Singer and former TV host Debbie Newsome shows off her bikini bod.

Debbie’s still rockingrockinng a bikini at 55 and insists there’s no way she’ll ever give up herh fun-loving lifestyle writes PHILLIP KOCH KOC

Debbie Newsome laughs out loud when asked if she ever thinks she’ll be too old for a bikini. “I’ll probably be buried in my bikini,” jokes the beautiful former host of 1980s dating TV show Perfect Match, who first made her name as a swimwear model, and still cuts a striking figure on the beach.

Summer can be daunting for any woman, but Debbie says we shouldn’t be so hung up on how we look but celebrate our bodies no matter what shape or age, and get back to enjoying life without worrying about what other peop people think. “I’m on the beach allal the time, so it’s never crossedmcrossed my mind not to wear a bikini,” insistsi the former TV star, who re-inventedreherself as a singer after leaving Perfect Match in 1985 to raise her two children, Tara,Ta now 27, and Troy, 26. “I figure you get ol older and it’s no big deal. My mu mum’s 78 and she’s shhe’s still really pretty.pre I’m definiitely definitely a more compl complete person now than tthan when I was on Perfect Match Match.h. I was confident when I was modelling, but I’m happier now, and I think that’s everye bit as impportant. important. And I don don’t have a cluee clue what I weigh!” Shhe She says women nee need to foccusfocus on their health and haappinesshappiness rather thantha feeling juudged judged by others. Fo For her, keepingk keeping healthy me means avoiding avoidinga coffee, limitinglim junkjjunk food and drinkingdrink a lot of organic tea, becausebeca of the tthe age-defying benefitsben oof of antioxidants. Debbie shot to fam fame in 198419984 when she co-hostedco-ho PerfectPerf rfect Match with Gre Greg Evans. She sstayed stayed with the sho show for two years,years,, fast becoming one of the most popular stars on TV TV, before she gavegaave it all up to beco become a stay-at-home stay-at-ahome mum and pursue p her love loove of singing. “It was wwas a fun time,” remembersrem Debbie, Debbbie, who now has he her own Janis Joplin tribute show with