As soon as you open your browser, you’re probably bombarded with annoying ads offering discounts on magic anti-ageing serums and creams promising to take off at least 10 years off your face. It seems as if there is nothing worse than getting old and we need to do anything to avoid it. Luckily, this toxic narrative is starting to shift as we see more and more people who are older in ads and even on the covers of iconic fashion magazines. Carmen Dell'Orefice, an absolute fashion icon, is one of the frontrunners proving that age is just a number as she struts the runaways at 92 years old!
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At 92, Carmen Dell'Orefice world's oldest model still working
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
What is the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word “model?” Most likely it’s a tall, incredibly photogenic young person. They do look amazing in those crazy high fashion outfits, but it makes us question: are only young people considered beautiful? What happens after 40, 50, 70? Is there a certain age where people get written off? Fortunately, it seems like this is rapidly changing as runways and magazines often show “real” people who age and rock it.
Carmen Dell'Orefice is one of them. She’s the definition of elegance and grace, so it is no wonder she is still working as a professional model. At 92, she is considered the oldest working model – what an incredible achievement! She was first discovered at just 13 when the wife of the photographer Herman Landschoff approached her. However, the first photos were deemed a flop. Carmen began her modeling career at 15 after her godfather had introduced her to Vogue in 1946. Her first contract paid $7.50 an hour, which, adjusted to inflation, is a whopping $126.41.
Unfortunately, this was not enough to aid the family and Carmen and her mom struggled financially, so they worked as seamstresses on the side. Due to lack of money, the young model was so malnourished, the photographers had to pin her dresses back and even stuff the curves with tissue paper. To save money on bus fares, she roller-skated to modelling assignments after Vogue would send runners to her apartment, letting her know about jobs going on.
Image credits: carmen_dellorefice
Young Carmen struggled financially and was so malnourished, she had to stuff her dress with tissue paper to hide her thinness
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
She was first discovered at just 13, however, it wasn't successful. She signed her first contract with Vogue at 15
Image credits: carmen_dellorefice
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
Eventually, Carmen’s hard work paid off and in October 1947, she appeared on the cover of Vogue. Soon, she became a favorite of many photographers and was fully booked by such magazines as Vanity Fair and Harper’s Baazar. Little did she know that this success would not last long. In the early 1950s, Carmen married her first husband, Bill Miles. While she was blessed with her beloved daughter Laura, the marriage was abusive and Bill financially exploited Carmen, only giving her a small allowance from her impressive paychecks. She would later marry the photographer Richard Heimann, but sadly, the marriage ended after Carmen decided to retire from modelling.
By the late 1970s, Carmen once again found herself struggling financially and decided it was a perfect time to return to modeling despite the prevalent ageism in the industry. While everyone tried to appear younger, Carmen embraced her age:
“When I was 40, I was 40. I didn’t want to be 20. I’ve always done my job — to mirror the look of that respective year. That is precisely why it has always felt wonderful to stand in front of the camera.”
Carmen was a muse to Salvador Dali and graced the cover of many fashion magazines until she retired after getting married
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
The second time proved to be even more successful as many fashion brands jumped at the opportunity to work with Carmen. She worked with Target, Rolex, Anna Sui, Guo Pei, Thierry Muggler and made her grand return to Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar – it was as if she had never left modeling.
At 91, Carmen braved a risqué photoshoot where she stripped naked for New You magazine. The campaign was widely celebrated online, commenters praising her confidence, revealing that she had inspired them to be more comfortable in their bodies, despite their age. As fine wine gets better with time, so do people.
But what is her secret? Carmen reveals it’s self-love.
“Men and women should care for themselves and love themselves. One of the secrets to maintaining beauty is doing what you do for a baby, nurturing and feeding the baby with love. That’s what we should do with ourselves: nurture ourselves, love ourselves, and give that kind of energy to ourselves.”
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
Sadly, first marriage was unhappy as her husband financially exploited her, so she left him and in 1978, she returned to modeling with a bang
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
The second time around was even more successful despite the ageism in the industry
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
Now, Carmen inspires thousands of women all over the globe to embrace their beauty at any age
Image credits: Carmen Dell'Orefice
There are other wonderful examples that every age is beautiful. Hong Kong-based model Alice Pang is rocking the fashion world at 96. Asia’s oldest fashion model joined the industry at 93, proving to everyone that it’s never too late. So next time you scroll and see successful twenty-somethings, thinking that your best years are behind you, look at these wonderful people showing us that the best years are always ahead if we make them out to be. Perhaps it’s time to try something you’ve been afraid of?
People in the comments were convinced that Carmen's passport is lying about her age
