I’m proud to be a fit 57 year old and still be able to show off my toned figure in a bikini

While some think beauty has a time limit, one woman has proven otherwise.

Dr. Nina Cash, 57, is on a mission to prove that you can wear a bikini at any age and still look good.

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The Californian woman used to be a model, but it wasn’t until her fifties that she found her passion.

She was named one of seven winners featured in the 60th anniversary edition of Sports Illustrated in May 2024 and is often seen on the runway showcasing her style to promote body positivity.

Nina was a model in her younger years, but put an end to that when she became pregnant with her daughter, who is now 30. She raised her as a single mother.

Nina obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, followed by a Master’s degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding.

She earned her PhD in educational leadership and rose to the position of associate dean at a university. She retired in 2022.

But after her retirement, Nina wasn’t done yet and decided to focus on modeling again.

She has since returned to modeling, booking commercials and print work, and working on Peloton’s holiday campaign.

But the Mom took a leap of faith and entered the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Search, and it paid off.

“I thought, ‘Let me give it a try, see if it’s for me.’ And the response has been amazing,” she said.

When she was younger, Nina admired Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover stars like Cheryl Tiegs, but never thought she would ever get the chance to pose for the magazine.

“The women on the cover of SI Swim were beautiful, but unfortunately none of them represented me — let alone now, at 56 with gray hair,” she said.

Now she won’t let her age, or what others have to say about it, get in the way of showing off her bikini for SI.

Nina told the Mirror: “By showcasing women of different ages, backgrounds and body types, we break through narrow beauty ideals and celebrate the beauty and value of every individual.

“It is essential that women see themselves reflected in media and advertising as this promotes self-acceptance, self-confidence and a sense of belonging.

And it’s true that the new covers of SI feature 74-year-old Maye Musk and Yumi Nu, the first Asian plus-size model.

The bag contained photos of transgender model Leyna Bloom, Indigenous model Ashley Callingbull and fitness influencer Katrina Scott, the first woman to have a visible C-section scar.

Nina says she likes to stay active by walking, cycling her Peloton and dancing, and follows a healthy lifestyle to combat her type 2 diabetes.

As she gets older, Nina starts to feel more comfortable and embraces the changes her body is going through.

She added: “It was easy to embrace my gray hair. I approach aging with gratitude and a positive mindset.

“I have lifelines,” she pointed out, referring to the fine lines on her face. “I have battle scars. I live life.

“Why don’t I want to say that? I’m not trying to turn back time.

“Now some people say, ‘Well, that’s easy for you to say because of your genes. You’re so lucky, you don’t have wrinkles.’

“But honestly, I’m proud of those lifelines, because I can be a lifeline for other people.

“I have wrinkles and laugh lines, why shouldn’t I celebrate that?

“Wouldn’t it be great if we all obsessed over what we like about ourselves, instead of what we hate about ourselves?”

While she doesn’t judge others who use Botox or dye their gray hair, Nina prefers a natural look.

She went completely gray during the pandemic, encouraged by her husband, her daughter and her two stepdaughters — who told her, “Slay the gray.”

“I thought, ‘What am I doing? This is not me.’ So I just said, ‘I’m going to let it go gray. I’m going to be my authentic self,’” she said.