Ageism is rampant in our society today - whether we recognize it consciously or not. From discriminatory hiring practices to “humorous” birthday cards, stereotypes about older adults are everywhere. 

Today, we’re celebrating four individuals that are turning ageism on its head. These inspiring octogenarians and nonagenarians are proving that age truly is just a number…

Carmen Dell'Orefice

Carmen Dell'Orefice’s philosophy has always been to enjoy herself, at no-one else's expense. She began modeling for Vogue at age 15 and hasn’t stopped since. Now 91, she believes that “men and women should care for themselves and love themselves. One of the secrets to maintaining beauty is doing what you do for a baby, nurturing and feeding the baby with love. That’s what we should do with ourselves: nurture ourselves, love ourselves, and give that kind of energy to ourselves.”

Yuichiro Miura 

Yuichiro Miura is a 90 year old Japanese skier and alpinist. He was the first person to ski on Mt. Everest and in 2003, Miura became the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest at the age of 70. But that’s not all… 10 years later, he broke his own record when he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest AGAIN at the age of 80. 

Jane Fonda

At age 85, Jane Fonda continues to actively work as an actress, activist, writer, and philanthropist. Since 2020 alone, she’s filmed four films, acted in five different television shows, released one documentary, and published a book. Most recently she’s been keeping busy advocating for a new Global Ocean Treaty. 

Anthony Fauci

Anthony Fauci has been one of the most recognized faces in the fight against COVID-19. The 5th Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci has served the American public health sector in various capacities for more than fifty years and has acted as an advisor to every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan. Did you know that he’s 82 years old?

What can we learn from these incredible older adults? Find your passion. Each of these individuals have poured their energy into the things they care most about. There are many keys to longevity and healthy aging, but it’s clear that finding fulfillment is one of them!