Lesley MacLennan, 85, made her name in her twenties in Paris, working as a catwalk and print model for Yves Saint Laurent.
She now lives in a care home and is rarely asked about her modelling career, so Lesley was overjoyed when high-end fashion photographer James Muller asked her to do a photoshoot.
James had been visiting another resident when she spotted Lesley and was struck by her ‘beautiful hands and the way she carries herself’.
Lesley, who has dementia, told James all about her career, inspiring him to create a photoshoot more than 60 years after her career began.
Carers at the home were all too happy for the shoot to go ahead, as it’s thought that finding ‘something that motivates’ dementia sufferers can pose huge benefits for their mental wellbeing, especially if it’s something familiar or nostalgic.
James, whose work has been featured in Vogue, was visiting a friend at Huntington House in Hindhead, Surrey, when he met Lesley.
‘I met Lesley in passing and thought how amazing it would be to capture her beauty again,’ he said.
‘When I asked her to look my way or turn her face, she did it with such grace – an absolute professional. She was very easy to direct.
‘I kept wanting to bring her beautiful hands into the frame and every time I asked her to, she did so with poise.
‘I feel very honoured to have photographed Lesley, she has lived such a colourful life and to be a small part of it is magical. She’s an absolute delight.’
James looked to photos of Dame Helen Mirren and 88-year-old supermodel Carmen Dell’Orefice for inspiration for the photoshoot, giving Lesley a full makeover to take her back to her modelling days.
She loved the experience, saying: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed the photoshoot.
‘James made me feel perfectly at ease, he was the real McCoy. I would have said so if he wasn’t.
‘The red and black outfit was so vibrant, it was stunning. I just thought it was a dream.’
James hopes that the photos will challenge people’s ageism when it comes to their perception of beauty.
‘Age to me is just a number,’ he said. ‘During our shoot, Lesley was ‘that’ model again. Age made no difference.
‘I’m sure she has worked with many a top photographer so for me to get the opportunity at her age is simply incredible.
‘I think there aren’t enough older models out there in the media. In many ways, social media etc. is telling us that it’s wrong to age, but it’s such a natural thing.
‘There is so much beauty in ageing too – we’ve just been taught to look at it the wrong way.
‘At the end of the shoot she held my hand and told me how much she enjoyed working with me.
‘I was truly touched and will never forget that moment. This is something that will stay with me forever, something I’ll treasure.’
Charlie Hoare, director of the Huntington and Langham Estate where Huntington House is based, said: ‘It’s been wonderful to hear Lesley’s memories of her modelling days.
‘To see her back in front of the camera was just incredible – she’s never lost her sparkle.
‘Finding a sense of purpose at any stage of life is incredibly powerful, and for those living in a care environment to find something that motivates them, as Lesley has, can have huge benefits for their wellbeing and state of mind.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/12/former-catwalk-model-dementia-given-makeover-fashion-photoshoot-care-home-11085137/
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