At 71, Model Rosa Saito Throws Conventional Age & Beauty Standards Out The Window

Oct 20, 2022

Every once in a while, there comes a model who manages to break conventional beauty standards. Think Iman, Winnie Harlow and Ashley Graham. We can now count Brazilian beauty Rosa Saito among them as she takes the fashion world by storm – at the age of 71.

The model, who hails from Araçatuba, São Paulo, was born Setsuko Saito to Japanese parents but changed her name to make it easier for people to pronounce. She was first approached to model in her 60s, and it’s not hard to see why. Standing at about 5’5”, her toned and statuesque figure, delicate facial features and voluminous grey hair set her apart stand from the crowd. However, she had never considered a modeling career and had to think about pursuing it when it became an option for her.

“Twice (I was approached) by professionals from the Mega modeling agency and once by a photographer. I let the idea mature for a year, after all, it had costs, too, it wasn’t something I was going to get into just like that, blindly. Until I decided to take the risk,” she told Estadão. 

However, she “always knew I was going to pursue something creative, something I could invent. Everything I do I take to that side.” 

Her youth was filled with challenges: at 22, she had to drop everything to care for her bedridden mother. Later in life, she became a single mother of three after her husband passed away. But she was determined not to let her past hinder her future. She told the outlet:

“I got married, got pregnant, I was always dedicating myself to someone. I wanted to try it to see if (modeling) would really work.”

So at the age of 69, Saito took the plunge and hasn’t looked back since.

Now 71, Saito has racked up an impressive portfolio, garnering almost 50,000 followers on Instagram. Her page is filled with campaign shoots and magazine covers that highlight her natural beauty – wrinkles, grey hair and all. Saito told Estadão the beauty industry is making inroads into widening its oppressive beauty standards.

“I feel that slowly we are changing. People are living longer, taking care of themselves more and companies really need to open up more in that sense and visualize these potential customers,” she said.

She told the outlet that for her, beauty is inextricably linked to health.

“Beauty itself is in really taking care of your thoughts, your spirituality. The person can become beautiful; being captivating, friendly, this is much more than the beauty all stretched and perfect. It’s the content that counts, in my opinion,” she said.

Saito said she eschews “everything that is chemistry” for more natural beauty products such as coconut oil and aloe, adding she would never consider botox or dyeing her hair.

“It’s the natural way for us to be. Of course, as a woman, there are some things I’d like to change, of course, we all do, but I’m not dissatisfied with myself. I feel beautiful to myself,” she said.

In line with this, Saito makes sure to keep her body in tip-top shape, telling the publication, “In 2017 I lost 10kg (about 22lbs) and felt the need to gain lean mass. I started going to the gym every day, something I thought I would never do in my life.”

Even the traditional concept of aging isn’t something Saito will readily accept:

“I don’t believe aging is the right word. I would say more learn. I keep learning… If I were to give my soul an age, I would give it 22.”

Isn’t Rosa Saito simply stunning? Do you agree with her opinions about beauty and aging? Let us know, and don’t forget to pass this along to all your beautiful friends and family too.