Supermodel Marie Helvin, 56, who took to the catwalk for Yves Saint Laurent in Paris three decades ago, has a refreshingly upbeat attitude to the ageing process —saying for as long as there is a fashion industry, she will never retire.
"I've always had to work really hard for all the contracts and deals that I've landed," says Helvin, who is currently the face of Marks & Spencer's Portfolio range.
"If there's one thing that I've learned in all the time I've been modelling, it's that nothing comes for free. At times I've shed blood and tears competing with the best, everyone's at war with each other ... it's hard to say no to jobs even now at my age. We all age; it's a fact of life. But do it gracefully and elegantly."
