The biggest misconception about ageing? For Dr Zoe Williams, it’s that you have to grow up. We asked the television GP and former Gladiator how ageing has changed her perspective, from overcoming shyness to her go-to trick for instant confidence.

Age is a state of mind

“I’m never going to be a grown up! Yes, we all have a chronological number, and we can’t control that, but what we do have some control over is how we choose to perceive ourselves and the world around us.”

Tell yourself, “Yes, you can”

“As a child, I was very shy and lacked confidence. I’d often say, “No, I can’t.” My mum would always reply, “Yes, you can!” I still use that mantra today.”

Don’t catastrophise your ‘imperfections’

“As women and girls, we judge ourselves through a different lens than the people we care about.

“If your best friend has a spot on their face, you don’t see them as any less beautiful. But if we get a spot, we can sometimes look in the mirror and catastrophise (whereas the rest of the world doesn’t care!).”

Treat yourself with kindness

“I remember seeing an image of a particular celebrity and thinking, ‘Wow, she looks amazing!’ But then I thought, ‘Do I look that different from this person?’

“Sometimes, if I’m not feeling confident when trying on clothes, I project this person’s face onto my body in the mirror and imagine it’s them. All of sudden, I like the way I look.”

Appreciate the wisdom that age brings

“There’s so much wisdom I wish girls and women had younger. I hear my friends say that all the time; they wish they’d had the attitude towards themselves that they have now, in their 30s and 40s, in their teenage years.”

Show your skin the love it deserves

“As I’ve gotten older, the quality of my skincare has changed. I’m more in touch with my skin – it’s gotten me through all these years, it’s always been there for me, and it does so much. I believe it deserves the best love and care.”

Treat your mind and body with care

“We want to live long lives, but we actually want to live long, healthy lives. Being active makes a difference, as well as trying to eat as healthily as we can. It’s your mental health, too: stress, community, sense of purpose. Taking care of ourselves is so important.”

We asked five incredible women what getting older means to them, from becoming more confident to embracing new beginnings. Watch the #BecauseOfMyAge series here.