I’m nearly 30 but everyone thinks I’m 13 – strangers ask about my GCSEs, it used to trigger me but now I feel blessed
A 29-YEAR-OLD woman’s youthful appearance has led many strangers to assume she’s actually a teenager.
Kayy Mackenzie said her “baby face” means she is often asked about her GCSEs when meeting new people.
Despite her upcoming 30th birthday, Kayy’s smooth complexion and smaller stature mean she looks significantly younger.
“When I meet new people they always ask what GCSEs I’m taking or which school I go to,” said Kayy, who hails from Surrey.
The musical theatre performer explained that she has even been questioned after showing her ID.
“I’ve been served in the pub before and told I look 13 when asked for ID,” she said.
“Me and my husband often order beers from Deliveroo and when I show my ID on delivery they always question the year I was born and look shocked when I say 1994.”
Kayy explained that it’s “really common” for people to mistake her age.
She revealed that more than often than not, people guess “13 or around that age.”
Kayy said it took her a long time to embrace the comments about her youthful looks.
“For years I’ve had comments from people thinking I’m much younger than I am, so I tend to just ignore it now,” she explained.
Kayy said that she found the comments “super offensive” when she was in her twenties.
“I used to get so offended by it but now I’m nearly in my thirties I see it as more of a blessing,” she explained.
Kayy clarified that she was originally taken aback by the comments after spending so long looking forward to becoming an adult.
“When I was a teenager and in my twenties it was a real trigger for me – having just made it to adulthood and being proud of getting older,” she said.
She added that she wanted to be treated as someone who is mature and wasn’t prepared for more years of school questions.
“You expect people to respect you as a young adult, so when people would ask me about GCSEs and school I would be quite stand-offish,” Kayy said.
Tips to age well
There are a number of habits you can take up to care for your health and wellbeing as you age.
Age UK shared the following tips:
- Do things that you enjoy everyday – whether that’s cooking, seeing friends or enjoying a good book
- Stay hydrated – drink six to eight cups of water a day
- Eat plenty of fruit and veggies to lower your risk of heart disease and certain cancers, have beans, pulses, fish, eggs and meat to repair your body after injury, starchy carbs for energy dairy to help keep bones strong
- Manage long-term health conditions to prevent them progressing or having a greater impact on your health
- Quit smoking and reduce alcohol intake to no more than 14 units a week
- Make mental health a priority and get treatment for it, as it can also impact physical health
- Make sure you’re getting quality sleep
- Keep socialising – and call a friend or loved one if you can’t make it out the house
- Be physically active to lower the risk of depression and dementia, heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s and some cancers
And once people find out her actual age, their follow up question is always the same: What’s your secret?
But according to Kayy, there is no special skincare routine or lifestyle habit to credit.
She also said that she has never had cosmetic surgery to appear younger.
Kayy credits nothing more than good genes for her fountain of youth appearance.
“I just live a normal life and have no special regime. I think I just have one of those faces,” she said.
“I certainly don’t feel my age in my mind. I feel much younger.”
