Age is Just a Number and Style has No Age
My Style Rocks is a popular Greek reality TV show where contestants compete to showcase their unique sense of style. Each participant presents carefully curated outfits based on a given theme, and they are judged by a panel of fashion experts. The show has gained a strong following in Greece for its focus on creativity, personal expression, and, of course, drama. While it's similar to fashion competition shows like Project Runway, My Style Rocks places a particular emphasis on the contestants' personalities and the stories behind their outfits, making it a unique experience for fashion lovers.
Until today, if you had asked me whether I’ve ever watched My Style Rocks, my answer would probably have been a dry “no.” It’s not that I have anything against shows of that nature, but they’ve never really drawn me in. First, I barely have time for TV unless it’s something work-related. Second, as a professional in the TV industry for years, I know how much of what you see is shaped by the need for drama, ratings, and carefully manipulated storylines. So, if it’s not work-related, I get bored. The whole setup becomes a bit predictable.
But then something interesting happened. Today, I found myself sitting down and binge-watching three episodes back-to-back. Why the sudden interest? Curiosity. One of the contestants is my old high school classmate, Maria Papagrigoriou. Maria and I were never particularly close, but I’ve heard about her over the years through our mutual friend, Vasso, who now lives in Belgium. I’m sure Maria has heard about me the same way—through Vasso’s updates. So, when Vasso mentioned that Maria had joined the competition, I couldn’t help but wonder: why would a woman who has built such a successful career in fashion want to compete against a group of much younger, less-experienced women?
Personally, I don’t think I’d do it. Perhaps because I know firsthand that not everything is as it seems on TV. I don’t think I would gain much from an experience like that. But, that’s just me, and my thoughts are shaped by my personal experiences. Maria clearly sees things differently, and honestly, I admire her for it. There’s nothing more inspiring than someone who dares. To dare, to try, and to put yourself out there, unafraid of judgment.
In this age of social media, we are all judged constantly. We post for likes, we get hooked on validation, and we flirt with our carefully curated images on Instagram. The age of physical bullies may be over (as Maria expressed it at some point), but they still exist in more covert, insidious forms. Maybe it’s a colleague sabotaging your career opportunities behind your back or discrediting you publicly because you hold a different opinion. They thrive on showcasing their power and pointing out others’ perceived weaknesses to feel superior.
But here’s the thing: these bullies make a fatal error. They mistake kindness for weakness. And in their desperate attempt to hold on to control, they often dig themselves into a hole they can’t climb out of. The dirt they throw at others eventually lands on them. In trying to push others down, they only bury themselves deeper in their own negativity.
Read here: George Orwell on American Fashion. Has anything really changed?
This brings me back to Maria. During one of the episodes, a younger competitor made a dismissive remark about Maria, casually suggesting the need to “respect older women.” Though she quickly backpedaled, claiming her mother—ironically younger than Maria—had taught her the importance of respecting elders, the damage was already done. The comment, more intended than not, reduced Maria to nothing more than her age, adding insult to injury and reinforcing the very ageist attitude we’re all striving to overcome.
I don’t think the comment fazed Maria at all on a personal level. It wouldn’t have bothered me either. But in a society where ageism still thrives, this kind of remark matters. Especially when women, in modern Western societies, are still chasing unrealistic beauty standards—desperately trying to look 30 when they’re 60, as if aging is some kind of failure. Maria chose to not let this comment go unnoticed, and she gave her competitor the answer she deserved.
Ageism is particularly dominant in Hollywood, where actresses are routinely sidelined as they age, often deemed “too old” to play love interests for much older male actors. But this double standard reinforces the industry’s preference for youth in women, diminishing opportunities for older actresses and perpetuating the notion that women lose value as they age, while men continue to secure leading roles well into their later years. And of course this notion extends far beyond Hollywood, in our everyday lives. If Hollywood stars are deemed “too old” in their forties or fifties, what chance do we stand as common people?
The truth is, Maria is standing up against ageism, whether consciously or not. This goes beyond the personal challenge she set for herself by entering the competition. She’s fighting every outdated stereotype that says you need to be young to matter, or that fashion is only for the fresh and the youthful. Let’s be clear: style has no age, no size, no height. Style is deeply personal and it belongs to everyone.
Check here our 5 Style Tips for Breaking Free from Fashion Norms
Will Maria make it to the final? I certainly hope so. Not just because it would be great to see her win, but because her journey is a statement against ageism itself. She’s showing that age is a construct—it’s only as meaningful as the attributes we assign to it. You can be mature and wise, yet playful and curious at the same time. Your age can be as multifaceted as you choose to make it.
Maria, I hope you keep living your dream, not just under the studio lights where everything feels staged and artificial, but in your daily life. Because whether you win or not, you’ve already won in a more significant way. You’re a victor in the battle we older women face every day—to be seen, to be valued for who we are, and to feel like we still matter in a world that so often tries to make us invisible.
Good luck, Maria!
And to the younger women with a bit of attitude, let me remind you of an old saying: “Where you stand, I once stood. Where I am, you will one day be.” Aging is a journey we’re all on, and it’s high time we stop pretending that youth is the only thing that counts.
Ah, if only more women understood how vital female friendships are, how much stronger we could be if we truly supported one another! Imagine what we could achieve, not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us, if we stood united. There’s so much we can teach each other, so much to learn from one another. At the end of the day, life is all about experiences—embrace them all.