THIS IS WHAT 52 LOOKS LIKE

KAREN BLOWES lives inBasingstoke. she hasthreec hildren,Oliver, 22, Jamie, 18, andelliot, 15,and works for The Guide Dogsforthe Blind association.

HYDRATING HAIR OIL MY HAIR has always been dry, but it’s got frizzier recently due to thyroid problems. I initially tried using Argan Oil Hair Treatment (£12.99, boots.com) to soften it. However, my hairdresser advised against using any yellowtinted products on bleached blonde hair, as it can affect the colour. Now I’ve swapped it for a clear Boots Ingredients Coconut Oil (£2.54, boots.

com), which is just as hydrating. TRY A BOOTCAMP I DO far more exercise than I used to, as it’s easier to gain weight with an underactive thyroid. At 48, I joined a local boot camp (fitnessflex.co.uk). It involves a nutrition plan, plus weights and circuit training for 45 minutes twice a week. Despite being one of the oldest, my fitness increased just as much as the others’. You can’t slack off if you’re being shouted at! MONTHLY GIGS ONCE a month, I go to gigs with my boyfriend, and even more frequently during summer. We see lots of Eighties tribute bands, which takes us back to our youth. I really do believe that age is about the way you perceive yourself. Plus, dancing is one of the best ways to destress and unwind. LONG LEG TRICK I’M A 5ft 7in pear shape, so I feel more elegant when I add height. One of the easiest ways to lengthen your legs is with long, heeled boots. I have more than 30 pairs at home. My favourites are a black Asos pair that go over the knee. I wear them with skinny jeans. You’ll never catch me shopping in Marks & Spencer. CLEAN EATING I’VE always loved cooking, ever since I was tall enough to reach the oven. Now, I try to make most meals from scratch using fresh ingredients, from bread and pasta to pizza. It keeps me healthy and I never have to go on a diet. Plus, I have much more energy than I would do after eating processed foods, which are packed with excess salt and sugar.