This 56-Year-Old Follows A Strict Diet, Exercises 4 Days A Week, And It Obviously Pays Off (21 Pics)
To some, ‘Never give up on your dreams’ sounds cliché, but those who dare to chase their life’s goals beg to differ.
Kathy Jacobs has just got her biggest breakthrough — she has made it to the final of this year’s annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model search competition. However, Kathy isn’t your average cover girl. She stands 5’3″ and is 56 years old.
After making it to the end of the contest, the woman from Calabasas, California highlighted that it’s important not to discount people because of their age or height, hoping her appearance in Sports Illustrated will help change readers’ views of beauty.
More info: Instagram
Image credits: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
“I was a model in the ’80s in NYC and then did some stuff here and there in LA but had given up and got a minimum wage job sweeping the floor at a Drybar and decided to give it one last shot about a year and a half ago,” Kathy told Bored Panda. “I started self-submitting myself for modeling and acting jobs and got quite a few [of them].”
She modeled for Soji Health and BeautyBlender and did several commercials as well as a Green Day music video where she appeared in a bikini.
Image credits: Sports Illustrated/Yu Tsai
Image credits: Sports Illustrated/Yu Tsai
Kathy said that after her Sports Illustrated photos went viral, she got bombarded with messages asking for dates and diet, workout, and skincare advice.
“I am not a diet expert,” she said. “I was pre-diabetic and changed the way I eat about 4 years ago.”
Now, Kathy doesn’t eat meat and has fish just a couple of times a week. “I drink lots of almond milk because I use it in my coffee and smoothie every day.”
For breakfast, she usually has a vegan protein smoothie with strawberries or blueberries and meatless sausages. Sometimes she might make eggs with cheese and tomatoes instead. Kathy also eats salads with all different kinds of beans and cheeses for protein. She doesn’t consume sugar but admitted that she’s addicted to Lilly’s sugar-free chocolate chips and peanut butter cups.
“I eat a lot of almond flour crackers. I also make ugly almond flour muffins sweetened with stevia or sugar substitute.”
For dinner, she might have spaghetti squash instead of pasta with pesto or tomato sauce or fish.
Kathy won’t have bread, pasta, rice, or white potatoes more than once a week, but she really enjoys sweet potatoes.
Image credits: si_swimsuit
Image credits: ageisbeauty
“I workout around 4 times a week and have been doing the live Instagram workouts on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Instagram during the quarantine,” Kathy said. “You can also rewatch them on their IGTV.” She also follows quite a few girls, joining their Instagram workouts, including Katie Austin, Katrina Scott, and Claire Prince.
“Before that, I was doing F45 a few times a week and bellydance, which I miss so much!”
@ageisbeauty##takemeback ##donttakemeback ##dreamjob ##dreamjobcheck ##fyp ##foryoupage ##foryourpage ##foruyou♬ original sound – ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
When it comes to beauty products, Kathy said she only uses her own skincare products made from collagen-friendly ingredients such as pumpkin enzyme, vitamin C, and orchid flower stem cells. “I make all of my own skincare and spent 5 years in my kitchen formulating and developing a skincare line for women over 45,” Kathy said. She even went on a TV show called Steve Harvey’s Funderdome to get funding. However, she lost to a girl half her age in a bikini.
“I also went to Florida to pitch to HSN but did not get a deal. I’m still hoping to get funding one day to manufacture my skincare line.”
Image credits: si_swimsuit
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Kathy, who sent her daughter off to medical school in New York not long ago, admitted she’s experimented with some dermatological boosts, too. “I recently broke down and got a small amount of botox and filler in my marionette lines and lip. I think I needed more filler but dang, it hurts so bad!”
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
The woman believes that the best way to age is to choose what to do or not to do for yourself. “Here is my call to action: let’s all stand together as women over 50 and show the world who we are instead of letting the world tell us who we are! Let’s all throw it out how great we are like a giant boomerang and catch it back together and start a movement!”
@ageisbeauty@shefitapparel @f45_training ##shefit ##feeltheburn ##feeltheburnbaby ##workout ##fitness ##lunges ##workoutroutine ##gym ##gymworkout ##mygymworkout♬ Feel the Burn – Tobin Bradstreet
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Image credits: ageisbeauty
Here’s what people said about Kathy and her Sports Illustrated shoot
I think the point is that many older women don't take care of their health and it is so easy to just give up. They become sedentary and don't eat right. As an older woman, I can tell you that people treat us different and often don't respect us. That leads to us not respecting ourselves and losing confidence. All women want to look nice, no matter what age they are. This goes for men as well, of course.
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She is beautiful. I do think good genes and a bit of plastic surgery also have to do with it.
Termination and hard work pays off you go girl.
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I think it's sad that she thinks she needed more, but didn't do it because of pain. Wish we lived in a world where someone like her feels that they aren't pretty enough - and perpetuate a standard that the rest of us haven't a hope in hell of achieving. Everyone is beautiful once you take the time to know them, I just wish more people understood that and learned to love themselves. Be active because you want to be healthy. Wear make-up and pretty things if you enjoy that sort of thing. But don't feel bad because you aren't a supermodel.
Load More Replies...
Again another misguided story about keeping yourself pretty young. Sure, take care of yourself, eat right and excersize...but her breasts are not natural (they stay the same shape regardless what position she's in) and if she's done one plastic surgery she's probably had more. Also, EVERY photo in ANY magazine is at least airbrushed, these ones are just done more subtly. If you don't look like her, don't be disappointed..even SHE does not look the way she does on the photos.
If you care that much about your appearance and general health, go for it! But some people just want to live, eat whatever they want including ice-cream and pizza, travel (if we ever can again), be happy, have leisure time, and don't care if they gain few pounds more or look their own age, and that is ok too. Why not put on front page happy, maybe not that fit, relaxed woman, with achievements other than fit body and youthful face, in her 50s or 60s, who is just happy with who she is?
Yeah, if that’s what makes her happy then she’s free to do that, but the idea that other women should aspire to it sounds like more of the same “women must prioritise being hot over everything else” that we’ve been fed for years. (And there’s some promising progress with the vaccines, so fingers crossed about travelling!)
Load More Replies...
She’s gorgeous, but she’s also wealthy and has access to that wealth to buy healthier foods (which are more expensive) and can afford to hire a personal trainer. This isn’t some inspiration story. This is just how some rich lady bought herself a better body.
Er, she was working a minimum wage job before this ?
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Wow, t his is inspiring. I'm 63 and have spent the past 1 1/2 years working at getting fit. I exercise every day and I've lost 40 pounds and kept it off. Just a few years ago, I could barely get out of bed and had many days when walking was difficult. I'm not enterprising like this lady. (Lol) I just want to be healthy in my old age. I also quit smoking and I've been told that my skin looks much more healthy.
Hey you are doing great! Keep it up!! And may I suggest facial yoga to keep the face tight. It does wonders when done consistently. My great aunt has been doing it for years and although she's in her early 80s no one can tell. If she wasn't paranoid about privacy (we all are) I would post a picture.
Load More Replies...
Good for her and if she's happy with it that's fine. I'll continue to eat everything she doesn't because it taste food and makes me happy.
I totally believe she looks this good... great connective tissue and she has really taken good care of her body....(Pretty sure the boobs are fake or tape is involved), HOWEVER, the POINT is we are ALL different and even if we all did the same workout or diet or beauty routine we would still be all DIFFERENT.... LOVE THE SKIN YOU'RE IN!!!!!
I'm more interested in her skincare than her diet and exercise, which are pretty common sense anyway. No sugar and plenty of veggies and protein.
I'm going to be 57 in a couple of weeks and everyone asks me the same question. It IS partly the gene pool - the women in my family have good skin. It's also because I use an exfoliating cream every night (Neutrogena deep wrinkle serum), face scrub twice a week (Clinique Men's face scrub), and moisturize (Roc eye cream, Neutrogena gel cream moisturizer). ...///... I am lazy. These things take less than 5 minutes a day to do. ...///... and stay out of the sun.
Load More Replies...
People overlook that she lives in Calabasas California...where the average income in 2019 was $125,000 a year and it's housing expenses are 272% higher than the national average. So let's not kid ourselves, she's got some money. And with the perks of money, she has more free time to work out, more funds to spend on organic ingredients, personal trainers, possibly chefs, and the best cosmetic procedures. Is she drop dead gorgeous? Hell Yes. However, I'd be more impressed seeing how the sexiest 56 year old looks from Macon Mississippi, where the average ANNUAL income is less than $21,000. Let's see how sexy one can look without the perks of resources and time that money affords.
Yeah, she looks great, and I'm sure her healthy habits have contributed to that. I would also bet she has also had a facelift, a boob job, and a mommy makeover--plus photographers that use photo editing software skillfully.
Me at 76.....no botox, face lifts, or other. Just a little eye makeup and blush. me-at-76-6...a814be.jpg 
How many brain cells does it take to lay in the sand? My wife has two master's degrees and a doctorate. She's a professor and encourages women to get their graduate degrees. It's bad enough that girls aspire to this kind of vanity and vapidness because its in their face 24-7. But older, accomplished women are now expected to forego their intelligence and wear a bikini?! Nope. Smart is sexy. Always was. Always will be.
My grandmother is way more glowing than this barbie doll with confidence issues, and she's not 59... Her secret? A lot of sugar, 8 kids, WWII with german soldiers squatting her home and a hell of a personality. IMG_202002...5d864c.jpg 
My mother (54) looks just this good without doing a restrictive diet or going to the gym - she always says house chores are her workouts 😁.
That's a horrible life to live. So restricted just for vanity. Yuck. You have one life. I eat all of that stuff and I'm a size 2 anyways.
I don't mean to disparage her, good for her! But my mother is 71 and her face and neck JUST started looking like hers, for the recent year... I know my mother is not the norm, but if you're going to salute "special" and "rare" cases, you can do much better than that... (My mother uses skin care moisturizing products since her 30s).
Sounds like genetics are on your side. My family is the same way. My mother is 82 and looks much younger in my opinion.
Load More Replies... Life is too short to cut out steak, bread, pasta and sugar in order to look good.
Boob job for a start. Why cant people accept the way they are and stop looking like a plastic barbie doll. Awe walk 5kms, fast, every day, plus half hour exercises daily, play 10 pin bowling twice a week and swim 80 lengths or 2km once a week,. In our local pool and eat healthily. We also go on steep hill walks for 2 hours. 'Im 74, my husband is 77 and had 9 heart attacks.. If you dont take of your health, no one else will.
Me at 76....no botox, no face lift, only a little eye makeup and powder blush. me-at-76-6...29d844.jpg 
i just like the fact that she looks happy. Her eyes look bright and energetic.
My mother (54) looks just this good and she doesn't do a restrictive diet or goes to the gym - she always says house chores are her workouts 😁.
Genes, diet, exercise, skin care (protect from sun!)... All end up as factors. I'm mistaken for ten years younger, and never wear make-up. I got lucky. (No, no surgery or botox, either, LOL.)
Typical damn hypocritical female. They say don't look at them as sex objects...but every chance they get---like this b**ch---there they are flaunting themselves. They can't have it both ways...but they think they can.
I think the point is that many older women don't take care of their health and it is so easy to just give up. They become sedentary and don't eat right. As an older woman, I can tell you that people treat us different and often don't respect us. That leads to us not respecting ourselves and losing confidence. All women want to look nice, no matter what age they are. This goes for men as well, of course.
Load More Replies... She is beautiful. I do think good genes and a bit of plastic surgery also have to do with it.
Termination and hard work pays off you go girl.
Load More Replies... I think it's sad that she thinks she needed more, but didn't do it because of pain. Wish we lived in a world where someone like her feels that they aren't pretty enough - and perpetuate a standard that the rest of us haven't a hope in hell of achieving. Everyone is beautiful once you take the time to know them, I just wish more people understood that and learned to love themselves. Be active because you want to be healthy. Wear make-up and pretty things if you enjoy that sort of thing. But don't feel bad because you aren't a supermodel.
Load More Replies... Again another misguided story about keeping yourself pretty young. Sure, take care of yourself, eat right and excersize...but her breasts are not natural (they stay the same shape regardless what position she's in) and if she's done one plastic surgery she's probably had more. Also, EVERY photo in ANY magazine is at least airbrushed, these ones are just done more subtly. If you don't look like her, don't be disappointed..even SHE does not look the way she does on the photos.
If you care that much about your appearance and general health, go for it! But some people just want to live, eat whatever they want including ice-cream and pizza, travel (if we ever can again), be happy, have leisure time, and don't care if they gain few pounds more or look their own age, and that is ok too. Why not put on front page happy, maybe not that fit, relaxed woman, with achievements other than fit body and youthful face, in her 50s or 60s, who is just happy with who she is?
Yeah, if that’s what makes her happy then she’s free to do that, but the idea that other women should aspire to it sounds like more of the same “women must prioritise being hot over everything else” that we’ve been fed for years. (And there’s some promising progress with the vaccines, so fingers crossed about travelling!)
Load More Replies... She’s gorgeous, but she’s also wealthy and has access to that wealth to buy healthier foods (which are more expensive) and can afford to hire a personal trainer. This isn’t some inspiration story. This is just how some rich lady bought herself a better body.
Er, she was working a minimum wage job before this ?
Load More Replies... Wow, t his is inspiring. I'm 63 and have spent the past 1 1/2 years working at getting fit. I exercise every day and I've lost 40 pounds and kept it off. Just a few years ago, I could barely get out of bed and had many days when walking was difficult. I'm not enterprising like this lady. (Lol) I just want to be healthy in my old age. I also quit smoking and I've been told that my skin looks much more healthy.
Hey you are doing great! Keep it up!! And may I suggest facial yoga to keep the face tight. It does wonders when done consistently. My great aunt has been doing it for years and although she's in her early 80s no one can tell. If she wasn't paranoid about privacy (we all are) I would post a picture.
Load More Replies... Good for her and if she's happy with it that's fine. I'll continue to eat everything she doesn't because it taste food and makes me happy.
I totally believe she looks this good... great connective tissue and she has really taken good care of her body....(Pretty sure the boobs are fake or tape is involved), HOWEVER, the POINT is we are ALL different and even if we all did the same workout or diet or beauty routine we would still be all DIFFERENT.... LOVE THE SKIN YOU'RE IN!!!!!
I'm more interested in her skincare than her diet and exercise, which are pretty common sense anyway. No sugar and plenty of veggies and protein.
I'm going to be 57 in a couple of weeks and everyone asks me the same question. It IS partly the gene pool - the women in my family have good skin. It's also because I use an exfoliating cream every night (Neutrogena deep wrinkle serum), face scrub twice a week (Clinique Men's face scrub), and moisturize (Roc eye cream, Neutrogena gel cream moisturizer). ...///... I am lazy. These things take less than 5 minutes a day to do. ...///... and stay out of the sun.
Load More Replies... People overlook that she lives in Calabasas California...where the average income in 2019 was $125,000 a year and it's housing expenses are 272% higher than the national average. So let's not kid ourselves, she's got some money. And with the perks of money, she has more free time to work out, more funds to spend on organic ingredients, personal trainers, possibly chefs, and the best cosmetic procedures. Is she drop dead gorgeous? Hell Yes. However, I'd be more impressed seeing how the sexiest 56 year old looks from Macon Mississippi, where the average ANNUAL income is less than $21,000. Let's see how sexy one can look without the perks of resources and time that money affords.
Yeah, she looks great, and I'm sure her healthy habits have contributed to that. I would also bet she has also had a facelift, a boob job, and a mommy makeover--plus photographers that use photo editing software skillfully.
Me at 76.....no botox, face lifts, or other. Just a little eye makeup and blush. me-at-76-6...a814be.jpg
How many brain cells does it take to lay in the sand? My wife has two master's degrees and a doctorate. She's a professor and encourages women to get their graduate degrees. It's bad enough that girls aspire to this kind of vanity and vapidness because its in their face 24-7. But older, accomplished women are now expected to forego their intelligence and wear a bikini?! Nope. Smart is sexy. Always was. Always will be.
My grandmother is way more glowing than this barbie doll with confidence issues, and she's not 59... Her secret? A lot of sugar, 8 kids, WWII with german soldiers squatting her home and a hell of a personality. IMG_202002...5d864c.jpg
My mother (54) looks just this good without doing a restrictive diet or going to the gym - she always says house chores are her workouts 😁.
That's a horrible life to live. So restricted just for vanity. Yuck. You have one life. I eat all of that stuff and I'm a size 2 anyways.
I don't mean to disparage her, good for her! But my mother is 71 and her face and neck JUST started looking like hers, for the recent year... I know my mother is not the norm, but if you're going to salute "special" and "rare" cases, you can do much better than that... (My mother uses skin care moisturizing products since her 30s).
Sounds like genetics are on your side. My family is the same way. My mother is 82 and looks much younger in my opinion.
Load More Replies... Life is too short to cut out steak, bread, pasta and sugar in order to look good.
Boob job for a start. Why cant people accept the way they are and stop looking like a plastic barbie doll. Awe walk 5kms, fast, every day, plus half hour exercises daily, play 10 pin bowling twice a week and swim 80 lengths or 2km once a week,. In our local pool and eat healthily. We also go on steep hill walks for 2 hours. 'Im 74, my husband is 77 and had 9 heart attacks.. If you dont take of your health, no one else will.
Me at 76....no botox, no face lift, only a little eye makeup and powder blush. me-at-76-6...29d844.jpg
i just like the fact that she looks happy. Her eyes look bright and energetic.
My mother (54) looks just this good and she doesn't do a restrictive diet or goes to the gym - she always says house chores are her workouts 😁.
Genes, diet, exercise, skin care (protect from sun!)... All end up as factors. I'm mistaken for ten years younger, and never wear make-up. I got lucky. (No, no surgery or botox, either, LOL.)
Typical damn hypocritical female. They say don't look at them as sex objects...but every chance they get---like this b**ch---there they are flaunting themselves. They can't have it both ways...but they think they can.
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