Venus Apovo is a successful mature model who has started her own blog to discuss mature modelling, and creativity in general. She's a pioneer in talking about these issues and is calling for change in the way age is often viewed in the modelling industry.

I started my blog in April this year. It came from a conversation with my friend Davina (we take a long walk every Monday) to whom I was complaining that between self-tapes and sets, I was sometimes bored and wanted to do more. She simply asked me what I liked to do and I answered "writing", and that I wanted to be a photographer when I was a kid and that's how the idea came.

I cannot study photography but I am still part of it, and writing has always been a pleasure. I wanted to create a relatable and human blog; a life story that goes above and beyond modelling. Mine is all of that, so I simply started to write. My daughter was nice enough to make the website, and my other daughter corrected my English. Friends and family gave me feedback until I got to the last version and hired a web manager to finalise it all. All in all, it was a great experience, and I cannot wait to write next month's issue.

It's a campaign I did in March 2021 organised by Jacynth Bassett, the owner of The Bias Cut, one of the first online age-inclusive independent fashion boutiques. I answered to a casting call on Instagram and was selected.

This campaign is important to me because we need to see more messages like this that says that mature women are still alive and kicking and that they enjoy life as much if not more than younger people, and that they want to be able to buy and wear clothes that are desirable and make them feel fantastic. 

I started modelling in 2017 after doing extra work for 3 years. It was a great time but the long hours on huge film sets were no longer enjoyable. I met a male mature model, Antony Fitzgerald, on a film set and we became friends - he told me that I had potential. I did not really listen at the beginning, but I was thinking about it, and I finally made my decision as Tony was happy to guide me through the challenge of starting in this industry.

He's done it on his own very successfully. Things went quite fast even if I was working full time at the same time. We started by getting a good portfolio, and getting signed with agencies one after the other which led to getting jobs. In August 2021 I was made redundant and decided that my plan to do modelling full time by the age of 50 will have 2 years in advance. I don't regret it as I've been casting and working during the pandemic and have done some really nice jobs - I really don't miss my 9 to 5 that I hated.

I love the "come as you are" message, which is exactly what I did. Be yourself and trust your instincts. Take a mentor if you can that is already in the industry as it can be really tricky sometimes. The thing is times are changing, and with the right attitude we can all do it, so whoever you are just go for it.

Go further: Is there an age limit for modelling? Advice for senior models