Donna Collins

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Twenty Five Years Can Make All The Difference.

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Donna Collins

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What an amazing weekend I had. On Saturday, Audley End House hosted the Greatest Eighties Concert Ever! And it didn’t disappoint.

What I found funny was the age of the spectators. I mean, they were OLD! Then I realised. So was I. No longer was I that young teenager with her back-combed hair, Madonna style clothes, and white stiletto shoes. Instead, it dawned on me… Heck, I’m middle-aged.

When did that happen? I haven’t turned grey… or not that my hair dye won’t cover-up. I don’t have many wrinkles that L’Oreal eye cream can’t cope with. My bum hasn’t sagged that much… has it?

So, I thought it would be fun to do a ‘Then and Now’ blog.

Right, I’ll be brave and start with me.

   
                                Me, back in the 80’s                        … and, me now

Notice the hair and the shoulder pads? The only good thing about the first picture is that the car is KITT from Knight Rider.

So, back to Saturday night.

Recognise this singer? This is Nik Kershaw way back in the eighties.

Here he is some twenty years later playing one of his most famous songs.

How about this man?

The gorgeous Rick Astley. Remember that wiggle dance. Oh boy, did I love this guy back then. Actually, I still love him now. Here’s why…

Here are some more…

Anthony Michael Hall, that guy from the Breakfast Club and Weird Science.

  

Teen heartthrob, Emilio Estevez, from St. Elmo’s Fire.

   

How about Star Wars hero, Mark Hamill.

   

We all remember the beautiful Kelly McGillis.

   

What about the people we love now?

Take the sexy Mark Harmon from NCIS fame.

   

And ever wondered if the hunky Paul Walker was really always that cute?

   

Ahh, wasn’t he just adorable!

So, which childhood crush or hero do you think has changed the most with age?… For the better, and (cough cough) for the worse. Shannon Doherty is doing okay, and so is Demi Moore for that matter. Who do you think hasn’t aged at all?

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21 responses to “Twenty Five Years Can Make All The Difference.”

  1. donnagalanti Avatar
    donnagalanti

    Love the big hair, Donna! You were too cute! Flash back for me to Forenza sweaters, Swatches, bangle bracelets, scarves in the hair, and frost lipstick. LOL. Emilio looks pretty much the same. But I tell ya – I ADORE Mark Harmon. I did 25 years ago and still do – he is still S-E-X-Y! Rob Lowe is still looking good as well.

    Reply
    1. Donna Newton Avatar
      Donna Newton

      Rob Lowe. Now he was yummy in St Elmo’s Fire. Oh, and About Last Night. I was a real ‘Brat Packer’. They were the coolest. Emilio Estevez was my favourite back then… until Michael J Fox came along in his shiny DeLorean.

      Reply
  2. David N. Walker Avatar
    David N. Walker

    I don’t know about Mark Harmon, but Donna Newton is still S – E – X – Y. You look just as good now (better?) as you did back then.

    Reply
    1. Donna Newton Avatar
      Donna Newton

      LOL! David, I totally love you! Ha ha ha ha, you’ve made my day. xxxx

      Reply
  3. Tameri Etherton Avatar
    Tameri Etherton

    Ah, the 80’s. That was a moment in time that I’m so glad I was at just the right age to be a part of! The 80’s totally rocked.

    Reply
    1. Donna Newton Avatar
      Donna Newton

      Tameri, I think the eighties will live on forever. I wish it was the eighties now… maybe minus the hair 🙂

      Reply
  4. mliddle Avatar
    mliddle

    I didn’t have the big hair, my hair was shorter; but I had my hair curled & “feathered” back! 🙂
    I remember big patterns were in style – shirts & pants because the stars would wear them to go out & we would try to copy them w/our limited budgets. I was a fan of Rick Springfield & he aged gracefully through early 2000s. I haven’t seen a recent picture. HUGE John Cusak fan. I saw all his early cult films & most of his other films. There was a film in which his love interest was named “Monique.” I would swoon everytime I heard him say her/my name!!! It was called “Better off Dead.” It was another one of those cult/wierd/funny movies in which his friend tries to snort snow. Cusak was adorable when he was in his teens and he’s still a good looking guy who has a wicked sense of humor.
    Great to recollect with everyone!
    Monique

    Reply
    1. Donna Newton Avatar
      Donna Newton

      Oh, John Cusack. Yes I loved him, too. Although, I watched the films the first time around 🙂

      Reply
      1. mliddle Avatar
        mliddle

        I watched the films the first time they came out as wellI!! I am of the John Cusack generation!

  5. Nigel Blackwell Avatar
    Nigel Blackwell

    The eighties … the eighties? Hummm … was I around in the eighties. Oh yes, just 😉

    Reply
    1. Donna Newton Avatar
      Donna Newton

      And the 70’s….and the 60’s…. and the 50’s….

      Reply
      1. Nigel Blackwell Avatar
        Nigel Blackwell

        Now you’re being mean. I missed the 50s. Just.

  6. Piper Bayard Avatar
    Piper Bayard

    Harrison Ford has aged, but he’s done it well. So has Sylvester Stallone, oddly enough.

    What’s amazing is the difference that third decade can make. I went to my 20 year high school reunion, and most people looked pretty much the same. At 30 years, though, we were all reading those name tags and surprised by what we found.

    Then as now, though, the cool car makes up for the hair. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Diana Beebe Avatar
    Diana Beebe

    Thank you for the time travel. I loved Nik Kershaw! I had big hair and big shoulder pads. I wouldn’t want to relive high school but I could listen to the music (and remember the music videos thanks to MTV) all day.

    Reply
    1. Donna Newton Avatar
      Donna Newton

      OMG! Relive high school. I’d only want to relive the good parts 🙂

      Reply
  8. Catie Rhodes Avatar
    Catie Rhodes

    Loved your before and after pics! Big hair was my favorite fashion statement of all time. It worked for me.

    My hair is very fine and soft. It won’t hold these “soft” hairstyles that are in vogue right now. It just looks stringy after about five minutes in the humidity. In the days of big hair, I had my over processed perm, my curling iron, and my can of aqua net…and I was ready to rock and roll. LOL

    Childhood crush who has changed the most with age–Mickey Rourke! Yikes. Talk about plastic surgery gone wrong. But I think he did a lot of damage to his beautiful face in the boxing ring, too. I still really love his acting. He’s edgy and kind of dangerous.

    Childhood crush who has NOT changed much–Rob Lowe! Wow. Still more beautiful than I’ll ever be.

    Fun post. 😀

    Reply
  9. Julie Glover Avatar
    Julie Glover

    Robert Downey Jr. looks better than ever to me. I totally remember him in the 80’s (remember the overuse of the word “totally”?). I also think Anthony Michael Hall aged well; I remember seeing him in The Dead Zone and doing a double-take. Thanks for the nostalgia. I LOVE that pic of you!

    Reply
  10. Tiffany A White Avatar
    Tiffany A White

    I am such a child of the ’80s… a HUGE fan of the Brat Pack. Who hasn’t changed much? I’m with Catie – Rob Lowe. He’s not aging at all!!

    My big ’80s crush? Mikey from the Goonies. Sean Astin has aged, but he’ll always be Mikey to me. My other ’80s crush? Wil Wheaton. I can watch Stand by Me over and over again. And, I have to mention Joey from New Kids on the Block. He’s definitely aging well…

    Of course now that they’re aging a bit, Anthony Michael Hall does it for me. He does. I won’t lie. I loved his characters in the Brat Pack movies, but I think I may love him as an adult actor even more. Did you watch Dead Zone?

    SUCH a fun post, Donna. Thank you for the trip down memory lane!!

    Reply
  11. sheridegrom - From the literary and legislative trenches. Avatar
    sheridegrom – From the literary and legislative trenches.

    What a walk down memory lane. I was in my 30’s during the 80’s but that didn’t stop me from going through my adolesence then – – – I’d missed them the first time around. And for sexy–give me a man that’s a talented ballroom dancer + intelligent.

    Reply
  12. Natalie Hartford Avatar
    Natalie Hartford

    Love the before and after pics. Fantastic Donna and you look FAB girl!!
    I am always amazed at how Tom Cruise has and hasn’t aged a bit.

    Reply
  13. Jenny Hansen Avatar
    Jenny Hansen

    FAB post!! And I see Piper’s arm in that photo. 🙂 (You look quite fetching by the way…)

    Reply

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