Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Autumn Winter 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    1. Health and Fitness

    Davina McCall defends herself after being criticised for trademarking the word 'menopausing'

    She says that she is 'furious' and 'so angry' as she is 'just trying to help.'

    Ally Head's avatar
    By Ally Head
    Published 23 August 2021 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    (Image credit: Comic Relief via Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    She says that she is 'furious' and 'so angry' as she is 'just trying to help.'

    Presenter Davina McCall – AKA the OG reason for our obsession with celebrity workouts – has taken to social media to defend herself after The Daily Mail ran an article on Sunday that claimed she's trademarked the word 'menopausing' purely to make profit.

    The article, which stated that she's turning the common female health condition into a 'money-spinning brand' also indicated that the term isn't new, and that she will be using the word on products including 'lotions, scented candles, nutritional supplements, books and kitchenware.'

    Defending herself, McCall posted videos on both Instagram and Twitter to confirm that she is, by no means, launching a range of menopause products, rather one expert-led book with real life case studies and testimonials throughout.

    She says that she has trademarked the word purely for the purpose of the book.

    The 53-year-old has long been vocal about her own struggle with both perimenopause and menopause, becoming a face for something which all women with a reproductive system go through but don't speak about enough.

    You may like
    • Female athletes crossing the finish line at a track and field event Why We Should Care About Sexualisation in Women's Sport—and How It’s Bigger Than Sydney Sweeney
    • Andy Burnham and Marie-France van Heel entering 10 Downing Street “Are We Just Jealous?” Victoria Moss Unpacks the Sexist, Ageist Commentary Around Marie-France van Heel’s Victoria Beckham Dress
    • Endometriosis in female athletes: From left to right, Stef Williams, Charlotte Henshaw and Lillie Bleasdale Elite Sportswomen Are Breaking the Silence on Endometriosis—and It’s Long Overdue

    A photo posted by on

    Earlier this year, she fronted a Channel 4 documentary called Sex, Myths and the Menopause, where she shared her own experiences with hormone replacement therapy and attempted to break the taboo on the matter with the help of several industry experts.

    On Twitter, she said: "Hey there, I have just seen the headline on The Daily Mail and I am so furious about it that I thought I would take this measure and post something on here because I am really angry."

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    "I have trademarked the word menopausing because I am writing a book and it's called Menopausing and it's a word I made up and I don't want anybody else to knick it cos I wanted to safeguard it for my book, which I am doing in conjunction with lots of people and I've done a little website collecting your stories about menopause."

    "And that is it. I am not making any products, I am not starting a business. I am not making anything to try and make money out of anybody, I am so angry about it so I just wanted to put the record straight," she concluded.

    Her video on Instagram said the same thing.

    What to read next
    • Entrepreneur Krissy Cela at a school giving a Project Power workshop, encouraging young girls into movement Krissy Cela Wants Every Girl to Feel Strong. Here's Where That Starts
    • Madonna's Confessions II: Madonna performs at TSX Stage in Times Square on June 4, 2026 in New York City. Madonna's Confessions II Deserves to Be the Album of the Summer, But the Response Proves We Still Punish Women for Ageing
    • Aesthetics Safety "What Did She Expect?"—The Sexism and Classism Behind The UK’s Aesthetics Safety Crisis

    Several celebrity friends responded to her video, with Sara Cox encouraging her to 'keep on keeping on' and Gabby Logan sharing: "Don't even for one second let this DM nonsense enter your beautiful spirit and dampen your genuine passion to spread positivity and knowledge."

    All women with a reproductive system will go through menopause - as the NHS website explains, it's the term used to describe when a woman 'stops having periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally'.

    Women can experience pretty life-altering side effects, including depression, brain fog, physical pain and hot flushes, and the number of tribunal cases citing menopause is on the rise, showing just how much it's impacting women's day-to-day lives.

    While McCall will be profiting from the sale of the book, she's made it clear her main aim is to raise awareness of the condition and help any women suffering in the same way she has. She's long been a spokesperson and an advocate for breaking down the stigma around the condition, and for that, she should be commended.

    Bottom line: perhaps this energy should be redirected into making sure menopause becomes - and stays - more mainstream, and ensure the women who need it get the menopause resources and support they need.

    Ally Head
    Ally Head
    Social Links Navigation
    Senior Health and Sustainability Editor

    Ally is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, a well-regarded wellness expert, ten-time marathoner, and Boston Qualifying runner.

    Utilising her impressive skillset and exceptional quality of writing, she pens investigative, review and first-person pieces that consistently demonstrate flair and originality.

    Ally manages a team of freelancers, oversees all commissioning and strategy for her pillars, and spearheads the brand's annual Women in Sport covers, interviewing and shooting the likes of Mary Earps, Millie Bright, and Ilona Maher. Shortlisted for three BSMEs and winning one in 2022, Ally lives and breathes her verticals: her eye for a story and connections within the wellness sphere are unrivalled. Follow Ally on Instagram for more.

    Read more
    Female athletes crossing the finish line at a track and field event
    Fitness Why We Should Care About Sexualisation in Women's Sport—and How It’s Bigger Than Sydney Sweeney
    Andy Burnham and Marie-France van Heel entering 10 Downing Street
    Fashion “Are We Just Jealous?” Victoria Moss Unpacks the Sexist, Ageist Commentary Around Marie-France van Heel’s Victoria Beckham Dress
     
     
    Endometriosis in female athletes: From left to right, Stef Williams, Charlotte Henshaw and Lillie Bleasdale
    Health and Fitness Elite Sportswomen Are Breaking the Silence on Endometriosis—and It’s Long Overdue
    Entrepreneur Krissy Cela at a school giving a Project Power workshop, encouraging young girls into movement
    Fitness Krissy Cela Wants Every Girl to Feel Strong. Here's Where That Starts
     
     
    Latest in Health and Fitness
    A woman jumping on the bed; fluffy pillows and a gua sha.
    Wellbeing I Struggled With My Sleep for Months—Until I Tried This 10-Minute Daily Habit
    Health writer Ash S trying nervous system regulation techniques
    Wellbeing I'm a Sceptic Who Tried 5 Types of Energy Healing. One Genuinely Changed My Mind
     
     
    HUAWEI WATCH D3
    Health and Fitness Huawei's Latest Watch Launch is a Game-Changer for Heart Health
    Pilates instructor and MC UK Master Ashlea McKee demonstrating the Pilates mind-body connection
    Fitness I've Taught Pilates for Almost a Decade: If You’re Not Seeing Results, You May Be Skipping This Simple Step
     
     
    Latest in Features
    A woman jumping on the bed; fluffy pillows and a gua sha.
    Wellbeing I Struggled With My Sleep for Months—Until I Tried This 10-Minute Daily Habit
    Woman organizing documents in cluttered office workspace
    Money and Work Why Are Successful Women Staying in Jobs That Make Us Miserable?
     
     
    Celebrity twin makeup
    Beauty I Discovered the Perfect, Expert-Devised Makeup Routine–Thanks to My "Celebrity Lookalike"
    Autumn/Winter 2026/27 Trends
    Fashion Want to Know What to Wear Tomorrow? These are 7 Key Autumn/Winter 2026 Looks Setting the Tone for the Season Ahead
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.