20 Seniors Who've Proven Age is No Barrier

From running marathons to becoming fashion icons, these people have accomplished amazing things. Proving growing old is all about the mindset, here are some seniors who will certainly force you out of your couch-potato era!

By their sheer determination, some seniors proved that it's never too late to achieve your goals. Not only did these incredibly talented people break age-related stereotypes, but they've also inspired many out there by proving age is no barrier to pursuing your dreams. Highlighting their journeys, here are 20 inspiring stories of seniors who decided NOT TO age!

Ernestine Shepherd

Renowned for being the world's oldest living performing female bodybuilder, Ernestine Shepherd is indeed an inspiration for all the fitness enthusiasts out there. At 87, she is a trainer, bodybuilder, fitness icon, and a Guinness World Record holder!

Living off nuts, eggs, vegetables, and chicken, this bodybuilder follows a strict diet and exercises regularly. No wonder she owns those perfectly crafted muscles!

Annette Larkins

Also known as the "Ageless Woman," Annette Larkin is 81 years old, and after looking at her, it's no wonder why she's called that! After following a raw vegan diet for the last 30 years, she believes switching to a healthier eating lifestyle is one way to stay younger and fitter.

In order to encourage a healthy way of life and share her lifestyle mantras, Annette has also authored two books — "Journey To Health: Featuring Living Food Recipes" and "Journey To Health 2: Featuring More Living Food Recipes."

Lesley Maxwell

A personal trainer and fitness coach, 65-year-old Lesley Maxwell is famous among her followers for her workout videos. By helping several people achieve their body goals, she's successfully proving there's no such thing as being "too old" when you are passionate about something.

Maxwell is also a famous fitness influencer who often shares her workout routines on social media. She's assisting people in achieving their desired body, spreading body positivity, and is a firm believer that one can maintain their health and change the shape of their body via healthy eating and proper training.

Greta Pontarelli

Looking absolutely stunning in her 70s, Greta Pontarelli is an accomplished pole dancer with more achievements than any other pole artist. She started her journey of becoming a pole dancer at 59, which is far older than the average age of a professional pole artist.

After her 40s, she was losing flexibility and had to work diligently to maintain herself. She eventually took charge of her fitness and created a healthy, flexible, graceful physique. She has also always followed a diet rich in organic foods and avoids gluten and processed food items.

Sharing her secret behind breaking the age barrier, Greta revealed it's essential to surround oneself with inspiring people. She also shared she never stopped training and focused on maintaining her weight.

Mark Sisson

Mark is a bestselling fitness author and former marathoner in his 70s, inspiring people toward a healthier life. An advocate for achieving good health through natural means, Mark started his journey to inspire others to a healthier way of life in 1988.

He used his pre-med background and degree in biology to discover the natural forms of achieving good health. He has since been sharing his knowledge through books, blogs, and social media, inspiring several people.

Sam "Sonny" Bryant Jr.

Sam "Sonny" Bryant Jr.'s fitness journey started after his painful divorce, and since then, he has not looked back. Sam was 44 when he started bodybuilding, and later on, he also participated in competitions, gaining several trophies to his name.

Through his story and journey, Sam wishes to empower those younger than him, and he also believes age is no barrier when you genuinely want to achieve something.

Ruth Flowers

Famous by the name "Mamy Rock," Ruth Flowers rose to fame in her 70s, successfully breaking the age stereotypes. With her lively stage presence, she created unforgettable performances and quickly became an inspiration to people of all ages.

While she passed away in 2014, she left a legacy that will continue inspiring music enthusiasts worldwide.

Madonna Buder

Famously known as the "Iron Nun," Madonna Buder started her athletic journey in her 40s and has inspired many through her achievements.

At 92, she is an accomplished triathlete who holds the world record for the oldest woman ever to complete an Ironman Triathlon—she bagged this title when she was 82! Madonna's sheer determination certainly proves age is no barrier when you're bent on achieving something.

Helen Ruth Elam Van Winkle

With a following of more than 3 million and the sassy line in her bio, "Stealing Ur Mans Since 1928" on her Instagram, Helen Ruth, also known as "Baddie Winkle," is a style icon in her 90s famous for her bold fashion choices.

Whether mini skirts or swimsuits, Helen knows how to rock it all! No wonder she's famous among her fans for the fearless fashion queen she is.

Masako Mizutani

Famously known as the "Lady of Eternal Youth," Masako Mizutani is a model famous for her incredible looks. While in her 50s, Mizutani looks like she's still in her 20s.

Revealing the secret behind her youthful looks, Mizutani said that if one does regular workouts, gets enough sleep, and stays away from smoking, they can maintain a fit body and look younger. The model also shared that following a balanced diet and four small meals constitutes her plans for staying young.

Apo Whang-od

Crossing the average human life expectancy of humans, Whang-od, 106, has the title of the oldest person to grace Vogue's magazine cover! This talented Filipino tattoo artist has been hand-tapping tattoos since her teenage years—a skill she learned from her father.

Also known as the oldest "mambabatok," traditional Kalinga tattooist, Whang-od meets more than thousands of tourists just for her tattoos. Still think you're too old to pursue your dreams?

Wang Deshun

Named the hottest grandpa in China, Wang Deshun, 86, is definitely breaking those stereotypes out there! An actor and model by profession, Deshun made it to the headlines for a bare-chested runway walk, which earned him the title.

While Wang's secret behind maintaining that toned body lies in an intense fitness regime, he doesn't believe in maintaining one of those crazy gym diets to earn the perfect body. Instead, he eats whatever he wants, from pancakes to pastries and even jelly for breakfast!

Yasmina Rossi

Hailing from Corsica, Yasmina Rossi is a photographer, influencer, model, and more. The 67-year-old has been practicing yoga for over 30 years, which certainly explains the gorgeous body she owns.

Yasmina also firmly believes in being real with her work and her body—that's the reason why she dons her silver hair proudly. She has also maintained a healthy, balanced, and spiritual way of life all these years, and that's not surprising considering she looks this amazing.

Maye Musk

Considering her charming smile and striking silvery-white hair, Maye Musk is living proof of how age is just a number. The 75-year-old believes that one has to look after their skin as they grow older, insisting that taking care of your hair and hands, eating a good diet for a healthy glow, and protecting your skin from the sun are necessary steps.

A speaker, model, author, and the mother of one of the wealthiest men in the world, Maye Musk has done it all. She is also very active on social media, where she often shares her modeling pictures and achievements with her fans.

Liu Yelin

Aging like fine wine, Liu Yelin, a 50-something woman from China, looks astonishingly young for her age. Known for her flawless skin and perfect body, she is inspiring many to get back in shape.

Liu credits her perfect body to exercising—she does weights daily and loves swimming outdoors in winter. Considering the efforts she's putting in every day, no wonder she owns that dream body!

Mimi Kirk

A bestselling author, a chef, and an international lecturer, Mimi Kirk is a public figure in her 80s who has been devoted to sharing healthy eating habits. Titled the "Sexiest Vegetarian over 50" by PETA, Mimi considers her eating habits played a crucial role in helping her maintain good health.

Sharing her secrets on longevity and health, she revealed she consumes an 85-perfect raw vegan diet. She has also authored several books in order to help anyone interested in maintaining a healthier way of life.

Dr. Jeffry Life

Once struggling with weight issues and declining health, Dr. Jeffry Life is now, in his 80s, an inspiration for many who want to achieve a healthy body. At the start of his health journey, he switched to a low-fat diet and followed a strict exercise regime.

Now, he enjoys gyming and does it five days a week. A physician by profession, he has also authored three books focusing on men's health. He believes it's never too late to start working on your body. While it may take time, it will be worth it.

George Hood

An ex-marine, George Hood, made a new Guinness World Record at 62 by planking over eight hours and made it to the headlines. However, this wasn't his first time, as he broke the record back in 2011 too.

Hood followed a rigorous routine where he trained 7 hours every day, which also included 1500 sit-ups daily, for months before his second win just to get into shape. Now he works as a personal trainer and fitness instructor, helping several out there achieve their dream bodies.

Jim Arrington

After getting into bodybuilding at the age of 19, Jim didn't look back. In his 90s now, he holds a Guinness World record, and he has no plans to quit weight training.

He still exercises two to three times a week, and while it doesn't involve a lot of weight training, Jim goes for a whole-body workout, carefully training his body, which he believes is more fragile at his age now.

Eileen Kramer

Australian dancer, artist, writer, and much more, Eileen Kramer has successfully broken the age stereotypes and is still doing so at 108 by continuing to dance!

With no intentions of ever calling herself old but insisting she's just "been here for a very long time," Eileen is a very cheerful spirit. She considers herself lucky that she's been able to maintain her well-being. Eileen has also authored books and sees herself as a highly creative person.

The journeys mentioned in this article are just are only of a few of the many graceful souls who said NO to age-related stereotypes. While someone was motivated by heartbreak, some were determined to set an example and break the norms. No matter how they did it, there's no denying these people are an inspiration for those still procrastinating and considering themselves "too old." All you need to do is start—every effort you put into something matters!