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People Are Shaming This 58 Y.O. Supermodel’s Bikini Photos But She Stands Her Ground
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People Are Shaming This 58 Y.O. Supermodel’s Bikini Photos But She Stands Her Ground

People Are Shaming This 58 Y.O. Supermodel’s Bikini Photos But She Stands Her Ground58 Y.O. Supermodel Keeps Sharing Her Body-Positive Pictures Despite People Trying To Shame Her Bikini Photos“People Who Believe Prettiness Equals Beauty Do Not Understand Beauty”: 58 Y.O. Woman Responds To Critics Shaming Her Bikini PhotosDespite Her Critics, 58 Y.O. Woman Advocates A Body-Positive Approach By Posting Pictures Revealing Her Body As She Finds It BeautifulPeople Are Loving That This 58 Y.O. Woman Claps Back At Haters Who Commented On A Photo Of Her In A Bikini“Ageist Shaming Sets My Teeth On Edge”: 58 Y.O. Supermodel And Writer Responds To Her Critics Saying She Shouldn’t Expose Her Body At Her AgeCritics Throw Shade At 58 Y.O. Model For Wearing A Bikini, She Claps Back Saying They Don’t Know The Meaning Of “Beauty”People Are Shaming This 58 Y.O. Supermodel’s Bikini Photos But She Stands Her GroundPeople Are Shaming This 58 Y.O. Supermodel’s Bikini Photos But She Stands Her GroundPeople Are Shaming This 58 Y.O. Supermodel’s Bikini Photos But She Stands Her Ground
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Paulina Porizkova has been in the public eye as well as in the beauty industry since childhood – no wonder this woman has a strong opinion about such a mystified, often poetized, sometimes vulgarized, and yet not fully understood phenomenon as beauty and its connection to age. As well as many stereotypes surrounding these topics. 

However, she does not limit herself to only having an opinion; she actively applies it by daring to act accordingly and ‘be visible’.

More info: Instagram

The supermodel gets comments like ‘women at 58 Y.O. are “too old” to pose in a bikini’ every time she posts a picture of her body

Image credits: paulinaporizkov

The woman shares that ageist shaming sets her teeth on edge, but these people are confusing prettiness with beauty

Image credits: paulinaporizkov

Image credits: paulinaporizkov

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Image credits: paulinaporizkov

It must be noted that not only having worked as a model from the age of 15 and signing the highest-paid modeling contract in the world at the height of her modeling career makes this woman eligible to discuss beauty. It is actually all of her life experience and history, from being left behind by her parents at the age of 4 as they were escaping the political situation in her native Czechoslovakia occupied by the Soviets and appearing on the public news for this very reason, to marrying Ric Ocasek, the rock star from the Cars, at the age of 19 and living together for 30 years just to be left out of his will after his sudden death and being accused of abandoning him. Just to mention a few challenges this woman went through. However, recently, Paulina Porizkova came out with a slightly different scope, posting her crying video as she grieved for her husband as well as emotional betrayal online and revealing her vulnerable side, as well as starting her new career step as a writer. 

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Image credits: paulinaporizkov

Image credits: paulinaporizkov

Image credits: paulinaporizkov

The woman’s post answering the critics of her pictures received 100k likes on Instagram. Even though her photos, which reveal the beauty and complexity of a mature woman’s body, are highly supported and feedback is mostly positive, she notes that she gets negative comments every time she posts a picture of her body online. The supermodel opens up that ageist comments “set her teeth on edge”. These usually include claims that posting pictures of her body at the age of 58 is necessarily being desperate. Or saying women over 58 are “too old” to pose in a bikini.

However, despite the natural disappointment with such out-of-place comments, the woman emphasizes the importance of taking action – by starting a conversation as well as letting mature people and our natural aging process be seen instead of asking them ‘to be invisible.’ Following her own advice, the woman is not afraid of showing her body, primarily because she finds it beautiful, despite the unhealthy stigma that surrounds exposing the bodies of mature people to the camera’s eye. 

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In her post, Paulina Porizkova addresses a common misconception that most of her critics share. According to her, most of those ‘naysayers’ do not understand beauty, as they confuse it with prettiness. She explains that while prettiness is easy on the eyes, as it is easy to take in and easy to forget, this is at least partly because it’s a little bland and inoffensive. Beauty is something else. As she puts it: “Beauty can be sharp. It can wound you and leave a scar.”

Image credits: paulinaporizkov

“Pretty is easy on the eyes, partly because it’s a little bland, inoffensive. It’s easy to take in and easy to forget”

Image credits: paulinaporizkov

“Beauty can be sharp. It can wound you and leave a scar”

She emphasizes that compared to prettiness, beauty might require more effort from a beholder. As she says: “To perceive beauty you have to be able to ‘see’.” Which in this context might refer to actually focusing one’s attention to see through the stereotypes and default settings of one’s mind. This aligns nicely with her last note saying: “There is no such thing as ugly and old, only shortsighted and ignorant.”

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The woman adds she believes people get more beautiful with age, as they have earned it and are able to really understand it. This has to do with a person possibly developing and exercising certain powers of their own as well as simply leading their life and creating their own history, in such a way indulging their uniqueness, which might just turn out to be a crucial ingredient to being perceived as beautiful.

People commented that this woman’s attitude as well as her pictures are inspiring:

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Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Writer, Community member

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Aura is a writer at Bored Panda. She finished her BA in Philosophy at Vilnius University. She lived in Prague for a few years, where she worked in Trade Compliance at DHL Express. Finally, she came back to Vilnius to continue her studies in Philosophy.

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Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Writer, Community member

Aura is a writer at Bored Panda. She finished her BA in Philosophy at Vilnius University. She lived in Prague for a few years, where she worked in Trade Compliance at DHL Express. Finally, she came back to Vilnius to continue her studies in Philosophy.

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

Read less »

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

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Junebugjump!
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in my mid-50s and just started wearing bikinis. The power behind 50 is not giving a fork what anyone else thinks. Social media is toxic. I'm down to BP, 95% of people here = CLEVER, FUNNY, and LOVELY

Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 41 and I've just started NOT feeling ashamed of my body! XD And I'm the same as you - I don't use my Twitter any more, my FB account was made only for my sick kitten, my Instagram is only pictures of my pets... I really only socialize on Bored Panda any more and I'm so much happier :)

Load More Replies...
zak
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If someone thinks you're ugly, who cares? You aren't going to change their mind. If you dictate your life around other people's opinions, then you're living their life instead of your own.

Majungasaurus
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very true! But I think that minimizes the situation she’s addressing a little and also puts the shame back on her for feeling the need to stand up for herself and other women. We could all benefit from being more open minded when it comes to beauty standards and older women :)

Load More Replies...
JustinTime
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It doesn’t matter what you do, how you look, there will always be awful people who have to take their evil out on everyone else. I pray I look as good as she does 12 years from now.

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Junebugjump!
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in my mid-50s and just started wearing bikinis. The power behind 50 is not giving a fork what anyone else thinks. Social media is toxic. I'm down to BP, 95% of people here = CLEVER, FUNNY, and LOVELY

Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 41 and I've just started NOT feeling ashamed of my body! XD And I'm the same as you - I don't use my Twitter any more, my FB account was made only for my sick kitten, my Instagram is only pictures of my pets... I really only socialize on Bored Panda any more and I'm so much happier :)

Load More Replies...
zak
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If someone thinks you're ugly, who cares? You aren't going to change their mind. If you dictate your life around other people's opinions, then you're living their life instead of your own.

Majungasaurus
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very true! But I think that minimizes the situation she’s addressing a little and also puts the shame back on her for feeling the need to stand up for herself and other women. We could all benefit from being more open minded when it comes to beauty standards and older women :)

Load More Replies...
JustinTime
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It doesn’t matter what you do, how you look, there will always be awful people who have to take their evil out on everyone else. I pray I look as good as she does 12 years from now.

Load More Comments
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