Ageing in today's world

Photographer: David Nuttall

The other day Models.com News had a feature about three legendary models: Carmen dell' Orefice, Pat Cleveland and Estelle Lefebure. All very different but what they had in common was their staying power as well as their beauty.  I found Carmen's and Pat' words inspiring, less so Estelle's who  bemoaned the good old days but said relatively little else.
 I have long been an admirer of Carmen. With model turned photographer Suzy Conway I did a shoot last year in which she asked me to replicate Carmen's look and attitude. It was a magical moment, as the MUA really managed to make me look like Carmen!

Photographer: Suzy Conway

 It was good to see that feature on a prominent model site, an acknowledgement of ageless beauty.
I have ranted against ageism in general , not just in modelling, but I can see that slowly, very slowly, it is being eradicated. Talking again of models, it is not uncommon to see older models  in magazines - Pam Lucas, 62,  often appears in the Guardian supplement. Recently, upcoming fashion designer Olivia Ann May presented her collection for seniors. Pam Lucas, and two other veteran models, Daphne Selfe,83 and Jan de Villeneuve, 68 wore her designs on the catwalk.
I am also delighted to see that older dancers are now performing fairly frequently. Even more than fashion, dance has always embraced ageism, justifying it with the argument that  the body gets frailer as you become older and thus it's not able to sustain the rigour of a gruelling practice routine.
Feeling inspired, I too decided to perform again and will be dancing in a site specific dance production called The Bridge which will take place at the Millenium Bridge in June. I applied to take part feeling somewhat hesitant, but I was welcomed and to my delight I found out that another older dancer was going to be part of the team.

Photographer: David Nuttall

When I was in my twenties, age was a criterion for many awards,  fellowships  and grants - you could not apply if you were over a certain age. At least that has now disappeared, even though the bias may still exist.
The reality of getting older is that you need to adapt and accept that you cannot do things as you did when you were younger. You just do them in a different way. I have recently had another birthday, inevitably this brought home to me that I continue to get older, as everyone does.

But, says Carmen:

"How do people think about themselves? You don’t want people thinking of themselves as ageing into decay. How do you marry the product, the image and get the message out there that life is full of living and you can continue to achieve? I am there representing that life is worth living and I work very hard at what I love. "

Words of wisdom.

(All photos modelled by Alex B)