It's never TOO LATE

Your dream career could still be achievable, as these women show

- ELLIE FENNELL

‘GREY HAIR GAVE ME MY MODELLING BIG BREAK’

Nicky Griffin, 63, became a midlife model after working in travel. She lives in Nottingham and has grown-up twin daughters.

My modelling career came about completely by chance. Ten years ago, when I was 53, I was standing next to a hairdresser in a queue at the bank. She raved about my grey hair and said I’d be perfect to promote a new product called White Hot Hair Shampoo, and asked me to a get-together for grey-haired ladies.

I had done a bit of modelling for fun when I was 20, but my proper job was running my own student travel business. As the breadwinner and a mother of twin girls, there was no time to think about myself – I didn’t even buy make-up or spend money on clothes.

I wasn’t interested in promoting the shampoo but I took the woman’s number to be polite. I had other things on my mind: the twins were going away to university the weekend it was happening, and I was dreading waving goodbye. Running my business was going to be difficult without their help. I didn't want to do anything without them, really, and the thought of their leaving was painful.

However, my daughters persuaded me to ring the number and I agreed to go to the gathering, which turned out to be a photoshoot audition. I really enjoyed it, and they liked me too, and invited me back to star in their campaign posters. Even better, I would get paid! I was embarking on a new adventure, just like my daughters, and it made their leaving home easier to bear.