Maryl poses: Should models be "ageless"?

Carmen Dell’Orefice:  Then and Now

"You can only perceive real beauty in a person as they get older."
                                                                                   Anouk Aimee 


We second lifers already know this to be true. We’ve reconciled our laugh lines, fuller figures and speckled skin and moved on to focus and improve on our other virtues. But think of how hard this must be for aged-out models who made their living based solely on their looks. This topic is explored in HBO’s latest documentary, “About Face: The Supermodels, Then and Now,” that has its first airing this Monday, July 30, at 9PM east coast time after its premiere at Sundance this past winter.

Director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders with models Beverly Johnson and Cheryl Tiegs

Of course, these were the very women whose too thin bodies and high cheek bones we envied. Yet aging is the great leveler. It brings the super models, school teachers, corporate managers, stay-at-home moms all together at this same point of exploration. 

Carol Alt:  Then and Now

Growing up I wanted to look like Cheryl Tiegs. In the documentary, she explains, “The key to beauty is always educating yourself, always learning something new.” Marisa Berenson adds, “When you get older, you build something else in your core which goes beyond the physical, because it has to.” And Jerry Hall asks, “Why shouldn’t we be allowed to age? When I turned 50, I felt a sense of achievement.”  These models seem to have something to say on the subject of beauty and in more depth.  A second film may be in order. 

Jerry Hall:  Then and Now

We recently reported how SI swim suit model Kathy Ireland turned into a highly successful entrepreneur. And we applauded Barney’s NY for featuring Penelope Tree in a major ad campaign. The blog Advanced Style just reported the launch of Lanvin’s Fall campaign with first time 62 and 82 year old models. Another blog, That’s Not My Age, posted a similar piece and garnered some supportive comments in favor of older models.  But are these campaigns sincerely advocating that beauty isn't only defined by the young or are they just marketing ploys? 

Kathy Ireland:  Then and Now

Penelope Tree:  Then and Now

Could this use of real life models of a certain age be a trend? Maybe we need a similar movement as the one that persuaded Seventeen Magazine to stop their excessive photo retouching and feature all kinds of beauty with real girls and healthy models. Our daughters and granddaughters are putting us to shame. What say? Let’s watch the HBO documentary and get some comments flowing here and on our Facebook page.  Models have set the standards for what makes a woman beautiful for way too long and one of those has been youth. Here's to the day when the profession will be made up of women who look like you and me!