Timeless Beauty: 3 Age-Defying Models Who Will Inspire You

We're advocates for a shift in the conversation on aging (our May Guest Editor is all about it!), and love women, like the ageless beauties below, who prove that show-stopping beauty comes in many shapes and forms. The future is looking bright and we're completely inspired by the mix of wisdom, wit and sex appeal coming from these three industry pros straight from the pages of Darling Magazine's current print issue...

Our spring Issue No. 19 features a layout with some of the women from Iconic Focus, an agency that represents ageless beauties and combats the current obsession with youth that pervades our beauty culture. So obviously, we at Darling love them.

Each woman we interviewed had incredible answers to our questions, but we only had so much space in print to share them. So, here for your interest and enjoyment are some additional pieces of the intricate and stunning models who demonstrate how women are more than just “good enough” at any age.

MARIAN MONEYMAKER

Age: 63 | Years in the Modeling Industry: 33

Darling Mag: What is the biggest campaign that you have been a part of and who shot it or who did you work with that you loved?

Marian: That would be the 2015 Steven Meisel Miu Miu Campaign.

DM: Why do you choose to continue modeling or what do you love most about it?

Marian: I have two daughters and two grand-daughters, I think it is important to let them see I am part of the movement to embrace aging gracefully, confidently in an industry that has been based, in the past, on youth and perfection.

DM: If you could tell every woman one thing, what would it be?

Marian: Embrace your age, live your life with compassion and kindness and be happy with who you are. Being happy is the most powerful beauty secret ever.

DM: How do you perceive that aging has changed or affected you, either personally or in your career?

Marian: The gift of aging is the wisdom that comes along with it, very powerful. As far as work goes, my grey hair has given my career a real boost. It is such an honor to be working in today’s world paving the way for our future young women.

Being happy is the most powerful beauty secret ever.

TARA SHANNON

Age: 61 | Years in the Modeling Industry: 45

DM: What is the biggest campaign that you have been a part of and who shot it or who did you work with that you loved?

Tara: I loved working with Helmut Newton. We worked a ton for French Vogue and did the Rive Gauche and Opium perfume campaigns. Helmut worked with natural light in phenomenal locations. The Rothschild estates outside Paris, Saint Tropez, Hotel Ritz. He loved being teased.

Also, working with Irving Penn for the Calvin Klein campaign and American Vogue. His work is museum quality and working for him was a lesson in respect and restraint. 8 x 10 camera. No music. Everyone spoke in hushed tones. He was addressed as Mr. Penn.

DM: Can you tell us the funniest or strangest thing that has happened during a shoot?

Tara: I married Spider Man at Shea Stadium in front of 50,000 fans. Stan Lee officiated. He said: “Repeat after me, ‘With this ring, I thee web.’” The New York Times did a wedding announcement in the Style Section. I played Mary Jane Watson. I worshipped Stan Lee. He actually started the Millie the Model comics of my childhood. How about that for a piece of trivia?

I also played the Bride of Frankenstein in a Huey Lewis video and to get my real hair to go straight up the way Elsa Lancaster had it in the movie, they padded it with paper towels and used a ton of hair-spray. There were a lot pyrotechnics for the getting -the -monster -to come -alive scenes, which meant a crew member had to stand near my head with a fire extinguisher in case my hair burst into flames from the sparks.

DM: If you could tell every woman one thing, what would it be?

Tara: I see you. I believe in you. There is nothing wrong with you and there never was. Self-hatred is always a case of mistaken identity. Devote yourself to the art of self-acceptance and set yourself free. Do that and you will never be at the mercy of any external situation ever again. All this relentless self-condemnation is just a form of agreeing with someone else’s opinion of you. That’s all shame is, you know. Agreeing with someone else’s opinion of you. You can rescind it any time you want. I will show you how. More than anything else, I want you to know how wonderful and special you are.

Self-hatred is always a case of mistaken identity. Devote yourself to the art of self-acceptance and set yourself free.

TOMIKO FRASER HINES

Age: 48 | Years in Modeling: 25

DM: The funniest or strangest thing that has happened during a shoot?

Tomiko: I was the featured model in a few music videos in my career and I recall on one shoot where I was asked to emerge gracefully from a pool of water. At the time, I didn’t know how to swim, nor was I comfortable submerging my head under water. Let’s just say that I was not graceful, at all. I was blinking furiously trying to get the water out of my eyes after I stood up in the water. I was gasping for air, having had to hold my breath while waiting for my cue to emerge. Soooo, the director decided to cancel that particular part of the video. The finished product ended up looking fabulous, though.

DM: What would you say has changed the most in the industry, for better or for worse?

Tomiko: I am thrilled to see more women of color, more ample-sized women and more seasoned women being featured and celebrated in the fashion industry. While the industry has come a long way in that department, they still have a long ways to go, in my opinion. I would love to see every major fashion magazine always feature an array of women in all shapes, sizes, ages and colors. That would be amazing!

DM: Why do you choose to continue modeling or what do you love most about it?

Tomiko: I continue to model because I want to be an example of beauty and possibility for women who look like me. I want to encourage women not to let age or skin tone stop them from feeling beautiful. When they see me and learn of my well-documented age of 48 (49 on May 2nd), I want them to be inspired to go past what others say and believe they’re capable of.

I want to encourage women not to let age or skin tone stop them from feeling beautiful.

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