A woman who is nearing 60, but is constantly mistaken for being in her 40s, has shared her secrets to eternal youth.
Kimberly Di Benedetto, 34, often goes out with her mum Livi, who constantly receives comments from men and women on her youthful appearance.
Even growing up, some of her friends didn’t believe Livi was really her mother – as she looked so young.
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But Livi – who has been accused of lying about her age on several occasions – revels in the compliments she gets.
“My mum receives comments everywhere she goes about how young she looks,” said Kimberly.
“Whenever people learn her age, they say things like, ‘I can’t believe you are 56… you look 40.’
“I can’t keep track of how many times people mistake my mum for my sister.
“Just last week, we were shopping at Lululemon and chatting with the salesperson.
“When my mum mentioned her age, he said, ‘There is no way you are nearly 60.’
“I’m still convinced he didn’t believe her.”
Livi prioritises a healthy, active lifestyle and follows a strict skincare regime.
She has been an avid gym goer for decades and when she was 52, competed in a bodybuilding competition for the first time.
With more muscle, Livi feels “incredible”, and has credited weight training with helping her post-menopause.
“The key for me is to lift weights,” Livi, from Adelaide, Australia, told What’s The Jam.
“After menopause, weights have helped me look younger and stay strong.
“I also walk 10,000 to 13,000 steps a day and eat a plant-based diet that includes a lot of greens.
“I drink three litres of water daily and always use natural products on my face.
“I make my own skincare with jojoba, frankincense and other essential oils.
“I also like to keep up-to-date with fashion, although I’m not trying to dress like a teenager. I love activewear, and that’s what you’ll find in my closet.
“When I turned 52, I did my first bodybuilding competition – entering made me more motivated than ever.
“I now have more muscle and feel incredible.
“I believe when you feel confident and happy in your body that’ll shine through to your outer beauty.”
Kimberly, who owns an online hair company called Lusta Hair, has so much admiration for her mum Livi.
The duo have such a strong bond and are each other’s best friends.
Kimberly said: “I truly admire my mum. She had me when she was 21 and growing up, she was my best friend.
“Not only was she kind and nurturing, she was fun.
“When I turned 18, she would sometimes come to nightclubs with me.
“We’d spend the night dancing and being silly. I treasure those memories.”
Livi hopes to inspire other women with her lifestyle.
She added: “‘It feels good not to look your age. I look younger than I am, so hopefully, when I am older, I will still look younger.”
“My advice to women my age is to be yourself.
“Keep your body moving every day, find your own personal style that makes you feel confident and experiment with a skincare regime that works for you.
“Working on yourself teaches you that you’re worth the effort and that fosters self-love and confidence.”
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