In a world where early retirement often seems like the ultimate goal, there are those rare individuals who defy this norm by continuing to work passionately well into their later years. One such remarkable individual is Carmen Dell’Orefice, 93, celebrated as the world’s oldest working model. Let’s dive into her extraordinary journey and the lessons we can learn from her enduring career.
From humbling beginning to Vogue fame.
Carmen Dell’Orefice’s story began when she was discovered at the tender age of 13, in 1944. It’s hard to believe that such a fashion icon could come from such humble beginnings. Growing up, her family faced significant financial struggles. Modeling was just a glimmer of hope in a rather challenging upbringing.
Her first attempt at fashion was far from glamorous. In fact, it was an epic flop. But, as they say, the road to success is often paved with failures.
Just two years after her initial setback, Carmen graced the cover of Vogue at the age of 15. This was a monumental moment, marking the beginning of a legendary career in the fashion industry.
In 2023, Carmen was featured on the cover of Vogue Czechoslovakia, making her the oldest working model in the world. Her timeless beauty and elegance continue to captivate audiences globally.
She faced life’s hurdles, from financial struggles to failed marriages.
Carmen’s early life was fraught with financial difficulties. Her modeling work barely supported her family, so she and her mother also worked as seamstresses to make ends meet. This challenging period taught her resilience and perseverance.
1Her marriage to Bill Miles in the early 1950s added another layer of hardship. Miles exploited her career, collecting her modeling agency checks and giving her a mere $50 from her earnings. Yet, Carmen remained steadfast and continued to rise above these challenges.
Carmen then chose to marry photographer Richard Heimann. However, their marriage was also short-lived. When Carmen stepped away from the modeling industry in 1958, Richard left her.
Facing financial difficulties, Carmen Dell’Orefice made a bold comeback to modeling in 1978. Within just a few years, she was back on the covers of top fashion magazines, showcasing her timeless elegance. Ever since, she has been tirelessly working, featuring in numerous magazines, spearheading advertising campaigns, and strutting down catwalks for prestigious fashion brands.
She shared her secret to timeless beauty and longevity.
One of Carmen’s profound insights into maintaining beauty and longevity is the importance of self-care and self-love. She once said, “Men and women should care for themselves and love themselves. One of the secrets to maintaining beauty is doing what you do for a baby, nurturing and feeding the baby with love. That’s what we should do with ourselves: nurture ourselves, love ourselves, and give that kind of energy to ourselves.”
Carmen embraces aging with grace and dignity. She has never shied away from her age. Instead, she has used it to her advantage, proving that beauty truly knows no age.
Carmen’s unwavering passion for modeling teaches us that retirement is not an obligation but a choice. If you love what you do, there’s no reason to stop, no matter how old you are. Her life is a testament to resilience. Despite numerous challenges, she has continued to thrive, proving that with determination, one can overcome any obstacle.
Another inspiring supermodel is Daphne Selfe, 96, who still makes waves in the fashion industry and hasn’t given any sign of stopping yet. Read her story here.
Carol Vorderman flaunts her toned abs and buxom bottom, Dermot O’Leary teases her “special friends”
TV personality Carol Vorderman works hard at maintaining her fabulous body and shared photos of her hourglass figure, her skin-tight workout gear hugging her cheeky bottom.
The Welsh broadcaster, who frequently posts videos of her grueling workouts on Instagram, is being praised by adoring fans who call her “Supervorders.”
When she’s not on TV, working out, flying a plane, or having photos taken with Tom Cruise, Vorderman can be found with one of her five “special friends.”
Keep reading to learn more about Vorderman and her roster of men!
Carol Vorderman, 62, recently celebrated 40 years on television and is credited with more than 10,000 appearances in series like the British game show Countdown, the breakfast program Lorraine, The Great Celebrity Bake Off, and ITV’s This Morning.
The stunning blonde is not all beauty, she’s got the brains, too.
In 2014, the mother of two got her private pilot’s license and the next year, she teamed up with NASA as a member of the board of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, a role where she encouraged children to be more involved with space science.
When she’s not on TV wowing her audiences, the former host of Have I Got News for You works steadily at the gym, maintaining her killer body.
“Women who are in their 60s, we weren’t brought up to exercise…I think as you get older, you need to do weight-bearing stuff and you need to stretch and squat. If you don’t, even for a couple of weeks, you start creaking,” Vorderman shared in an interview with HELLO! “Because I work in a visual world you have to pay more attention, as do other women in my position, to how you look–more than you’d like to.”
Recently, she shared some images from inside the gym where she showed off her curves in a skimpy ensemble of a grey crop top and figure-hugging leggings.
Vorderman captioned the post, “Five gym sessions this week. Just so good to get the routine going again. Eating clean, loads of water, lots of walking, fresh air…..my happy state to be honest.”
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