I could call myself a seasoned “model” – having done it three times already – but learning to walk the runway while showcasing an outfit to a crowd can be extremely intimidating.
That walk alone is frightening for seniors like me because it has never been part of our lives; we are just ordinary Janes. This was the case at the Fashion Show for Seniors organised by Amazing Seniors to celebrate older people in October.
I like growing old because ageing gives me confidence. A septuagenarian like me may feel confident 90 per cent of the time, but 10 per cent of the time I shrivel, get butterflies in my tummy, and feel my head heavy while my mouth runs dry.
It becomes real pressure when I need to sashay down an aisle for 45 seconds as a model. The walk is exaggerated, the pose accelerated, the Paris turn dramatic. They sound simple, but for someone with no exposure, I cringe at the task. Yet, I am excited because it gives me adrenaline to project my best self – maybe even inspire other seniors to age gracefully, like Jamie Lee Curtis or other glamour celebrities.
We seniors may be getting older, but we still want to look good and be noticed. This objective gives me optimism, though I am also sceptical about what others might think. At such moments, it is my age that nudges my feelings and puffs up my confidence. Who cares what others think?
On Sept 30, about 25 seniors gathered at SWET Subang Jaya to learn from Sheila Wong, our senior but warm and patient modelling coach, about the finer aspects of modelling – how to walk, pose, and turn. She did a marvellous job. From not knowing how to stand properly, the group became more aware of their posture. As the day went on, seniors were constantly reminded to “look good” by maintaining their posture and weight distribution – the essence of a good pose.
Catwalking is not a normal activity for seniors. Rarely do we hear of seniors taking up fashion modelling or catwalking for exercise or charity. Ordinary retirees tend to stick to Qi Gung, yoga, line dancing, pickleball, hiking, and more. Pageants cater to a different category of seniors.
Research has emphasised that social connection is the most important aspect of active ageing. Seniors need a tribal group to feel connected and a sense of belonging.
There is much seniors can do – gym, social dancing, eating out, travelling, art, singing, gardening – but modelling is also a fun way to gather people and build rapport.
Catwalking for a fashion show may not be every senior’s cup of tea, but it is satisfying to see that it adds value to the ageing process. The senior women and a few men who took up the challenge looked like winners. I saw smiles spreading as they were praised. They practised holding their stomach in, chest out, and maintaining upright posture whenever they remembered.
If more such classes were organised in easily accessible spaces, many more seniors – including men who are hunched and dreary – could be transformed quickly.
I, too, cannot wait for all 25 of us to be made-up, fitted in the right clothes, and sashay down the runway to the applause of the crowd.
Main image by Eric Chan.
