48-year-old women credits veganism for her youthful looks

A 48-year-old vegan says she looks better now than she did in her 20s, and credits her vegan diet for her youthful looks.

Victoria Featherstone Pearce from east London is regularly mistaken for being in her late 20s. She believes it’s due to plant-based eating, no alcohol and cruelty-free skincare routine.

She turned vegan 15 years ago, at 33, after learning about the “dark side of the dairy industry”.

The model and charity owner has never had botox and believes her lifestyle choices have impacted her appearance.

“I am not ashamed to say I feel and look good – I want to continue rocking it and being sexy until I am 90!” She admits.

“In the modelling industry, I have had experiences where we have spoke over the phone and I will be dismissed due to my age. People hear I am 48 and a distorted image appears in their mind – just because I am older it doesn’t mean I look it.”

“I believe mature models have a lot more to offer and I don’t want to be just a number.”

She’s not the first model to appear to defy ageing at 48. Earlier this year, Claudia Schiffer posed naked for a magazine cover at the same age.

The modelling industry has traditionally favoured younger models, a bias that Victoria has encountered in her professional career.

“Recently, I lied about my age for a German commercial casting – the age bracket cut off at 38 so I tried my luck and got the job!”

“I told the truth when they employed me, and they couldn’t believe I was a decade older.”

“The industry needs to change as it’s also contributes to women of all ages feeling bad about themselves when really modelling should give women confidence, not take it.”

She’s an advocate for mental health as well as veganism after suffering from depression since she was 21-years-old.

“I have been depressed for a long time due to finding out my dad wasn’t my real dad at 21 years of age. Depression doesn’t have a face; most people are shocked when they hear I am.”