At 74 years old, Colleen Heidemann is a fabulous fashionista, who defies ageism and refuses to surrender to a discriminating public that says her trending styles are “not age appropriate.”
Boasting her incredible physique, which she works very hard to maintain, Colleen Heidemann is a gorgeous granny who started modeling when she was 68 and graced the cover of Vogue six years later.
Heidemann–who’s Influenced by the “iconic beauty and gracious aura” of timeless beauties like Jacqueline Kennedy, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor–said she “rails against” ageism every day.
“A difficult truth is that women age so differently than do men, that with menopause comes the ‘Age of Irrelevance!’” she said in an interview with DSCENE. “Well, I prefer it to be felt and seen as an’ Age of Enlightenment,’ whereupon we realize just how much that is wonderful we yet have to learn, to feel, to think, to experience, and oh, yes, to laugh about. So let us not despair but continue to keep going, keep doing, keep moving, keep being alive!”
The former flight attendant turned model and actor–she’s appeared in the film Father of Flies (2021) and the 2020 TV series Last Looks with Dakota Fanning–admits that she hasn’t always been confident. She said, “I have not always been nor have I had the strength to be as positive as I wish and as I choose to be today. Time and experience and a sincere desire for change are such enormously precious gifts.”
Serving as an inspiration to multiple generations, the Vogue Portugal cover model, has almost 500,000 followers on Instagram, and her TikTok page has 4.1 million likes.
The media sensation captures the attention of the cyber community with her modest personality that’s coupled with daring styles–including miniskirts, ripped jeans and thigh-high heels–along with fashion and beauty tips, a reminder that beauty has no age limit.
When asked to describe her style, Heidemann replied, “I do not possess one definitive style as I tend to wear at this stage of my life clothing I never would have chosen when younger. I therefore do not stereotype any image of myself but prefer a more diverse selection process… I know it when I see it and usually realize immediately how best my body might wear it.”
In early June, the senior beauty posted a TikTok video, with Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” playing in the background. The viral post, that has 1.4 million likes, shows her makeup being applied, bright blue lining her eyes and her lips painted red. The post is captioned: “I just never know the face the makeup will reveal. And I adore the opportunity of challenging new personalities. Thank you ‘Proud Mary.’”
Fans gushed with comments like, “I just love this beautiful lady,” and “Have a great day Colleen.. you look absolutely stunning.. grace, elegance, class and oh such beauty!!”
Expressing a great deal of gratitude, the woman frequently replies to fan comments with a personal “Thank you so very much.”
While the majority of fans praise her confidence and beauty, there are some who judge her bold fashion sense.
After reading a comment suggesting her poolside attire was “not appropriate for her age,” Heidemann responded with a TikTok video, saying “Temperatures are climbing up and I just want to tell you, wear what makes you feel beautiful.” She added, “every body is a swimsuit body.”
One fan commented, “I don’t want to look like that when I’m older, I want to look like that NOW!! Gorgeous!!” While another, who wrote, “I love that kind of positivity,” fetched a response from Heidemann: “Thank you, it is so important to find something positive in each day.”
In another TikTok video, she’s seen walking the street in an elegant, lacy black outfit, her white hair tied in a messy but glamorous knot above her head. “We are strong. We are not invisible. I dress my age however I want,” she says in the post, that’s captioned with the powerful message: “Addressing the subjects of taste, preference and age are so highly and uniquely individual… which makes this world such a wonderfully remarkably fascinating and interesting place. Freedom to dress as you wish, to be who you are is yours to own.”
One fan writes, “Queen I am literally speechless every time I see you on here. I hope one day I have that amount of confidence and self love,” and Heidemann replies, “What a most wonderful thing to say, thank you.”
