Photographic Evidence That These Golden Girls Will Never Stop Shining

by kelsey haight

Okay, so American Apparel hired a 62-year old model, whatever. Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf took body appreciation to a new level and started a photo series featuring dozens of scantily clad mature models #WERKIN’ it. 

The series titled “Mature” takes aim at everyone’s obsession with sexualizing women’s bodies and the ticking clock of youth and beauty. Olaf reminds us that there is no age restriction on embracing your body; you can never start loving yourself too early, and you should never, ever stop! If these ladies can flaunt it, so can you.

Each photo takes place in a different scenario: exercising, lounging, bathing, knitting, golfing and maybe even waiting for some sexy time. This is a reminder that these women are both beautiful and active. The photos are almost painterly with romanticized light, contrapposto poses. Amen to ladies exerting power!

Olaf also shoots for Vogue and is very familiar with how perfection impacts ladies opinion on themselves and others. This series strives to accentuate the beauty and dismantle our perception of “flaws.” The mature women photographed range from 61 to 89 years old and boast some amazing features; most noticeable is the confidence radiating from within.

It’s amazing how a simple request from a photographer can inspire women to embrace themselves and bear it all…including wrinkles, cellulite, varicose veins, saggy parts and a handful of other things that show how ALL bodies change in a beautiful way.

Olaf and his models get props from me, and I hope that we can all take the time to embrace our bodies and be bold and shameless for the rest of our lives! Some of Olaf’s more recent work deals with other serious topics and further draws attention to the inner turmoil of women. You can check it out on his site here.

Images courtesy of Erwin Olaf and Art Ctrl Del

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