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Anke Engelke on the cover of »Vogue«: »It is unfortunate that there is such pressure, such a demand for perfection.«
Photo: Camilla Armbrust / dpa
Anke Engelke has been in show business since she was a child: as a girl she joined a choir and stood on stage with Heino and Udo Jürgens.
She moderated the Eurovision Song Contest and is still involved in numerous series and television shows.
In an interview with German Vogue, the comedian, now 56, spoke about body images and aging in the industry.
Engelke can be seen on the current cover of the magazine.
Criticism of media images of beauty
Engelke said she would like to see more women her age on screen.
However, she herself was "very lucky" and was offered roles "where I don't have to look desperately 30 years old".
Most recently, Engelke was involved in the television series »Deutschland 89«.
In the interview, Engelke was also critical of pictures of beauty in the media and advertising: "I find it regrettable that there is such pressure, such a demand for perfection."
Engelke reports that once it was even retouched against her will.
About 15 years ago she did a shoot for a magazine cover and helped select the photos herself.
Only at the kiosk did she see that her wrinkles had been removed from the pictures.
That was very uncomfortable for her, “because I don't want people to think that's my wish”.
It also saddened her that the magazine seemed to think people shouldn't age.
"People are being sold a lie and told: When you get older, you'll only be second class," says Engelke.
Signs of age as evidence of what has been experienced
She herself is satisfied with herself and her body – but only since she was around 25.
But now she thinks it's nice that you can see what she's already experienced in her body.
She had three children, cried so much, was scared and slept badly.
"I would like to have a testimony of this," Engelke said in the interview.
As you get older, you also realize what is really important in life - namely not the looks, but what kind of person you are, whether you have found your place and think of others first.
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