Is 40 the new 20?

Esquire has celebrated women at 42 in it's latest issue - and that includes the likes of Jennifer Garner, Sofia Vergara, Jada Pinkett Smith, Christina Applegate and Carmen Electra.In praise of the older woman, writer Tom Junod says in Esquire:
'Let's face it: There used to be something tragic about even the most beautiful forty-two-year-old woman.
'With half her life still ahead of her, she was deemed to be at the end of something - namely, everything society valued in her, other than her success as a mother.

'If she remained sexual, she was either predatory or desperate; if she remained beautiful, what gave her beauty force was the fact of its fading. And if she remained alone... well, then God help her.'

But with Cameron Diaz gracing its glossy cover in all her toned glory, the men's magazine believe that what's made these women figures of fantasy is their confidence.

'A few generations ago, a woman turning forty-two was expected to voluntarily accept the shackles of biology and convention; now it seems there is no one in our society quite so determined to be free,' writes Junod.

And this seems to be backed up by recent research, which revealed that today's over 40's generally feel happier, as well as wiser and more confident than they did in their 20's.

The study found that 56 per cent of women over 40 believe they look younger than their actual age.

The research, carried out by nice 'n' easy, also found that 64 per cent of women over 40 say if they could give one piece of advice to their 20-year-old selves, they would tell them to have confidence in themselves.