What I see in the mirror

Trisha Goddard

What I see in the mirror depends on what I've done the night before. If I'm going to work, I think, "Are my eyebrows plucked? Have I waxed where I need to?" Apart from that, I don't get obsessed. I read beauty articles and they're like life on another planet - who has time to bother with that minutiae?

People always assume I'm younger than I am. I'm 48, nine months younger than Madonna. She's my litmus test. I think she does look older because she's lost too much body fat. I revel in telling people I'm 50 next year. I guess if I thought I looked older, I wouldn't like it.

The key to looking good is attitude; if there's verve and excitement there, it will show on your face. If there's bitterness or anger, that will make its mark, too. I do work out a lot - three heavy one-hour sessions a week - and I pump more weight than at least half the guys in the gym. I do cross-country running, too. In TV, our bodies are our earning power, so I'm quite aware I have to keep fit. Having a strong body is where I get my buzz. I get off on physical strength, and that strength shows on your face.

When I first started in TV, there were no black role models around. I had a blank canvas and created my own look. If the make-up artist tries to narrow my nose, I bark at them. If they try purple lips and thin eyebrows, I bark just as loudly.

I don't see myself as pretty or attractive, but I know I'm not ugly. If someone says, "You're pretty", I think, "What are you after?" If it's my husband, I know what he's after.

· The Trisha Goddard Show is on Channel 5 daily at 10.30am.

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