Celia Holman Lee: 'I would rather age gracefully than go under the knife'
Myself and Ger had a sit down with an esteemed journalist in the swish Limerick Strand Hotel
WHAT a week it has been. I had the pleasure of being featured as the cover story for the Irish Independent’s Life Magazine. When I received the call from chief feature writer Barry Egan, I was delighted to catch up with him. I’ve known Barry since before my 50th - which feels 100 years ago.
Myself and Ger had a sit down with the esteemed journalist in the swish Limerick Strand Hotel. Having known Barry for so many years, it was more like a catch up than anything. Though I must say, one thing about Barry is that he will ask the hard-hitting questions. He may present as a handsome charming man, but underneath his smiling face is a mind hard at work looking for the headlines.
The man tried to quiz me on the fuel protests (which I’m in full support of, in case you were wondering!), my relationships with taoisigh (Varadkar’s a dote, and I believe Haughey had the public’s interests at heart), and even my sex life (which I reserved on answering to protect my dear grandchildren’s ears!).
Not only that, but the man had the cheek to ask if I ever had work done! For all those curious, I am au naturale. I would rather age gracefully than go under the knife. My attitude to plastic surgery and lip-filler and all those trendy body modifications is that I think it's truly a wonderful thing to be happy with your god-given features. I of course demurred my way through every curve ball question that was thrown my way. I’ve had plenty of experience giving keen-eyed journalists what they want to hear throughout my long career as a model, businesswoman and my many media appearances.
Reflecting on my life up to this point I told him: “If anything, I’ve learned that life moves quickly so enjoy every stage of it. No point spending time worrying what other people think because in the end it’s the people you love and the memories you make that really matter.”
That is something that I think we could all take to heart, and helps with living a free, independent and painless life. Another of my adages we discussed is also worth sharing: “I would say friendship is extremely important. Friends can bring you up and bring you down, but the good ones are always there,” I told him.
Separate from the good-natured grilling for the interview, I went up to Dublin to do a photoshoot at The Hoxton hotel for the six page spread in the Indo’s magazine. I was styled by Orla Dempsey. My hair and make-up was done to perfection by John Bowes and Graham Santelíz Molloy, with help from the award-winning Brown Sugar salon in Dublin. I feel so privileged to be a working model now at 75.
As they say, all press is good press!
Xx Celia