Courteney Cox is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and beloved television icons. Her portrayal of Monica Geller in the iconic sitcom Friends catapulted her to international fame. The show made her a household name in the industry, bringing bigger opportunities in the following years. While her uptight chef character is iconic in its own right, Cox herself did something powerful before taking this limelight in Hollywood.

For many, it might be surprising to know that she was one of the first people to promote healthy menstruation by uttering a word that was forever banned.

The one where Courteney Cox broke a taboo

In a groundbreaking moment on American TV in 1985, Courteney Cox appeared in a Tampax commercial. The advertisement featured the Friends alum standing in a locker room locker room talking to viewers about the brand’s tampons. In an era when introducing feminine hygiene products on the screen was itself a challenge, she took the task into her own hands and was confident in her words. “Do you change your life for one week because of that time of the month, still using pads?” she asked.

The Scream star then went to show the product that the brand created for healthy menstruation. She explained how it can make women feel cleaner and comfortable and change their perspective about periods. “There’s a feeling with Tampax. It can actually change the way you feel about your period,” she added. This then gave her more fame, making her the first person to say the word ‘period’ in a US commercial. 

Cox indeed has played a major role in making a way for people to talk more openly in menstruation commercials. But what is more amazing is that the actress recreated a hilarious parody of the advertisement last year addressing menopause.

The American star got candid about menopause on Instagram 

Fans who follow Courteney Cox on Instagram might know that she often likes to look back at the moments from the past. Especially recreating scenes of her famous character Monica Geller from the comedy-drama. But in September 2022, she took this habit to the next level and addressed menopause on social media updating her Tampax commercial. In the video, she wore an identical outfit and said “Did your life completely change because of menopause?”.

She continued to explain how menopause can affect women’s bodies, making their skin dryer and hair loss. “Remember – there is nothing good about menopause. It can actually change the way you feel about getting older,” she signed off with an endnote. The video garnered over one million likes with film stars like Juliette Lewis, Julianne Moore, and Drew Barrymore dropping a heart.

What do you think about this empowering woman? Drop your comments below!