One of the 80s highest booked supermodels known as ‘The Face’ for her dark hair, bright blue eyes and slim figure is dishing out her secrets for her ageless beauty.
Now at 64, Carol Alt holds most of the same features she was known for her in 20s when she graced an estimated 1,000 magazine covers – with only a few hints that allude to her real age.
It’s not just cosmetic treatments that many women her age turn to when wrinkles start to appear. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Alt credited a balanced diet, regular exercise, maintaining a positive mindset and staying connected to her roots as key factors that have helped her retain her youthful vitality.
‘I am the daughter of a New York firefighter and I’ve never forgotten who I am,’ she says. ‘My dad was the most altruistic person I ever met and I believe in paying it forward.’
Even though she doesn’t grace the runways of top luxury brands, the former supermodel still gets her flowers, even continuing to model, and attributes her continuing success towards society’s changing attitudes towards women.
‘I love what I do and I see women like Demi Moore who are showing you can be beautiful at any age,’ the former supermodel said. ‘Today’s 60 year olds are not my mother’s era 60 year olds. Why should age mean anything anyway?’
Carol Alt, 64, one of the 80s highest booked supermodels known as ‘The Face’ of her era for her dark hair, bright blue eyes and slim figure is dishing out her secrets for her ageless beauty
The former supermodel continues to model and attributes her continuing success towards societies changing attitudes towards women
Alt said a balanced diet, regular exercise, a positive mindset and staying connected to her roots as key factors that have helped her retain her youthful vitality
Just as in her younger days, Alt’s health and fitness routines are a must.
She was one of the first influencers to promote a raw food diet, and has written two books on the subject.
Alt said alkaline water and probiotics are a must as well as a program of supplements. She also says living in New York City helps her stay active since it’s mainly a walking city.
Other fitness pastimes Alt partakes in include yoga and pilates.
But her favorite pastime is riding a stationary bike in her at home infra-red sauna.
‘It doesn’t get hot but after 15 or 20 minutes you are sweating like crazy,’ she said. ‘I gave the more expensive one away because I liked the cheaper one better. I feel great after using that.’
Alt posing with NYT’s best seller James Hester (left) at the Marthas Vineyard Film Festival this past week
Alt maintains her slim body as she poses alongside models (from left) Vendela Kirsebom, Rushanda and Elsa Benitez. She says alkaline water, probiotics and supplements are a must
Alt said her favorite pastime is riding a stationary bike in her at home infra-red sauna
The 5ft 11in blue-eyed brunette said she knows she won the genetic lottery, but believes that staying fit makes her beautiful from the inside out.
‘You can have all the Versaces in the world in your closet, but if you don’t have your health you’ve got nothing.’
Alt was born and raised in the New York City borough of Queens and broke into the modeling world when she was spotted waiting tables when she was 18 years old.
Only a year into modeling, Alt started on her journey of becoming a household name when she graced the cover of Harper’s Bazaar. From there, she would appear on hundreds more magazine covers.
But the height of her fame came when she was scouted by Jule Campbell, the mastermind behind the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue that became popular in the 80s.
Alt, once nicknamed ‘The Face’ is featured in the documentary Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit issue, directed by her daughter-in-law Jill Campbell. Jule, who died three years ago at the age of 96, was the mastermind of the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which is still the only issue of the magazine that still gets printed because of its popularity.
The height of Alt’s fame came when she was scouted by Jule Campbell, the mastermind behind the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue that became popular in the 80s
Alt says the swimsuit issues she was on the cover in the 80’s launched her career to a new level
Alt says the swimsuit issues she was on the cover in the 80’s launched her career to a new level.
‘Before, when I was on the cover of a magazine they didn’t put my name on,’ she said. ‘But after the swimsuit issue people would come up to me on the street and ask “Are you Carol Alt?”
‘It allowed me to be a celebrity model all of a sudden and gave me a whole new audience with men.
‘It helped me to do so many other things as a businesswoman. Jule was a woman in a man’s world at the time and I think she never got the credit she deserved. She really helped so many models become entrepreneurs.’
Shot in exotic tropical locations, the magazine also ushered in superstar status for other models like Paulina Porizkova, Elle Macpherson, Kathy Ireland and Christie Brinkley among others.
Cheryl Tiegs nipple-baring white mesh bathing suit cover was even turned into a best-selling poster.
Alt posing in a tropical location for Sports Illustrated
At the height of her career, Alt was the face of ad campaigns for some of the biggest brands like Diet Pepsi, General Motors, Versace, Armani and Amaretto di Saronno
Ireland went on to create a billion dollar lifestyle company in part because of her Sports Illustrated notoriety.
‘Those covers had a different feel from fashion,’ Ireland has said. ‘There was less drama. Jule hired sports photographers. And it was like sports.
‘Jule respected our boundaries, and she brought intentionality and thoughtfulness to every experience.’
The risqué aspect of the covers regularly got plenty of pushback from critics who said it was demeaning to women.
‘Oh sure,’ Alt recalled. ‘We’d get stacks and stacks of mail – both good and bad. But I don’t agree that it was exploitive at all.
‘For me I was helping to build the brands of those swimsuits and helping promote tourism wherever we were shooting. So it was really a force for good. In a way it was a part of cultural history.’
Alt was honored for featuring in Jill Campbell’s documentary Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit issue which honored her mother Jule Campbell
Alt at a dinner at Bernard Chiu’s (left) restaurant Bettini at the Harbor View Hotelin Martha’s Vineyard to celebrate the 25th Annual Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival
At the height of her career, Alt was the face of ad campaigns for some of the biggest brands like Diet Pepsi, General Motors, Versace and Armani.
The success opened the doors for acting and even writing books – appearing on the 1997 action film The Protector and an episode of the popular TV show Wings.
Her legacy continues to be honored even today.
Alt was honored for Jill Campbell’s documentary hosted at a dinner Bernard Chiu’s Bettini’s restaurant at the Harbor View Hotel in Martha’s Vineyard to celebrate the 25th Annual Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival.
Also featured at the festival, that’s running from this past Wednesday to this upcoming Sunday, was Bill Murray’s new film The Friend.
The former Prime Minister of New Zealand Dame Jacinda Ardern, fashion designer Kenneth Cole and son Giuliano of the ‘Godmother of Italian Cooking’ Marcella Hazan also attended the festival to see their respective documentaries.
