IF you’ve ever tuned into Channel 5 series 10 Years Younger in 10 Days, you’ll know just how emotional the big reveals can be. 

That was certainly the case for prison officer Adeline, who starred in the show in March 2021 after realising that her prison uniform acted like “armour” and that she’d lost a part of herself along the way.

Strangers put the then 45-year-old at 49, and the team set to work on rolling back the years with a makeover fit for a Hollywood star. 

After having a fashion overhaul and a jaw-dropping hair and make-up transformation, the mum-of-one was overwhelmed to look at her reflection, and she broke down in tears staring at the woman she thought she’d lost over the years. 

But what happened when the cameras stopped rolling, and does she still live by the expert advice today? 

Fabulous spoke exclusively to Londoner Adeline, now 47, as she opened up about her life-changing experience on the show, behind-the-scenes secrets – and why she’s still reaping the benefits eighteen months on…  

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“In my job as a prison officer, we often say ‘expect the unexpected’ – which is pretty apt for my 10 Years Younger journey. 

“In December 2020, I was sitting at home and had the programme on in the background. I’d actually never watched it before and was quite overwhelmed with some of the reveals, so I rewound it to watch from the beginning.

“I looked at the contributors and thought, ‘I could do with a little makeover myself.’ It really got to me and I decided to apply for it spontaneously – I didn’t even tell my partner until later.’” 

“I was so taken aback that the producers got back to me so quickly that I had to give it a go. I thought, ‘this doesn’t happen to people like me.’

I thought, ‘this doesn’t happen to people like me'

“We then started filming in January 2021 and I had my hair, make-up and fashion meetings with the experts and I quickly started to realise things about myself. 

“I had been wearing a prison uniform for God knows how long and it served as a protective shield, which can become your identity if you allow it. So it surprised me that I could look good in bright colours. 

“I also used to dye my hair black and I didn’t know that it made me look so pale. It’s only when someone else points it all out that you realise, ‘I’m doing this to myself without even knowing.’

“Then, ahead of the big reveal, you go to your final fitting where you’re actually blind folded for the duration. 

“They tell you to stand stationary with your arms open and they are dressing you while you have the blindfold on, and you’re told when to put your arms up etc. 

“So you genuinely have no idea what you’ve got on, or how you’ll look, before you stand in front of the mirror. And I’ll be honest – I didn’t expect to get so emotional about it. 

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“I had mentioned to one of the team that I’d seen clips from the film Age of Adeline, just like my name, and said I liked the 30s, art-deco style. I had no idea they were going to do my hair in a similar style so it was just perfect. 

“The whole process really is filmed over ten days and towards the end – even before the reveal – I definitely felt different. 

“I was reintroducing myself to the younger version of myself. It’s almost like that person inside of you had been buried but I could then reconnect to some of the parts of me I thought I’d let go of.” 

“When I looked in the mirror during the reveal, I saw something that had been there the whole time – but I just hadn’t been able to reach that person.”

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“The whole process was genuinely an experience and if I could repeat it again, I would. 

“It’s been eighteen months since my episode aired, and I still have prisoners coming up to me now saying, ‘I saw your show, miss.’

“They’ve been quite kind in their compliments and were shocked because they only see me in a black and white uniform – but now they can see a person who has gone through a journey. 

“I’ve maintained my hair and go to get it coloured every twelve weeks. And I have cherished the dress from my reveal. I even wore it again at a conference where we had cocktails one night. 

“And today, I’m even wearing a bright, yellow jumper because I think to myself, ‘why not?’ 

When I looked in the mirror during the reveal, I saw something that had been there the whole time – but I just hadn’t been able to reach

“I feel so different and a lot more free – the after experience has definitely made me realise that I’ve got a newfound value for myself.”

“My family sees a change in my confidence, too, and how my appearance makes me more confident in the person who I am.

“Now when people find out I’ve been in my job for 25 years, they’re shocked and surprised. That makes me a smiling Cheshire cat inside because I think to myself, ‘oh, you didn’t think I was that old, did you?’ 

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“That really does give me a boost in confidence and make me feel good about myself and I’ll continue with that.

“At my age, I’ve got less years ahead of me than I have behind, but why not make the most of going into my golden years?”

Series 1-3 of 10 Years Younger in 10 Days is available on My5 and a new episode (revisit) of 10 Years Younger airs on Channel 5 on Sunday 9 October at 9pm

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