Savannah Guthrie is not afraid of aging—though she knows that sometimes, there’s nothing quite like an Instagram filter for a much-needed ego boost.
The Today host, 46, opened up about aging and its effects in a new interview, explaining that while she doesn’t love seeing her wrinkles in a photo, she accepts them and celebrates them as a natural consequence of smiling and laughing.
‘I’m like anyone—when I see a picture where my wrinkles are apparent, I don’t love looking at that, and I’ll try to put the good Instagram filter on there to make it look better,’ Savannah said.
Candid: Savannah Guthrie (pictured with her husband Mike Feldman, 49, and their children Vale, three, and Charles, one) has opened up about aging in the spotlight
Happy: The Today host, 46, admitted that she doesn’t love seeing her wrinkles in a photo, but said she accepts them and celebrates them as a natural consequence of smiling and laughing
Important: Savannah, who has a three-year-old daughter, Vale, and a one-year-old son, Charles, is also careful to discuss body image in a positive light around her little ones
‘But I’m not going to not put the picture up. I’m 46 years old and I don’t mind looking 46 years old.’
The anchor also revealed that people have told her that they can see her wrinkles – however Savannah has no problem acknowledging the natural lines on her face.
‘Well, that’s true. I do have some wrinkles. I call them smile lines. They’re from smiles and laughing, and those are the best kind of wrinkles,’ she added.
Savannah, who tried Botox during an on-air segment in 2015, said she’s ‘definitely not above’ getting the treatment again, and encouraged others to do ‘whatever it takes’ to make then feel great.
Back when she got the injections done on air, Savannah explained she had previously tried Botox seven years prior and hadn’t liked the results at all, because she felt that it made her eyebrows ‘stick up’.
‘I have wrinkles, but I don’t really care,’ she added at the time. ‘I feel like my wrinkles look better than Botox.’
Savannah also gave an account of her 2009 injections in a previous segment on the show, telling her co-anchors: ‘[I had it] in my forehead, that’s where everyone did it. And you know what? I remember looking back and thinking, “I don’t think that looks that good.”‘
Natural: Savannah has posted make-up-free photos of herself in the past, including in December 2016, when Charles was born
Family: She can be seen in the snaps, cradling her newborn and smiling at the camera
Caution: While Vale might be only three years old, Savannah feels that what she says and does can play an important part in shaping her daughter’s beliefs about body image
When it comes to social media, Savannah is careful not to expose herself to too much harsh criticism, and sometimes abstains from reading comments on her accounts.
Savannah has posted make-up-free photos of herself in the past, including in December 2016, when Charles was born.
She can be seen in the snaps, cradling her newborn on her hospital bed, smiling at the camera. While Savannah expected others to focus on her son, some picked up on her natural look.
‘I was always surprised that people were surprised that I would post a picture without any make-up on,’ she said.
‘I thought everyone would be looking at the baby, so who cares what I look like? It’s natural.
‘But I don’t judge anyone who wants to pose and get made up and put a little lipstick on. Childbirth is hard, no matter how you do it.’
While she doesn’t let worries about her own appearance keep her from sharing her favorite photos on social media, Savannah sometimes skips the comments section, because, by her own admission, harsh criticism can get to her.
Whatever works: As for Botox, Savannah, who tried it during an on-air segment in 2015 (pictured), said she’s ‘definitely not above’ getting the treatment
Experience: Back when she got the injections done on air, Savannah explained she had previously tried Botox seven years prior and hadn’t liked the results at all
Remarks: When it comes to dealing with online comments, Savannah (pictured in 2004) admitted that she doesn’t have a ‘thick skin’
Owning it: ‘I do have some wrinkles. I call them smile lines. They’re from smiles and laughing, and those are the best kind of wrinkles,’ Savannah said
‘Any time someone writes and comments, I’m just honored and flattered they’re paying attention to me,’ she said.
‘The good ones make you feel good for a second, but you don’t dwell on them. But the ones that are mean… I try to be careful, how much I expose myself to that. I don’t have a thick skin.
‘There certainly is a lot of criticism out there. Fair criticism, I’m open to. But criticism about your looks or hair? If you absorb it too much, it can get to you.’
The mother, who has a three-year-old daughter, Vale, and a one-year-old son, Charles, is also careful to discuss body image in a positive light around her little ones.
Vale might be only three years old, but Savannah feels that what she says and does can play an important part in shaping her daughter’s beliefs, so she discusses the topic with caution.
‘Like most women, I find it pretty easy to make a remark that’s critical of myself. I sometimes have to catch myself. I don’t want her to mimic it or question herself or her own looks,’ Savannah said.
‘I’ve been trying to play tennis more and go exercise. She sees me in my sneakers, and says, “Mommy, why do you exercise?”
‘And of course, I could say, “Oh, I have to lose 10 pounds.” But I say, “Because I want to be healthy and strong.” And now she says it back to me. She says, “Oh, you’re exercising so you can be healthy and strong.”‘