AARP's Real People Model Contest Winners, Aging Beautifully... Beauty & Style

Meet the Winners of AARP' s 50 Model Search

From 51 to 91 Learn how they keep young at heart

Ari Michelson The Magnificent Seven (from left): Linda Wilson, Alfredo Martinez, Cosette Bonjour, Richard Bucci, Marguerite LaMarque, J. Pat Branch and Kim Dillard. What does it mean to live your ? That's the question we asked of readers a few months ago — and a resounding 6,000 of you responded, with amazing stories of courage in the face of adversity, of and of in the second half of life. We chose seven of you — including a People's Choice winner, selected by readers — to fly to for a whirlwind two-day photo shoot. Take a peek by watching the video below, and reading about the winners and playing their videos on the following pages. Next page: Ari Michelson "Whatever I do at this stage of my life, I ask myself (and my friends) this question: Am I having fun?" says Kim Dillard.

Kim Dillard 51

Home: Houston
Lifeline: My family Words to Live by: There's only one path to now. Let's just say I was a late . I lived in Dallas, Houston and New York in my 20s and 30s, and while all my friends were getting married and having kids, I still wanted to be a kid. I waited until 39 to get married, and 40 to have a daughter. Then I was a , which is where adulthood really started. See also: And then I waited until I was almost 50 to pursue my dream. Or more specifically (and literally), my sister's dream: She called me in the middle of the night and said, "I dreamt that we should start a faith-based television network for the urban community." And so we did! We took our savings — she was a teacher, and I was a loan officer — and started a network. We knew nothing about television. We had to teach ourselves how to operate a television camera. But I believe it's good not to know too much, because if you know a lot about something, you may be afraid to try it. And, really, this idea is one of the main components of faith. I walk in a faith adventure every day. streams 24 hours of programming for an urban audience daily — you might see a holy hip-hop rap artist, or you might see classic black movies from the '40s and '50s starring . Through my network I am trying to pass on that example of faith and fearlessness to my daughter and to other young people, especially young people of color. One day, in the near future, a fit, healthy, active female entrepreneur in her 50s and beyond will be the rule in urban communities, not the exception. Whatever I do at this stage of my life, I ask myself (and my friends) this question: Am I having fun? Am I making a difference? As I move forward, I hope to be able to answer both questions with a very loud "Yes." Next page: Ari Michelson "There's not one day that goes by that I don't hug my wife and give her a kiss and tell her I love her," says Richard Bucci.

Richard Bucci 54

Home: Graham, N.C. Lifeline: My wife, Stacy Words to Live by: It's not the number of things we acquire, but how many lives we touch along the way. For 28 years I've had just about the best job any man could have — firefighting. I've worked in Florida, North Carolina and, earlier, with our extraordinary military in Iraq. I wrote about my experience in 2004 with the Mosul bombing in Iraq (80 percent of the proceeds from the book go to support our soldiers with ). I've faced extreme conditions. I've witnessed heroism at close range. I've seen birth — I helped deliver a baby — and I've seen death. And as I approached 50, I had to think about my own: I was diagnosed with . My doctor told me that if it hadn't been caught early, I would have been looking at a terminal case 10 years later. I think everyone expected me to retire from firefighting at that point, particularly since, right after the prostate surgery, I faced surgery for a separated shoulder (from fighting a structure fire) and a . Instead, I decided to get back into firefighting condition, which involved seven months of physical therapy and training, at least two hours a day, four days a week. Today, at 54, I'm still doing the job I love most — the other guys call me Grandpa. And at the end of the day, I return to the love of my life, Stacy. We met after the prostate surgery, and after my 50th birthday. We'd both been married twice before; the theme for our wedding was "Three time's the charm." When you've seen as much death and suffering as I have, just the fact of being here, when so many others you've known and loved are not, gives every day new meaning. There's not one day that goes by that I don't hug my wife and give her a kiss and tell her I love her. Not one day. My son Kyle, who's 21, too. I've been blessed to be of service, and I know I'm still here because God has a plan for me. He has one for all of us. Next page:
Ari Michelson "I am grateful every day for what I have, and grateful that I have the power to create a new life for myself," says Cosette Bonjour.

Cosette Bonjour 61

Home: Kapoho, Hawaii Lifeline: Yoga Words To Live By: Living life to the fullest means not living for yourself but looking outward — serving others and bringing out their beauty. My first husband died of a at 38. My second husband died of a heart attack at 54 — and he was incredibly fit, and practiced . He died in his sleep on his birthday. And did I mention I had in my 20s? From these challenges you could learn one of two lessons: You could become fearful, or you could shift your perception and become grateful. I chose the second course. My second husband and I had moved to and constructed an extraordinary hexagonal glass house on the ocean, and I cherished our memories in it, but I needed new challenges. I had been a graphic designer in New York, and when I turned 50, I began painting seriously, exploring new techniques and media and always returning to the lush beauty of Hawaii. My work is represented by a local gallery. I also teach yoga and exercise with friends every morning. Healthy living:

Age Just a Number

, and sometimes you need to give yourself over to it. Because when you come out the other side, it can be beautiful. If you look for joy, you find it. I am grateful every day for what I have, and grateful that I have the power to create a new life for myself. Soon I'll begin training to be a life coach, and I'd like to specialize in helping others deal with grief and also in overcoming cancer. People have this idea that life coaching is about telling people what to do. It's the opposite. It's about listening — because, really, everyone does know what's best for them. It's the process of figuring it out, and doing it, that's valuable. And of course I want to find my next relationship — just someone who loves to travel, is warm, kind, someone intellectually interesting whom I can have great conversations with — and maybe someone a bit younger than me. I admit, I will be asking about his heart history. Our second date may be at the cardiologist's! Next page: AARP Members! Ari Michelson "Men who've been in combat and lived — they've been given a second chance. Me, I've been given more than a dozen chances," says J. Pat Branch.

J Pat Branch 65

Home: Kimberly, Idaho Lifeline: My great God; my wife, Margo; and family Words to Live by: I can't do everything for everybody all the time, but I can do something for somebody some of the time. In the 17 months I served in , I earned the . I earned three . And people say, "Man, you're a hero." No, what I was was somebody else's target practice. Frequently I wondered: Why did I come home alive when so many guys I knew didn't? Over the next four decades I earned a college degree and gave myself over to veterans' advocacy, assisting veterans and their families in receiving health and financial benefits. I've been fortunate to be able to give my time to the food bank, homeless shelters, church activities, and riding programs for the disabled. When I was younger I rodeoed — rode bulls and broncos and steer-wrestled. I never won a million dollars in rodeo. But I had a million dollars' worth of fun and made $10 million worth of friends. Growing up in cowboy culture, you kinda know who's real and who isn't. Helping hands: For years I've been doing the ranch and rodeo ministry — I go to rodeos and preach a chapel service. I've seen myself as a servant for much of my life — a servant to God, to the community — but much of my work came after I turned 50, too. When I was 58, I was fortunate enough to receive a in I try to always keep in mind a scene from my favorite movie, . Captain John Miller, played by , has been severely wounded and is dying. He tells , who plays Private Ryan, to do something good with his life. "Earn this," he says. Men who've been in combat and lived — they've been given a second chance. Me, I've been given more than a dozen chances. Getting older is learning not to waste what you've been given. You do something. You always do something. Next page: Ari Michelson "What a person needs becomes so much clearer a little later in life," says Linda Wilson.

LINDA WILSON 72

Home: Wilmington, N.C. Lifeline: My yellow Lab. She's a rescue, and she rescued me, basically. Words to Live by: Never, ever stop learning. I lived a cosseted life, really, until I . And then, here are the things that happened to me . I got because my skill — teaching people how to operate a particular phone system — was no longer necessary. I had serious . I had a , which necessitated a . Then I needed another stent. Then I needed two . These were times of great stress. I decided that it's never too late for a new start — and I also wanted to prove to my family that I was far more capable than they thought. I grew up in the kind of family that thought a college degree denoted intelligence. But I knew what I was capable of.

Age Just a Number

I moved to a beach community in North Carolina, where I knew no one. I started a business to people after serious surgery — I knew from personal experience how comforting it could be to stay in your home rather than go to a rehab center — and the business was very successful. It was a stressful business, though, so I sold it five years later, at a profit, and started a pet-sitting service, which allows me to make good use of my . I feel in many ways that I'm really, really living for the first time. I've got family nearby and I love to dance and kayak. I'm constantly looking to learn new things. And now I do want someone in my life. What a person needs becomes so much clearer a little later in life. I want to find someone who loves nature, who has a good heart. I don't want to date . If I don't find anyone, that's perfectly OK. If I do, I want it to be my last love. Next page: Ari Michelson "I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up," says Alfredo Martinez.

Alfredo Martinez 72

Home: Los Angeles Lifeline: Painting Words to Live by: It doesn't get any better than this. When I was young, everything was about getting and maintaining a family. I grew up in South Central L.A., was drafted out of high school. Then I came back, became a hairdresser—in the days of that was cool — got married to a wonderful woman, had two daughters. While growing up, I did not have the chance to go to college, so I made sure my daughters did. I needed a foundation, so I worked for a corporation for years. Then came , which changed my life. It gave me a sense that life was short. I decided to , lifting weights, , . I began studying at the , . At first the kids were like, "What's this old man doing here?" And then they saw my work. I'd always had a talent but hadn't taken that talent seriously. I decided I wanted to be an actor, so I took acting classes — which resulted in an agent. Now I do large multimedia paintings, and I have gotten several roles in commercials aimed at seniors. My wife is beautiful, my daughters are beautiful — and graduates of the University of Notre Dame — and I'm an artist. In a way, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. But that's the beauty of this time. When I was young, I wanted to be old. Now I'm old, and I feel so young. Next page: Ari Michelson "I give thanks to God every morning for waking me up in my right mind, and for the new day," says Marguerite LaMarque.

Marguerite LaMarque 91

Home: Framingham, Mass. Lifeline: My faith Words to Live by: Give thanks to God every day, and listen to others — even the dull and ignorant. They, too, have their story. I can't speak for all others about how to . is crucial, of course — my father lived until he was 90, and that was in the 1940s. Have faith: I do not damage my body with alcohol, nicotine or drugs. My religion — I am — has always been of utmost importance to me: When I was 15 or 16, I thought I might become a nun but finally decided I wanted children, and I wanted a public life. But still I give thanks to God every morning for waking me up in my right mind, and for the new day. I try to live by simple truths. Listen carefully to others, because listening is a kind of solace.

Take pleasure in little things — I don't gamble, oh no, but I do love to play whist. Keep busy — though when you have five children, you have no choice! Honesty really is the best policy.

Do your best: For example, , don't ignore it or cast it aside. Quietly decide to solve it.

And most of all, set high standards for yourself, and always strive to live up to them. Your children, your family, your community … they will notice. AARP Members!

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