A woman who has been dubbed the ‘UK’s oldest glamour model’ says she has no plans to retire after releasing her latest set of superb pictures
68-year-old Suzy Monty began modelling in the early 58 years ago when she won a catwalk competition at the age of 10.
Almost six decades on and Suzy’s modelling career is still going strong and her latest photos show her rocking a green bikini she first wore in her 20s. She is still very much in demand and Suzy has no plans to retire.
She told Cornwall Live: “I’m very, very busy and there seems to be a big market for mature models at the moment.
“I’m all natural, have had no surgery or ever even dyed my hair and that goes a long way. I’m inundated with requests from photographers.”
Suzy is currently signed to two modelling agencies and does freelance work. She’s even had work published internationally, including having an entire edition of One of a Kind magazine dedicated to her.
Discussing her career, Suzy said: “I won a catwalk competition when I was 10 and in my 20s won Miss Cornwall Bikini and Miss Cornwall Swimwear contests.
“Then the modelling really took off and I was behind the first fully licenced modelling agency in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.”
However, it wasn’t all plain sailing - Suzy contracted glandular fever when she was 40 which took her a year to get over, temporarily bringing her modelling career to a halt.
Then, inspired by actress Helen Mirren releasing some red bikini pictures, Suzy teamed up with a national press photographer at the age of 57 to shoot some pictures on a Cornwall beach.
Her health impacted on her career again, when she took time out again in her early 60s after being diagnosed with a tumour, which required surgery - something Suzy admits she never expected to return from.
But despite her health battles, she did return and has since returned to the industry full-time. She says she regularly gets feedback from people thanking her for being an inspiration.
She said: “There’s always good feedback and I’ve had messages from ladies over 50 who have said they feel invisible and thanked me for what I’ve done. I am now an endorsed model for Australian luxury lingerie brand MySecretDrawer and also model fashion for Newquay brand of retro style dresses, Silly Old Sea Dog.”
But how does Suzy stay looking so fantastic?
She revealed: “I always eat healthily. I love cooking myself with fresh ingredients and eat lots of locally caught fish.
“I walk my dog for miles every day and have never smoke or drank. But what people don’t realise is that modelling itself is a great pilates workout, holding poses and flexing muscles for hours.”
When asked how long she plans to keep modelling, Suzy replied: “Well I’ve been told I’m the UK’s oldest glamour model and a photographer said I’ve got to keep going to 70 at least.
“If I can keep my strength, health and figure I will keep going. I can’t thank my husband enough. We’ll be celebrating our 46th wedding anniversary soon and he is always supporting me, chauffeuring me to shoots.”
