FROM TABOO TO TRENDING: HOW MENOPAUSE IS FINALLY HAVING ITS MOMENT
By Nicole Fuge
For decades, menopause was the whispered word in the back corner of women’s lives; a “change” to be endured quietly, with only vague mentions of “hot flushes” or “mood swings” in hushed tones. It was something you only spoke about with your closest friends, often while fanning yourself in the middle of the night.
But something’s shifting. Menopause is no longer cloaked in silence. It’s being splashed across Instagram feeds, discussed on podcasts, and spotlighted in glossy magazine spreads. Celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts are speaking candidly about their own experiences, from brain fog to hormone therapy, and a new wave of midlife influencers are turning their platforms into safe spaces for real, unfiltered conversation.
This isn’t just a passing trend, it’s a cultural rebrand. And it matters.
The Millennial Menopause Moment
It’s no coincidence that menopause’s makeover is happening right now. The oldest millennials, the generation known for disrupting industries, questioning traditions, and refusing to “act their age”, are approaching their mid-40s. Which means they’re standing on the threshold of perimenopause, that often unpredictable transition leading to menopause.
And unlike their mothers or grandmothers, millennials aren’t wired to suffer in silence. They’ve grown up with the internet, embraced wellness culture, and perfected the art of sharing their lives online. For them, talking openly about hormones, cycles, and bodily changes isn’t scandalous, it’s self-care.
Add to that the millennial refusal to accept ageing as a slow fade into invisibility, and you’ve got a generation determined to shape a new narrative: menopause as an empowered, informed, and supported stage of life.
Why Celebrities are Changing the Conversation
When Naomi Watts launched her perimenopause and menopause brand Stripes, she described her early menopause experience as a wake-up call, one that made her realise just how little information and support was available.
“I'd wake up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat. My skin was dry and itchy. My hormones were all over the place. I remember feeling so confused and alone, like I didn’t have control over my own body,” she says.
Drew Barrymore has also shared openly on her talk show about navigating perimenopause, even joking about hot flushes mid-interview.
These moments matter. When women with global reach normalise the conversation, it chips away at the stigma. It tells women watching at home that they’re not alone, that it’s okay to ask questions, seek treatment, or simply admit that it’s really hard.
The Rise of the Midlife Influencer
Alongside the celebrity voices are everyday women building digital communities around midlife. These influencers are talking about style, sex, career changes, and the emotional side of this transition. They’re swapping skincare tips that actually work for hormonally-shifting skin, testing out cooling bed sheets for night sweats, and reminding their followers that this is still a chapter for joy, growth, and self-reinvention.
This online visibility is a game-changer. Instead of seeing menopause as a loss of youth, beauty, or relevance, women are reframing it as an evolution. They’re proving that style, ambition, and vitality don’t have an expiry date.
The Wellness Industry Steps In
As with any cultural shift, the wellness industry has been quick to notice. Brands are launching menopause-specific supplements, skincare, and tech devices to manage symptoms. Fitness programs are being tailored for midlife bodies. Even fashion is joining the conversation, with cooling fabrics and adaptable workwear collections.
Of course, there’s a conversation to be had about the commercialisation of menopause. Not every product is necessary or effective. But the fact that the market sees menopause as worth investing in, and not something to hide, is telling. Visibility sells, but in this case, it also informs.
Still Work to Do
Despite the progress, the stigma hasn’t vanished. Many workplaces still lack formal menopause support, some healthcare providers remain under-informed, and misinformation about treatments like HRT continues to circulate. Globally, the conversation is also uneven, while it’s gaining momentum in places like Australia, the US and UK, cultural taboos remain stronger in other regions.
This is where the current wave of awareness needs to keep building: beyond social media, into education systems, workplace policy, and accessible healthcare.
Menopause as a Power Shift
Perhaps the biggest change of all is in how menopause is being framed. Instead of the end of something, it’s becoming the beginning of a different kind of freedom, no more monthly cycles, the chance to reprioritise, and a perspective sharpened by life experience.
For millennial women especially, who have lived through multiple cultural shifts already, menopause could be the next frontier of self-definition.
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ISSUE 07