Ageing gracefully is all about living life your way

At 62, Nadine Bush never dreamed she’d be striking a pose in her undies. But there she was, shimmying and smiling for the cameras.

“Doing the Bonds photo shoot was so liberating,” she says.

“My previous work life in marketing was so stressful, and modelling is just so much fun.”

A decade earlier, Nadine spotted an advertisement for Silverfox MGMT: an agency for older models.

“I thought, ‘How amazing! I might get the odd job and earn a bit of extra cash’,” she remembers.

Before Nadine signed on the dotted line, work offers were pouring in.

An added bonus was how the career shift made her feel.

“I used to be shy. Now I’m much more confident,” she says.

This fabulous sexagenarian is one of a growing cohort of mature Aussies who are loving life and living it on their terms.

Silverfox MGMT CEO Bridgette Warne says over-55 models are now  hot property.

“Style is ageless,” she says.

“It doesn’t fade, it evolves. It’s not about following trends or dressing for your age. It’s about expressing yourself in a way that feels authentic to you.”

Meanwhile, 75-year-old Jeff Downes has been modelling for five years.

“My daughter suggested I give it a shot, and I thought. ‘Why not?’,”  Jeff laughs.

Previously, he lived all over the  globe, working in real estate and corporate training.

Jeff left the corporate world a decade ago, appearing in the first season of  The Amazing Race Australia with his son (they came third).

“When people discover I do modelling, they say, ‘Wow, you look great for your age’, but no one says, ‘What do you do? What do you take? What do you read? What do you think?’,” he says.

“Ageing well is a mindset and gratitude is also important.”

Living well and loving life is the new mantra for many in their golden years.

After all, age is just a number.

It’s all about feeling good in the skin you are in and doing things that boost your self-image.

Taking care of our nutritional needs is one thing we can do to age well.

Fuelling our bodies with nutrient-dense, protein-rich foods is important.

Another is getting moving. Vanessa Coman, an exercise physiologist from Studio Ness on the Sunshine Coast, says that as we age, we naturally lose  strength and conditioning in a process called sarcopenia.

“This is why resistance/strength training is so important,” she explains.

If traditional exercise isn’t your thing, Vanessa says there are no excuses.

“There are a million ways to turn an activity you enjoy into something that gives you more fitness benefits,” she says.

Gardening is a fitting example of strength training, with lifting, pulling, carrying, squatting, up and down off  the ground.

“With a couple of tweaks, you can turn that into an awesome workout,”  she says.

Vanessa says other suggestions include setting up obstacle courses for the grandkids and joining in and grabbing aqua dumbbells to turn your summer swims into mini workouts.

Regular remedial massages are also helpful, at any stage of life.

Remedial massage therapist Chris Mann, from Studio Ness, says our ability to remove waste and supply fresh nutrients via our vascular and lymphatic systems becomes reduced as we age.

“Even very gentle relaxation massage techniques are beneficial for improving circulation,” Chris notes.

Getting older also means more wrinkles, as the skin loses moisture  and elasticity.

Brisbane make-up artist Megan Dent says staying hydrated is a great way to give your skin a boost.

“You can also use nourishing serums and creams to keep your skin healthy, for that youthful glow we all love,” she says.

Wearing make-up can be another way to boost confidence.

Megan is quick to explode the myth that makeup is “just for the young”.

“It’s really about highlighting your best features and boosting your confidence, no matter your age,” she says.

Natural skincare is a fabulous way to nourish your skin. Grab the grandkids and enjoy a face mask. You’ll all have a giggle and feel good – granddad included.

Try Megan’s honey and avocado mask, with half a mashed avocado and a teaspoon of raw honey. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse.

Giving your wardrobe a makeover is a sure-fire confidence booster, whether you are a female or a fellow.

If your wardrobe is simply bursting at the seams and you still have nothing to wear, try a personal stylist.

Imogene Whittle, from Spree With  Me in Brisbane, says a stylist can help fine-tune your signature style, to dress  for your personality, lifestyle, shape and colouring.

“It’s a great option to make your wardrobe feel fresh, functional and modern again, especially if you’ve fallen into a style rut of wearing the same things,” she says.

As a bonus, you’ll have plenty of fun and save cash by avoiding impulse buys.

Your crowning glory speaks volumes as you age. For women, Sunshine Coast hairdresser Annette Davis says a bob haircut is a winner.

“Try one length or a slightly  layered cut above or below the  jawline, depending on your face shape,” she suggests.

For men, Annette says it’s important to invest in a good, regular haircut.

“Stick to classic looks and watch your facial hair and grooming – a greasy ponytail is never a good look.”

For older people, thinning hair and breakage is common, especially if you take medication.

To combat this, Annette suggests a teaspoon of gelatin in water each day.

We are on this Earth for a finite amount of time. And we never know when the jig is up.

Jeff and Nadine have nailed it. They are both living their best lives.

Jeff has a classic piece of advice for us oldies: “I feel like a lot of people think, ‘Right, I am 60 now, so I have to buy a brown cardigan’. Don’t do it.”

Instead, eat that ice-cream cone. Ride that wave.

Laugh at corny jokes. Embrace your wrinkles and those you love.

And give yourself permission to be who you want to be.