BEAUTY HAS NO AGE LIMIT

Wearing high heels, lipstick, straight-backed, stylish, four "chic grandmas" with an average age of more than 68, can still walk the walk with a sassy international swagger on the T stage. But these are not trained models. They are, in fact, ordinary retirees. They were laboratory researchers, community workers and police officers. But they all share a love for fashion, and they came together to add a bit of sparkle to their lives. The "chic grandmas" hope to make videos and convey their insights on life, at a certain age, through the internet. They share a common goal now but their backgrounds could hardly be more different.

Sang Xiuzhu, 77, used to be an automatic control engineer and worked in Beijing for nearly 40 years. After retiring at the age of 62, she originally planned to travel around the world with her husband, but during a literary event, Sang, who is 1.7 meters tall, was tapped by a modeling coach to become a model and walk the catwalk. In the beginning, she joined the senior model team in Beijing's Fengtai district and strutted at events organized by her local community and enterprises. Later, she was invited to participate in Beijing International Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week and her new career just grew.

Sang is learning to become a choreographer, composing music, modulating LED lights, forming lines and writing scripts. She is so occupied that she really has no time to think about mundane issues, like aging. As for the future, Sang doesn't know how to define it, as she really enjoys the present. For her, the stage she loves and pours her blood into is her future.

Likewise, Guo Lirong, 62, was a police officer in the Daxing'anling region of Heilongjiang province before retirement. She came to Beijing in 2015 because her children were working there. When she was at a friend's house by sheer chance, she was asked to be a model, and she bought a set of cheongsam and a pair of 8 cm high heels at a store near the Wukesong area for 500 yuan ($78). Guo wrote down the phone number of a model teacher on the shoe box. Later, she called the teacher and paid 1,400 yuan to sign up for courses. Her studies have continued for three years, from elementary to intermediate, and then to advanced classes. Her physique was worked on through strenuous hours at the gym, mostly to improve muscle tone. It gave her added confidence in her new role.

Playing mahjong is popular family entertainment in Northeast China. In the early days of retirement Guo did the usual routine. She finished shopping in the morning, then tidied up the home, made lunch, and started playing mahjong at 1:30 pm. Now, her hobbies are walking with attitude down the catwalks and filming short videos.

Cheng Derong is 72. She is tall and lean, with a smile that seems to last forever. She is polite and gentle. Cheng worked in a community committee before retirement in 2005.

She has loved literature and art since she was a child, and often participated in various theatrical performances organized by the school. But her job as an accountant took up all her time. The opportunity to stay on stage seemed to have vanished but her love for literature and art has never diminished.

Tang Ai'ai, 62, was a civil servant before retirement. After retirement, she participated in various activities, such as yoga, Latin dance and conquering catwalks. At the same time, she also used the live broadcast platform to teach the elderly how to wear clothes. Tang says frankly that those of that certain age don't have to "seek troubles". If you shouldn't worry about it, let it go. Try to be open-minded. Try to balance your life, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. You can take care of yourself and your family. She suggested that after retirement, people must deal with the transition period, and they should have their own hobbies and enjoy life. As long as the heart is not old, life is always sweet.

The four "chic grandmas" are full of enthusiasm for new things and digital life, and they live to learn. This kind of enthusiasm that is rooted in their original aspirations fills them with energy.

"Don't think that the elderly don't know anything," Guo says. "We also discuss the metaverse. I believe that in the future, when you go to the mall to buy clothes, when you stand in front of the mirror, through face recognition, it can tell you what clothes, colors and styles are best suitable for you. It will tell you how to match various items. Wearing special glasses at home, you will be able to touch a projected screen in front of you and place an order just like going to a real supermarket."

He Daling, founder of "Chic Grandmas" agrees. "Be it young or old, they should pursue what they want to do without being confined by their age."