Resilient single women over 40 who've chosen a lifestyle that doesn't fit the cookie-cutter norm are in the spotlight with the film Sex and the City 2 and hit TV series Cougar Town coming to India.u00a0Kasmin Fernandesu00a0meets the endangered cougars, constantly under attack because of their chutzpah

Cougar is grace, elegance, power, and majestic beauty all rolled into one," purrs 39 year-old Sapna Bhavnani, hairstylist to some of India's biggest Bollywood stars and cricketers.

u00a0Sapna Bhavnani 39 and single. Hairstylist to the stars

"Cougar sounds dead sexy and powerful. I love it," says Mumbai-based chick-lit author Rupa Gulab.



When cheeky Canadian speaker Valerie Gibson coined the term "Cougar" in the late 90s, she was referring to women in their 40s, on the prowl for great sex with men in their 20s. No longer is the term limited to that age group, or to that purpose. Thanks to the glamorous 40-something protagonists of hit TV shows Sex and the City and Cougar Town, the term no longer gives the impression of coming at you with a headshot smirk.

Starring Courteney Cox as the sultry Jules Cobb, Cougar Town, which premiered in India last week on Zee Cafe, asks the question: Can a woman of a certain age be a successful career woman and still be on the prowl?

The available men her own age, like her silver fox of a neighbour Grayson Ellis, seem interested in dating barely-legal hotties. Egged on by irreverent best friend Elle and her determined assistant Laurie, Jules reluctantly dips her toe back into the dating pool in a small town of Florida. To her surprise, she hits it off with a nice young guy.

Countless plusses
The show that premiered in the US in 2009 has sparked a 102 per cent increase in membership for dating site www.toyboy.com, which recently surveyed 1,000 women. The survey found that having a toyboy can make a woman feel an average of four years younger. Women with younger partners had a tendency to enjoy more outdoor activities and mix with people who have youthful hobbies.

More than half the respondents said their partner's energy had rubbed off on them and 27 per cent said they visit pubs and nightclubs more often with a younger man. The greater the age gap, the happier the woman was likely to be. Of those who were previously in a relationship with an older man, one in six admitted to being on the lookout for someone younger.

How it all started
The use of the term "cougar" began in 2001 with the publication of a book titled Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men written by Valerie Gibson, Canadian TV presenter and relationships expert. At 62, Gibson is a self-acknowledged pioneer cougar who claims "a woman should not have to give up her sexuality, vibrancy or ability to have fun just because she has reached a certain age."

Famous cougars
Many high-profile celebs don't publicly admit to being cougars, but their relationships say it all. International pop star Madonna, 51, is currently seeing 22 year-old Brazilian model Jesus Luz. Halle Berry, 43, has a baby girl with Gabriel Aubry, 33. Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall is going out with 28 year-old Canadian chef Alan Wyse.

Then there's Hollywood actor Barbara Hershey, 61, who is dating Lost star Naveen Andrews, 40. American Idol judge Paula Abdul's boyfriend JT Torregiani is 12 years her junior.

Singer Madonna, 51, is dating 22 year-old Brazilian model Jesus Luz. Pic/AFP photo

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