rules entirely.
“We’re all in it together,” she tells Only Natural Diamonds, reflecting on conversations sparked by her recent memoir, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old. “It was pretty appalling how we’re [aging women] treated, and it felt like something we needed to open up about.”
Meet the Author
- Ruthie Friedlander is a writer, brand consultant, and founder of At Large Agency in New York. A former editor at ELLE, InStyle, and The Row, she is known for her signature style, sharp eye, and storytelling expertise—especially when it comes to diamonds.
- She is also the co-founder of The Chain, a nonprofit that supports individuals in image-focused industries who are struggling with eating disorders.
Brooke Shields on Aging, Confidence, and Her Memoir
With humor, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom, her memoir confronts the societal stigma around women aging both in and out of the spotlight. It doesn’t lament lost youth; instead, it defiantly embraces the complexity and power of growing older. “It doesn’t have to be about giving up. It’s embracing all of the past that got you here,” Shields shares, emphasizing how this stage of life can be uniquely liberating. “There’s a freedom to it. You start to say, ‘No, I’m not going to waste my time on that.’ It’s not selfishness, it’s self-appreciation.”
This newfound confidence is palpable. Styled in the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Sportmax, and Salvatore Ferragamo and draped with exquisite diamond pieces from Chanel, London Jewelers, Nikos Koulis, and more, Shields radiates a stunning power. But this hasn’t always come naturally. For Shields, reclaiming her image after years of being objectified has been an intricate journey, often navigated through fashion. “A good portion of my career was about being sexualized but shutting myself down from that,” she admits. Now, she’s learning to celebrate her body in ways she previously found unimaginable. “I used to hide everything,” she recalls. “My daughters have really urged me to wear bikinis, not just a one-piece and a muumuu to the beach.”
Today, at almost 60, Shields finally feels a sense of ownership over her beauty—an empowering revelation echoed in her new haircare line, Commence, specially formulated for women over 40. Commence, much like her memoir, challenges antiquated beauty norms and celebrates the transformations that accompany aging.
This shift toward genuine self-appreciation also reflects her evolving relationship with fashion, something that historically felt out of her control. She recalls struggling with ill-fitting (read: non-fitting) runway samples throughout her career, often feeling diminished rather than celebrated on set. “They would throw runway samples on me, and my hands didn’t even fit in,” she remembers. Now, paradoxically, due to a femur injury and its effects on her body, Shields finds herself fitting those once elusive sizes—a complicated victory. “It messes with your head. Weight loss at this age is complicated,” she reflects, candidly acknowledging the contradictions inherent in navigating beauty standards at every stage.
Brooke Shields’ Diamond Legacy, Inspired by Her Mother
Yet through every transformation, one constant has remained—a deeply personal symbol of strength and self-worth: diamonds. Her affinity for jewelry runs deep, a legacy passed down from her mother, whose pragmatic yet empowering advice still resonates: “My mom always said, ‘Buy yourself your own diamond—don’t wait to be given one from a man.’” Shields took this counsel to heart, cherishing meaningful pieces from her earliest memories. “My mom bought me my first emerald-cut diamond,” Shields recalls. “It’s very beautiful, and I got it set in a Verdura cuff. I’m very attached to jewelry and diamonds. That might sound obnoxious,” she laughs, self-aware but unapologetic.
Ever since I was a little girl, every time we’d go somewhere, we’d find a jewelry store.
Her connection to diamonds extends beyond their aesthetic brilliance; it is deeply rooted in memory, sentiment, and history. “Ever since I was a little girl, every time we’d go somewhere, we’d find a jewelry store—if we were in Asia, it was pearls; if we were elsewhere, it was diamonds or brooches.” Reflecting on her mother’s fascination, Brooke speculates thoughtfully, “Maybe it’s because she grew up in Newark during the Depression era, in poverty, and jewelry represented what she aspired to have in life.”
Brooke Shields and the Heirlooms She Wants to Pass On
Now, as a mother herself, Shields considers the legacy she will leave her two daughters, Rowan, 21, and Grier, 19, through her jewelry, though she’s humorously cautious. “Only my younger daughter,” she laughs, explaining, “My older daughter has lost every piece I’ve ever given her. I literally cannot do it again.” Shields marvels at how her younger daughter intuitively grasps the deeper significance behind jewelry’s craftsmanship and legacy. “She understands the difference between real and ‘real’,” Brooke says proudly. “It’s not about the gold or diamonds alone—she sees the history, the workmanship, the story behind the institution of these houses.”
When you’ve worked hard, you’re not waiting to be validated – you do something for yourself. There’s a sense of empowerment in that.
Brooke Shields on Empowerment, and Earning Your Shine
As Shields considers her own life, her jewelry becomes a lens through which she measures her personal evolution and self-appreciation. “When you’ve worked hard, you’re not waiting to be validated—you do something for yourself,” she says firmly. “There’s a sense of empowerment in that.” Brooke views the diamond as more than a luxury object; it is a reflection of resilience and personal worth, earned over time through hard work and effort.
Perhaps Brooke Shields, then, isn’t reinventing herself at all. Rather, she’s revealing an intrinsic value—one that only becomes clearer and more radiant with the passage of time. She has earned every facet. “You’ve earned getting here,” she reminds herself, and by extension, all women. Her life is proof that true beauty, true resilience, and true worth are not simply bestowed; they are forged, polished, and perfected by the pressures and triumphs of a lifetime.
Photographer: Paola Kudacki
Stylist: Anatolli Smith
Creative Director: Lizzy Oppenheimer
Hair: Sky Kim
Makeup: Mark De Los Reyes
Manicurist: Mamie Onishi
Bookings Editor: Glynis Costin
Set Design: Caz Slattery
Creative Production: Petty Cash Production
Photo Assistants: Spencer Ostrander, Alexander Sterling Ryerson
Digital Tech: Isaac Schell
Styling Assistants: Jaden James, Devyn Banta
Tailor: Paul Burgo
