Model Nina Cash has a message to all who might think their best days are behind them after being named the 2024 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/2022-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-releases-covers-and-worlds-biggest-reality-star-lands-coveted-spot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sports Illustrated Swimsuit</a> Rookie at the age of 57, landing a spot in the iconic upcoming issue after going gray.
The retired university associate dean from California told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/sports-illustrated-model-57-becomes-rookie-2024-issue-embrace-gray" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a> she was shocked to hear the news, adding that her &#8220;heart just started pounding&#8221; and she got tears in her eyes.
&#8220;To this day I still pinch myself. Is this even happening to me?&#8221; Cash said. &#8220;Just a year and a half ago, I was an associate dean at a university. Now I&#8217;m a rookie who&#8217;s going to be on the 60th anniversary issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
One on One with Nina Cash – The 50-Something Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model <a href="https://t.co/x5qr73BykU">https://t.co/x5qr73BykU</a>
— NewYorkStyleGuide (@NYStyleGuidecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYStyleGuidecom/status/1724171067126894687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
Cash said her husband encouraged her to enter the competition because it was something she really wanted to do. And now the advice she shares with other aging fifty-somethings nervous about following their dreams: &#8220;There are always going to be critics, no matter what you do…&#8221;
&#8220;But if you stay true to yourself and block that out, you&#8217;re going to be happy,&#8221; the model said. &#8220;I like to say it&#8217;s none of my business what people think of me or what other people say of me… If you&#8217;re a light that shines bright, people who are unhealed [will] be negatively affected by that light. I say shine bright anyway.&#8221;
&#8220;Live life and embrace all the different stages of it,&#8221; she added. &#8220;Embrace the heartaches, the bad stuff, the good things – that&#8217;s what life is all about. And if you&#8217;re lucky to live a long life, then you are very fortunate. It&#8217;s an absolute privilege to grow old… And I think in America, we have this stigma that when you&#8217;re old, you&#8217;re not sexy anymore. You&#8217;re washed up. You&#8217;re frail. I think my generation… we don&#8217;t feel that way. We don&#8217;t look that way. We take care of ourselves. We pride ourselves in our health and being kind, loving and supportive.&#8221;
&#8220;So for me to turn gray, if I&#8217;m inspiring people, then I am happy,&#8221; Cash continued.  &#8220;The gift of being alive is not given to many. It is cut short. So do it – wear that bikini. Who cares what anyone else thinks? Run out in the rain and dance in the rain in your bikini and love life. It&#8217;s all good. Life is too short. Let&#8217;s enjoy it and embrace it.&#8221;

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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit

Model Becomes Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie At 57, Says ‘Embrace’ Life At All Stages