In a world where fashion is more than simply a trend, modeling has become a respected profession that requires talent, dedication, and resilience.
Meet Yoon Young Ju, an Ewha alumna from the French Language and Literature major, who is currently a renowned senior model, influencer, and artist.
Despite embarking on her modeling career later in life, Yoon has defied ageism and stereotypes to become one of the most sought-after models in the senior category. Alongside her modeling pursuits, Yoon has authored a book titled "I Started Walking at Seventy,” inspiring others to pursue their aspirations.
Yoon's path to success was not paved with privilege. Coming from a non-affluent family, she funded her own college education at Ewha Womans University after her enrollment in 1967.
On her first day of college, Yoon creatively altered her father’s old suit and paired it with worn sneakers, mostly due to financial constraints. Contrary to its humble intentions, this unconventional style garnered attention amongst other students, as it defied the traditionally feminine image of a fashionable woman at the time.
Due to an early marriage, Yoon paused her academics after junior year in college. She took on several short-term careers and focused on raising her children and caring for her parents-in-law. Later, she opened a sportswear retailer to support her financially struggling family.
After a long hiatus from academia, Yoon was finally able to return to Ewha in 2003 when the school discarded its marriage-ban policy. Despite feeling academically and socially alienated at first, she quickly caught on and even attended classes outside her major, especially in areas of art and philosophy.
Enamored by art and philosophy and reluctant to stop her studies, Yoon decided to pursue her master’s degree and even a PhD in Aesthetics at Hongik University after her graduation at Ewha. She confessed that it was not an easy process, especially as a woman nearing her seventies.
After receiving her doctorate degree, Yoon longed to do something physical, as she had been so preoccupied with academics. One day, while watching TV, she stumbled upon footage of a senior model over 90 years of age strutting proudly down a runway.
“I was 70 at the time, but watching the model on the screen, I felt like a young teenager compared to them,” Yoon reminisced. “If they could do it, why couldn’t I?”
Despite dubious gazes from family and friends, Yoon registered at a modeling academy with the help of her daughter-in-law.
“The modeling instructor asked me ‘You are 70; are you sure you can walk like a model?’” she recalled with a smile. “But I knew I could. I started modeling as a new challenge and a leap of faith to achieve something I had never attempted before.”
Yoon surprised everyone with her quick grasp of modeling, attributing it to her lifelong commitment to physical fitness. With each stride down the runway, moving to the rhythm of the music with her chin held high, she experienced an electrifying rush she had never known before.
The most memorable moment in her modeling career was on the MBN senior model audition program “Long Live and Work,” where Yoon won first place with her portrayal of “first love” for the final competition, themed Hwayangyeonhwa; the most beautiful moment of one’s life.
Yoon believes a model’s role is to convey a unique and emotional message beyond simply showcasing garments. To express the mix of sorrow and desire for freedom of a young woman after her first heartbreak, Yoon surprised everyone by wearing a daring, glittery dress, red high heels, and a bold red lip, deviating from her usual style. This unexpected choice left a lasting impression, as she had typically opted for a simpler look throughout the competition.
Yoon acknowledged the disheartening feeling of being excluded as a model due to her age, but maintains optimism for the changing perceptions in the fashion industry. Although the modeling world often prioritizes youth and physical beauty, she believes that the art of modeling transcends age and celebrates individuality.
When not gracing the runway, Yoon indulges in classical music at full volume, solo movie theater trips, visits to various art galleries, and reading modern philosophy. She also maintains her health and posture through daily exercise.
Yoon has expanded her reach beyond modeling and is now an influencer and author, with plans for a second book and a YouTube channel under her name. As someone in her mid-seventies, she reminded with a chuckle that age is more than just a number and emphasized the importance of maintaining both physical and mental wellness.
Closing her story that stands testament to the fact one can achieve their dreams regardless of age or circumstances, Yoon encourages young people to take a leap of faith and pursue their dreams with unwavering determination.