THIS IS WHAT 71 LOOKS LIKE

Lynda Free lives in east Sussex with her husband ricky and runs an animal sanctuary. They have three children. She shares her tips on staying young . . .

BUILD MUSCLE

TEN years ago, I was two stone heavier, suffered excruciating back problems and didn’t look half as good as I do now. Part of the problem? I didn’t do any exercise. Now I teach an aerobics class once a week and work out three times a week. I have a flat stomach and a strong back, so the pain has gone. You’re never too old to get strong.

GO VEGAN

I WENT vegan seven years ago and have never looked back. A plantbased diet means you detoxify your body and boost your immune system, which means my skin is clear, I never get bloated and I always feel full of energy. I can’t remember the last time I was ill.

WEAR A WIG

I LOST all my hair to alopecia 14 years ago. I’d had big, healthy blonde curls and long eyelashes. My confidence was crushed for a while, but I picked myself up, had my eyebrows tattooed and bought a brilliant high-quality wig. That is the biggest secret to staying young, I think — ‘confidence and happiness’.

BE BOLD WITH EYELINER

JUST because we’re older doesn’t mean we should avoid make-up. If I’m going out, I’ll use a soft liquid eyeliner to achieve a ‘winged’ look. This makes my eyes look bigger and brighter. I’ve also recently learnt that using a small fanned make-up brush to apply mascara will pick up eyelashes (I have a few left on each eye) right from the root and ‘fan’ upwards, really opening up the eyes.

STAY PASSIONATE

RUNNING my sanctuary for rescued animals keeps me physically busy and mentally engaged. When we lose interest in what we love, we start to decay. I’ve seen it happen so many times and I’m determined not to let it happen to me. The more we engage our minds and bodies and stay passionate, the younger we are, no matter what our age.

Do you look great for your age? Tell us your secrets at inspire@ dailymail.co.uk