Anna Bechtel
Grab your Delorian and step back into the electric and vibrant era of the ’80s, a time defined by big hair, bold fashion, and groundbreaking pop culture. In this iconic decade, female celebrities weren’t just screen sirens and chart-toppers; they became emblems of health and beauty, inspiring millions. From Molly Ringwald’s quintessential girl-next-door charm in “The Breakfast Club” to Gloria Estefan’s pulsating Miami Sound Machine rhythms, these women dominated the decade. This feature spotlights 15 extraordinary ’80s female celebrities, revealing their secrets to maintaining remarkable bodies and radiant health. It’s a nostalgic journey through fitness tips, dietary habits, and wellness philosophies that echo the unique spirit of the ’80s.
Molly Ringwald starred in some of the ’80s most popular movies, like The Breakfast Club. She shared some of her favorite skincare tips with The Irish Independent. “Now I’m on the hunt for the perfect sunscreen. It’s like the holy grail: finding one that works but doesn’t clog your skin. Right now, I really like this tinted one by Eve Lom. It doesn’t feel masky. I even wear it out at night.”
Singer Gloria Estefan is a believer in balance when it comes to diet. She tells Parade, “I’m all about balance. In the 44 years that Emilio and I have been married, we’ve never opened a bottle of wine, just him and I, alone at home at dinner. I love wine, but it’s a social thing for us. So, if we go out and have a nice dinner, we absolutely will indulge. But if I can avoid the calories at home, I do. If I’m out with my family, we’re on vacation and I want to have dessert or eat some pasta, I will. I’m not so hard on myself because life is meant to be lived and enjoyed. I want to avoid any extreme that is going to make me have to cut anything out permanently from my life. So that’s the way I’ve lived.”
Actress Michelle Pfeiffer shared her approach to aging in an interview with People. She says that she doesn’t stress out about it. “I certainly see that I’ve changed,” she said. “I just try not to dwell on it. Aging happens to every single one of us. Once you accept that it unburdens you…All I really care about is that I’m able to age gracefully and that I don’t ever look like a wax figure of myself.”
In the ’80s, Heather Locklear starred in Dynasty. She shared some of her fitness secrets in an interview with Parade. “I do resistance training three times a week. That really helps with defying gravity and keeping things in place. I have light weights to do reps with both my arms and legs. I do cardio a couple times a week on the treadmill, with the music blasting. It’s what gets me through.”
Supermodel Cindy Crawford shared her diet secrets with Allure. She says that she believes in having a small indulgence each day. “At the end of lunch, I always have a small piece of dark chocolate — it tells my body that I’m done with my meal. In my experience, if you’re craving something and deny yourself, you wind up eating five other things, and then you eat the thing you’re craving anyway.”
Brooke Shields is an actress and model, best known for modeling for Calvin Klein in 1980. She shared her skincare secrets in an interview with Glamour. “We don’t really think of our skin as an organ, but it is the largest organ of the body,” she says. “So as I got older, I started enjoying the ritual or the idea that it’s not a chore to take care of your skin…it’s a privilege. It doesn’t have to be 20 minutes. It can be seven minutes.”
Cyndi Lauper is responsible for some of the ’80s most memorable pop songs. She released “Time After Time” and “True Colors” in the decade. Lauper has psoriasis, and has had to change her diet for that reason. She opened up about this to Parade. “I used to eat what I wanted, but as my psoriasis got worse, I knew I couldn’t have spicy or fatty foods, alcohol or gluten that might cause flare-ups. I am trying to quit sugar, too. When I eat salad or something raw, I just feel better.“
Elle MacPherson is one of the most successful models of all time. Her skin is amazing, and she makes sure to take care of it. She shared some of her tips with GetTheGloss, and says that hydration is one of her biggest secrets. “I drink three litres of water every day and start each morning with warm water, lemon and ginger, and two capsules of The Skin Elixir with water. I leave the jar of skin caps next to my toothbrush to remind me to take them. I take two teaspoons of The Super Elixir TM ️ greens in water in the morning too. Following this, I’ll spray Ion Skin Support mist each morning to reduce redness and skin damage and then spend 15 minutes in the sun to top up my vitamin D levels.“
Christie Brinkley is one of the ’80s most popular supermodels. She appeared in Billy Joel’s video for “Uptown Girl.” She revealed to New York Magazine that she has started avoiding diets. “I tried some pretty weird diets in the beginning,” Brinkley admits. “Everything from juice fasting to eating one kind of food at a time, to eating a grapefruit first before everything. The only thing that really lasts is a well-balanced diet.”
Paula Abdul rose to prominence in the ’80s, with hits like “Cold Hearted” and “Opposites Attract.” She shared her secrets for getting through long shows and rehearsals with People. “I do a lot of stretching,” she says. “When I’m with my trainer I’m doing Pilates, I’m doing a lot of back and core work. Even though I’m dancing all day I often do straight cardio just so that I’m conditioning my body. And after each performance I usually get in an ice-cold tub. It’s not fun! It shocks your body, but it helps with inflammation.”
Vanessa Williams tells First For Women that she has a strong support system around her that she turns to. “As women, we are a community,” she says. “So don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help, and to look for a mentor. I’ve learned that there are many people who are willing to be teachers to help you along if you ask. On this Earth, we have setbacks, struggles and obstacles, but I think I’m here to learn how to keep moving ahead. You have to be able to say, ‘What is this experience teaching me?’ so you can move through it and move on in your life. Avoiding something or denying it won’t get you anywhere— but if you learn from it, you can find so much freedom on the other side.”
Linda Hamilton starred in the hit film Terminator. She also returned to the franchise, and talked about her process to InStyle. “Mackie Shilstone was my fantastic trainer. He’s a legend and crosses over into every sport. And he understands the body in motion. Peyton Manning has even trained with Shilstone to prepare for the Super Bowl. I got to work with him because Serena Williams was pregnant. It was a wonderful accident of timing. Yes, we lifted and pumped weight and cross-trained; there were Pilates, supplements, and a diet. I didn’t eat carbohydrates for a year and a half. But everything Shilstone did with me was in motion.“
Demi Moore rose to prominence in the ’80s. She appeared in films like St. Elmo’s Fire and About Last Night… and was a member of the Brat Pack. For Moore, wellness is a priority. “For me, well-being is a choice of living consciously with intention, being mindful and making choices that are memorable and meaningful,” she tells CNN. “It isn’t something I fit into my lifestyle; it’s just how I live my life.”
Sharon Stone starred in ’80s films like Cold Steel and Above The Law. She became one of the decade’s sex symbols. Stone revealed in an interview with Vogue that she weight trains to stay in shape. “I do all my ‘arm jazz’ with these lead weights. Pushing upwards for 15 minutes with a lead weight in your hand makes a lot of difference. I have little arm strap-on weight bracelets too, and I put them on while I’m on my computer or at my desk and just leave them on all day because you’d be amazed how much working out you can do on your computer with a couple of pounds on your arms.”
Daryl Hannah is an actress, best known for her role in the ’80s film Splash. She is a vegetarian, and has started a blog about vegan junk food. “I grew up on junk food, and for me and millions of other Americans, it’s comfort food,” she tells Vegetarian Times. “I wanted to say those cravings can be satisfied with real food, food that grows in the ground or from trees. Treats can be good for you when made with whole, organic fruits and vegetables!”
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