Gloria Steinem's Beauty Philosophy Went Hand-In-Hand With Her Feminist Ideals

Gloria Steinem's views on beauty have always been closely linked to her feminist ideals. Rather than allowing the focus to rest on her appearance, she argued that women should be valued for their accomplishments and the many things they do, with her take on aging being the confidence every older woman deserves. Speaking to Allure in April 2026, just four months before she passed away at the age of 92, Steinem reflected on her early career, the frustration she felt for being judged by her appearance, and why she believes feminism has always had a complicated relationship with beauty.

"Early in my career, I was hiding behind big glasses and hair, only showing up when I spoke. I always tried to speak alongside a woman from a different ethnicity or race, so that at least together, we looked a little more like the country." Adding, "It was always frustrating to have people comment on how I looked instead of what I said. And sometimes you can shame people out of it by just naming it: How are you reporting on me in a way you wouldn't if I were a man? That tends to land."

In that interview, Steinem reflected on how that attitude shaped her own perspective, explaining, "The more we're valued for our accomplishments and not for our looks, the better. We'll know we've made real progress when a woman is running for political office and her appearance is no longer a source of comment any more than it would be for a man. Although men are subject to criticism, too. They have to worry about going bald, about how they'll look, measuring up to some standard. That's worth remembering."

With more women pushing back against the concept that looks determine worth as one ages, it appears Gloria Steinem's feminist beauty philosophy still strikes a chord. From her own experiences being judged on her appearance to the changing conversation around aging, the feminist icon has long argued for women to be recognized for what they do rather than how they look. In fact, 5 celebs in their 50s that are embracing aging in Hollywood prove the conversation around getting older is shifting to be increasingly positive; AARP has also highlighted Steinem's belief that aging can be a time of greater freedom and reward.

An article by the outlet in 2024 noted that Steinem previously shared a powerful perspective with Julia-Louis Dreyfus: "I always think it would be great if an army of gray-haired women could take over the Earth," the 90-year-old feminist icon said on an episode of the "Wiser Than Me" podcast.

And while Steinem didn't think society had completely moved beyond judging women by their appearances, she believed there has been some progress when it comes to aging. She told Allure, "Feminists always objected to being judged by our looks. That was the tie between beauty and feminism. The goal was to diminish beauty as a standard. I'm not sure we've fully gotten there, but I do think women are allowed to be older now than they used to be and still be considered relevant. That's something."