Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Naomi Watts Just Recreated Her Teen Tampon Ad From The '80s To Normalize Menopause

Naomi Watts
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for ELLE

The Oscar nominee took to Instagram to bring menopause and the realities of aging out of 'the shadows of secrecy and shame.'

Naomi Watts has been very open about her journey with menopause, from her lack of knowledge and resources to her symptoms and struggles, both mental and physical.

While Watts has acknowledged there is far more information available now than 18 years ago when she was in perimenopause, there is still a stigma around menopause and, therefore, a lack of public awareness and readily available resources and guidance.


In a brilliant effort to normalize menopause, the Oscar nominee took to Instagram to share the realities of aging many women don't talk about.

In her post, The Watcher star recreated a tampon ad she shot at just 15 years old.

You can see the post here:

She posted side-by-side pictures of her teenage self on the left and present-day self on the right.

Above the younger Watts were the words from her Johnson & Johnson tampon ad, "When can I start using tampons?"

On the right the words "When can I start using lube?" appear over the now 54-year-old Watts.

In her caption, Watts discussed a symptom of menopause—dryness.

She began:

"What kind of Dry January have you had... Dry AF... am I right?"
"Why is it that we can talk about periods and puberty with ease, but when it comes to menopause, and yes, drrryness... we all get a little skittish.."
"I created this post in an attempt to capture a woman's hormonal bookends."

Watts continued in her tampon ad, she was "face forward... confident... curious" and revealed the photo on the right is what it would look like if we "tackled midlife hormonal challenges with the same kind of boldness."

Watts elaborated on the lack of widespread information associated with menopause.

"When it comes to the 'adult version' of hormonal changes we're thrust into the shadows of secrecy and shame... with a total lack of information, plus misinformation! Who knew we'd have to sneak a pump of the good stuff before some hanky panky?"

She then included a quote by OB/GYN Dr. Jennifer Gunter that assured women using lubricant is not only normal but can also "be a great addition for sex."

Dr. Gunter went on to say, unfortunately, there is a lot of stigma surrounding lube making people feel they have a problem if it's needed in the bedroom.

The quote finished:

"It seems you're either too wet or too dry for the patriarchy. To that I say, bollocks."
"And lube for all my friends, should they so desire."

Watts wonderfully completed her post:

"Let's get real, take menopause and yes, dry va-jay-jay's, mainstream. Unapologetically so!"
"More than 1 billion people worldwide will be menopausal by 2025... That's a whole lot of dry."

Dr. Gunter herself echoed the sentiment in a comment.

@naomiwatts/Instagram

Even the fellas concurred.

@naomiwatts/Instagram

The rest of her fans followed suit.

Many appreciated Watts' openness and willingness to shed light on a subject that seems too taboo to talk about publicly.

@naomiwatts/Instagram

@naomiwatts/Instagram

@naomiwatts/Instagram

@naomiwatts/Instagram

@naomiwatts/Instagram

@naomiwatts/Instagram

@naomiwatts/Instagram

@naomiwatts/Instagram

@naomiwatts/Instagram

Last year, Watts took to Instagram to "conquer the stigma and address the secrecy and shame" surrounding menopause.

"I think it’s time to see women in this phase of life or this age group be well represented. We’ve been under-served in media, stories and marketing far too long."

Watts encouraged her followers:

"Let’s conquer the stigma and address the secrecy and shame we’ve felt and help create a healthier foundation for future generations."
"Getting older is a privilege and a time for us to feel proud of our cumulative experiences—to feel empowered, unapologetically so. I think being part of a change-maker generation is exciting. No more walking through this alone."

Amen.

More from News

Screenshots from @alexojennings' TikTok video
@alexojennings/TikTok

Bride Mocked For Posting 'Cringe' Dance Performance For Her Husband in Front Of Her Religious Parents

The bride and groom generally put a lot of effort into planning a wedding that they will love and that will represent who they are as a couple.

But there's a time and a place for anything—especially dancing for a skeptical audience.

Keep ReadingShow less
Outraged Mom Calls Out American Airlines After Her Special Needs Daughter Is Forced To Crawl Off Plane
@susangroveTikTok

Outraged Mom Calls Out American Airlines After Her Special Needs Daughter Is Forced To Crawl Off Plane

Part of raising a child is sometimes having to stand by while they do something difficult in order to grow.

That was not the case recently where mom Susan Grove found herself forced to stand by while her special needs daughter crawled off of an American Airlines flight because there was no wheelchair.

Keep ReadingShow less
Reneé  Rapp
Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Singer Reneé Rapp Gives Young LGBTQ+ Fans Some Hilarious Advice On How To Handle Homophobic Parents

Actor and singer Reneé Rapp had a very public coming out as a lesbian in a sketch on Saturday Night Live back in January 2024 after previously identifying as bisexual.

Since then, the star of The Sex Lives of College Girls and the Mean Girls Broadway and movie musicals—inspired by the 2004 Lindsay Lohan film—has spoken about struggling with accepting and then eventually embracing her sexuality.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barbie dolls on display
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Conservatives Predictably Outraged After Mattel Introduces New Barbie With Type 1 Diabetes

Conservatives lashed out at toymaker Mattel after the company introduced a new Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes, including an insulin pump and blood sugar tracker—an action they say is "woke" while not understanding the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Mattel revealed a new partnership with Breakthrough T1D— formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation—to launch a Barbie doll that authentically represents people living with Type 1 diabetes. The collaboration, Mattel said, ensures the doll “truly captures the community,” including accessories that “accurately reflect the medical equipment” commonly used by individuals with the condition.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Superman (2025) poster
Joe Raedle/Getty Images; Warner Bros. Pictures

White House Blasted After Portraying Trump As Superman In Bonkers Poster Mock-up

The White House was mercilessly mocked online after it posted a revised poster for the latest Superman film that features President Donald Trump as the Man of Steel.

The latest big screen adaptation of the famed superhero comic, Superman, was directed by James Gunn and stars David Corenswet as the titular superhero, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. The film has received positive reviews and has already made an estimated $2.8 million from Tuesday previews for a total $21 million, including Thursday previews.

Keep ReadingShow less