NORA BEGAN MODELLING AT 73
Dedicating my career to architecture and busy bringing up my daughter, I never noticed that the world was becoming culturally and commercially focused on the young. After I retired I began to wonder if I still mattered.
I refused to wallow and wanted to stay curious. My husband, Douglas and I loved to travel and see our grandchildren. I attended a Spanish class, discovered how to paint and tend the garden – I was always saying yes to new opportunities.
That’s how I found myself becoming a model at 73. Emily Stein was a neighbour and a photographer working on a project aiming to take the invisibility cloak off older women. She asked if she could take my photograph and I said yes.
Emily submitted my pictures to a modelling agency specifically for older models, called Grey. I thought she was mad, but when they accepted me I figured there was no harm in celebrating who I am.
Grey has organised campaign shoots for Zara and Gucci. It was strange – I was used to making all the decisions. As a model I had to get used to being passive. But it was relaxing, therapeutic and rewarding.
Beauty is not synonymous with youth. If you respect yourself, care about your health and celebrate the grace and wisdom that comes with age, you can be beautiful no matter how many candles you have on your cake. n Nora has been signed by Grey Model Agency.