Many of the models we see on a daily basis are young and retouched. The beauty and fashion industries are constantly changing, creating and destroying stereotypes over time.

Rosa Saito is a currently 71-year-old model who is here to show that beauty exists in every age bracket.

Saito did not become a model until she was 68 when she claims she heard the call. Originally named Setsuko Saito, Saito changed her first name to Rosa to make it easier to use on Instagram.

While Rosa started her career much later than most, that did not stop her from tenaciously pursuing her dreams. Her adventurous spirit even got her into the São Paulo Fashion Week.

Rosa was born in Araçatuba, São Paulo. As a child, she pursued many creative ventures like drawing, writing, and singing, all the while knowing she would continue to work creatively in her adult life.

“I always knew I was going to pursue something creative, something I could invent. Everything I do I take to that side,” she said.

Rosa overcame a variety of hardships before her modeling career began. At 22, she had to care for her bedridden mother. Later, she had to become a single parent to her three children after her husband’s death in 2000.

It wasn’t until she was approached three times about it that she decided to pursue modeling.

“Twice it was by professionals from the Mega modeling agency and once by a photographer. I let the idea mature for a year, after all, it had costs too, it wasn’t something I was going to get into just like that, blindly. Until I decided to take the risk,” she recalls.

Her upbringing, love of plants and all things natural, and positive outlook have helped her modeling career explode in no time.

“The beauty itself is in really taking care of your thoughts, your spirituality. The person can become beautiful, captivating, friendly, this is much more than the beauty all stretched and perfect. It’s the content that counts, in my opinion,” says Rosa.