COMMENTARY | When Demi Moore hooked up with Ashton Kutcher, she gave hope to thousands of older women who sometimes have a hard time finding love because of age. Although Ashton is 15 years her junior, she married him after a heavily publicized courtship. Demi became an icon for older women such as me, and I can’t say that I didn’t think about her when I, woman in my 40s, decided to throw caution to the wind and date a younger man, something I probably would have never considered if Demi hadn’t made it “OK.” Now that her marriage has fallen apart, she leaves thousands of women wondering what life will be like after Ashton.
During her marriage to ex-husband Bruce Willis, she commanded salaries higher than some of Hollywood’s leading men, but slipped away from center stage to pursue her role as a wife and mother. I would like to see Demi reclaim her status as a leading lady. Because of her many years of experience in the business, there’s also room for her to grow as a film producer and director. If she accepts the right projects, Demi’s star could easily outshine Ashton’s this year.
The music industry is abuzz about the impending birth of Beyonce and Jay-Z’s child, a girl as former group mate Kelly Rowland let slip in September 2011. The most anticipated child of 2012 will need lots of loving attention from her parents, and I look forward to seeing less of Beyonce as she takes time away from the spotlight to grow into her role as a mother. Although I’ll miss her high-flying, acrobatic dance moves on stage, I expect that a break from the spotlight will allow Beyonce to recharge her batteries and catch up on family time.
I’d also like to hear a lot less about Kim Kardashian. The reality TV star can’t seem to find her way to Page 2 as her romantic escapades and implants continue to make front page news. I sympathized with Kim after her short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries ended suddenly. After all, she appeared to have a rough time getting herself back on track, and I can relate to heartbreak. The daily reports, photos and debates about which of Kim’s curvaceous body are fake and real are getting old, however, and the less unimportant news I hear about Kim on a daily basis in 2012, the more interested I’ll be when she makes news for doing something worthwhile.
Sources: Marie Claire, Beyonce Hints at Baby’s Due Date, IMDB, Demi Moore Profile