The Best Advice Cheryl Tiegs Has For Aging Gracefully: 'You Really Have To Make The Effort'

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During the 1970s and 1980s, Cheryl Tiegs' picture was everywhere, from magazines to posters to the Sears catalog. Born in 1947, Tiegs got her start as a model in the 1960s, but by her early twenties, she decided she was done with the profession. However, Tiegs changed her mind, becoming the most popular supermodel in 1972. Unfortunately, she soon had to contend with age-related remarks. "Cheryl Tiegs is, good Lord, 30 years old," Time Magazine declared in 1978. "She appears not to mind, perhaps because from a distance of four inches she looks 20." Fast forward to 2004, and Tiegs was still modeling in her mid-50s. That year, Tiegs and her famous friend Christie Brinkley participated in Sport Illustrated's 40th anniversary swimsuit issue.

When Tiegs reached 70, people wanted to know her secrets for successful aging. "You can't just hope that it happens; you really have to make the effort. It's a daily effort of eating the right foods and exercising," Tiegs explained to Artful Living in 2017. She emphasized a mind-body approach that also paid attention to brain health by socializing and reading. In some cases, Tiegs combined activities, like having a weekly dinner where she made a healthy meal for her guests.

As for exercise, Tiegs gravitated toward a routine that lowered her stress, both mentally and physically. She also exemplified a positive attitude. "I hope in 20 years, I will be as healthy as I am now. And I don't know why I wouldn't be," Tiegs informed Today in 2016.

As a professional model, Cheryl Tiegs makes it look effortless to appear stunning in so many photos, and sometimes fans mistakenly think there's no work involved. "When I work out at the gym, for instance, many of the women there come up and ask me, "What in the world are you doing here?" Tiegs revealed in her 1980 book, "The Way to Natural Beauty," which she co-wrote with Vicki Lindner. Tiegs was quick to push back on the term "natural beauty" and candid about some of her missteps in caring for her body. For instance, after Tiegs graduated high school, she noted that she was eating a lot of unhealthy food, especially as the stress of her modeling job increased.

While Tiegs became a role model for sage advice on successful aging, she fully admitted the topic scared her as a young adult. She reached a particularly low point during her hiatus in her 20s. Fortunately, Tiegs noticed that once she resumed modeling, it boosted her mental health since she was so busy exploring new opportunities.

By 2026, Tiegs continued to look amazing and she appeared to be practicing what she was preaching. While she seems to have pivoted away from modeling, Tiegs is active in philanthropy with multiple organizations, including Project Angel Food and the Farah Fawcett Foundation. Besides the satisfaction of helping important causes, these events also give Tiegs an opportunity to spend time with friends and meet new people.