Brooke Shields ’87 Has Message for Women at Princeton Appearance

Brooke Shields ’87 received a warm welcome as she walked onto the stage in Richardson Auditorium on Jan. 15 to discuss her new book, Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman, with moderator Idra Novey, a lecturer in creative writing. As one stop on Shields' book tour, the event drew more than 500 people — notably mostly women. Some had copies of the book, which was released the previous day, and were seen flipping through the pages before the discussion began. 

Image

The event was part of The Friends and Foundation of Princeton Public Library’s Beyond Words fundraising series and was one of Princeton’s Wintersession offerings. Tickets sold for the event directly supported the Princeton Public Library. “Your generosity makes the difference between a good library and a great library,” said Courtney Lederer, the foundation’s co-president.

It was a rocky start, as an audience member who identified herself as Georgia Freeman interrupted the introductions to yell out that the illuminati was after her. The program quickly got back on track and Shields expressed her joy to return to campus.    

“It’s really nice to be back at Princeton and be sober,” she said, receiving a roar of laughter. “Do you know I heard this one little tidbit of information that I think is hysterical is that Princeton Reunions is the largest drinking event in the country second only to the Indy 500.”  

Related coverage

Features

Hey, Brooke Shields ’87

You’ve spent your whole life in the public spotlight as a model, entertainer, and author. Tell us … Now what?

In the book, Shields explores aging by recounting her own experiences once she turned 40. “Aging is a journey full of contradictions, especially in America,” she writes in the book. Now 59, Shields shares what she’s learned along the way, and how she was ultimately able to flip the negative script around women and aging, into one of empowerment. Her hope is to encourage an honest discussion about aging, Shields said at the event.

“We’ve gotten used to a certain narrative that puts us in this position, and [when] we kind of say it enough we start believing that we are somehow less than as we get older,” Shields said. 

Image

Brooke Shields ’87 during the book talk in Richardson Auditorium. 

Carlett Spike

She’s been a public figure since she first started acting and modeling as a child, and said she feels there’s a perception that she’s a disappointment because she doesn’t look the same. Yet, Shields includes research in her book that shows women actually gain confidence as they age. 

Throughout the one-hour event, Shields offered a mix of reflections on lessons she’s learned as she’s aged on a variety of topics, including navigating friendships while aging, learning to say no, and speaking up. She also answered a few questions from the audience and shared some anecdotes from her time as a Princeton student. “The first place I ever really felt confidence was at Princeton,” Shields said emotionally. 

“This was the first place that I felt the freedom to understand my own thoughts. And I think that that’s a luxury and that’s a gift.” She added that Princeton offered her a space where she could fail, make mistakes, and grow. 

While Shields said she’s not setting out to give advice, she hopes the book inspires women over 40 to embrace the good that comes from this stage in their lives. “The whole message of the book is to not be tricked into thinking you’re less than,” Shields says. “That’s why I wanted to write the book.”