A model defies conventional age expectations by continuing to model for major brands, inspiring women to embrace their age and not let it hinder their sense of fashion.
Yazmeenah Rossi, a 67-year-old model, defies the norms of the modeling industry by continuing to work, even posing in bikinis for major brands. Born in Corsica, France, in 1955, Rossi grew up in a household without running water or electricity. Her grandparents, who owned a beachside restaurant, gifted her a camera on her eleventh birthday, sparking her interest in photography.
At just 16, Rossi became pregnant and married her child’s father to avoid her own father forcing her to have an abortion. After the birth of her second child at age 20, she decided to pursue her happiness and divorced her husband. As she recalls, “When you make the right choice, the universe brings.”
Rossi found her passion for modeling at the age of 28, when her sister, who worked in fashion retail, asked her to fill in for a no-show model during Paris Fashion Week. She then spent ten years as a fittings model for luxury brands Hermès and YSL. At 30, she moved to New York and began working in high fashion, signing with Ford Models and appearing in print campaigns for Bloomingdales, Barneys, J Crew, and Bobbi Brown. At this point, her hair had already turned white, which she proudly embraces.
A strong advocate for natural beauty, Rossi has mostly avoided plastic surgery, opting instead for a healthy diet, light exercise, and skincare routines that include olive oil and sugar exfoliation. Her swimsuit campaign began when she was 60, prompting her fellow models to commend her “courage” for posing in bathing suits at her age. To this, Rossi responds, “This is not courage. This is simply who I am.”
Though approaching 70, Rossi has no plans to retire from modeling. In fact, she has criticized the high fashion industry for not utilizing her to target older demographics, noting that she herself wears brands like Dolce & Gabbana. She believes that “sexy means alive” and wants to show women that beauty includes wrinkles, silver hair, and maturity.
Rossi aspires to continue in the industry, but also seeks to explore other opportunities, such as acting. She is considering taking acting classes to secure roles in film and television, hoping to demonstrate the importance of authenticity in the beauty industry. By doing so, Rossi aims to inspire women to both care for their bodies and embrace their age without letting it limit their fashion choices.
Sources: Taphaps, The Guardian