A new age dawns for mature model

MARTIN Elliott is out to prove age really is only a number.

The 45-year-old, who works in human resources, was inspired to leap out of his comfort zone into a new potential career path after losing a family member to a terminal illness.

Now, without even a Fashions on the Field entry to his name, he has signed a two-year contract with mature modelling agency Silverfox Management.

“A series of personal events over the last six to eight months really got me reevaluating life, what am I doing, where am I at,” said Mr Elliott, who moved to Melbourne from Geelong three years ago.

“I work full-time in the corporate sector and I thought there’s got to be a bit more to life than this for me.”

A passing glance at an advertisement for the modelling agency, which represents talent over 30 years old, sparked his interest.

“They were looking for any new faces that might be interested and I thought if nothing else comes out of it I’ll have some good photos I can look back on when I’m old and wrinkled,” he said.

“One of their mantras is age positive, that age is a state of mind and you should embrace however old you are and enjoy life.

“I lost a family member to a terminal illness and it makes you re-evaluate a few things and do things that are fun, that you enjoy, that make you feel good.”

Mr Elliott said he kept physically and mentally fit by going to the gym on his lunch break each day.