Gigi Hadid and Irene
Last week 90-year-old Irene Carney from Ballina, New South Wales, Australia bought a red, 1950s-style Seafolly polka dot bikini from a The Lady Watego boutique in Byron Bay Australia.
The store shared a photo of Gigi Hadid modelling the bikini on Facebook writing: “A gorgeous purchase by 90 year old Irene, going on a family cruise! She was encouraged by her friends & carers in the nursing home to get a bikini & we found the perfect one for her.”
After they were sent an image of Irene wearing the bikini they posted that on Facebook too – which then got lots of likes and positive comments such as “beautiful and at 90, wow, thank you for showing the younger generation it doesn’t make a difference, us beautiful at all ages,” “absolutely beautiful and done very tastefully, I only hope to look that great at 90” and “awesome! looks graceful, gracious and like an enjoyable person to spend time with! I may just have to take a closer look at the Swimwear Dept”.
Nicola Griffith, Kim Catrall, Helen Mirren
Last year, the swimwear brand Swimsuits for All made history by featuring a plus-size model in its Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue ad — and this year, they’re breaking boundaries again by featuring 56 year old model Nicola Griffin as part of their #SwimSexy campaign, which promotes body positivity and is inclusive of all ages, shapes, and sizes.
We’re coming up to that time of year when the media start talking about bikini bodies and being beach ready (note to PRs – we are NOT interested in these emails) and bombard us with pictures of perfectly toned young women with perma tans – so these positive affirmations of aging can only be a good thing.
But I’m still not confident to wear a bikini – you?
You can buy Irene’s bikini from Asos.
A bikini is just a state of mind ! If you want to wear it, wear it, if you don’t, don’t ! Don’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable with. I am a size 16 and have always preferred bikinis to one piece suits but many of my friends who are much smaller than I don’t feel comfortable with wearing one. I never understood why but it’s up to them. Go with the flow and remember, no-one is looking at you, they are all too worried about how they look themselves !