For one decade of the early 2000s, Stacy London captivated audiences on TLC advising women on what not to wear, amassing a dedicated following. Now at 54, Stacy has an entirely fresh point of view for women – and this time, it’s about what not to dread: menopause. In an exclusive interview with Yahoo Life, Stacy seeks to educate anyone willing to listen, sharing that she was completely clueless about menopause when she entered perimenopause almost a decade ago.
As shared by Stacy in her interview, her perception of what menopause was shaped by a sitcom episode, where Edith Bunker from “All in the Family” experienced intense emotions. It wasn’t until later that she realized this character was the same age she was entering perimenopause.
These realizations came at a time when Stacy was grappling with multiple challenges, including insomnia, mood swings, heart palpitations, hot flashes, anxiety, and depression, all amidst recovery from spinal surgery and grief from the passing of her father. She had struggled for years without understanding the root cause of these symptoms, which she shares filled her with anger.
Stacy advocates for a transformation in healthcare, drawing parallels to the changes that are needed around race, gender, sexuality, and economic disparity. Focusing on menopause, Stacy has shifted her career dramatically, moving from media work to becoming a menopause expert.
Taking such a strong stance has also meant reevaluating her relationship with the wellness products industry. After acquiring and closing a wellness products company, Stacy realized that menopause is more than a marketable venture and advocated for more in-depth clinical studies to address the health problems faced by women.
Embracing this new path, Stacy utilizes her platform to promote menopause education, advises other menopause companies, and is actively involved in advocating for both traditional and holistic interventions. Through her experiences, expert interviews, and wellness product endorsements, Stacy seeks to raise awareness about the profound long-term health effects of menopause. She desires to dismantle the historical silence around menopause among friends, families, and the medical industry.
Stacy also emphasizes the negative effects of a patriarchal lens that suggests women become invisible or irrelevant because they can no longer reproduce, a belief that Stacy opposes strongly. Menopause, to her, refracts into two fundamental aspects: the need for women’s healthcare to evolve and the societal perception of women beyond reproduction.
Stacy’s personal experiences have also made her more outspoken than before. Being in a meaningful partnership with Cat Yezbak, a woman, Stacy shares how she has found freedom and feels no need for external validation from men. This has fueled her passion for advocating for the rights of queer individuals.
While she continues to provide style advice, Stacy encourages women to embrace a style that brings them joy as they age. As her journey continues, Stacy stands firm in her belief to empower women to make choices that make them feel powerful.
