Paulina Porizkova has been modeling since she was 18, and was the first woman to embrace the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. However, that doesn’t mean she’s always had a positive relationship with her body. Even models struggle with self-esteem issues. Heck, models may be more prone to having them!

However, at 56 years old, Porizkova is officially proud of how she looks—the most she ever has been in her life. And in a recent Instagram post, she shared just how she feels as she creeps toward her 60s.

The post features the gorgeous model posing in black lingerie and heels. If we looked that good at that age, we’d be pretty proud too. In fact, it’s pretty crazy that she wasn’t ALWAYS proud of her body—but of course, media will do that to you, especially when you’re so famous.

 

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A post shared by Paulina Porizkova (@paulinaporizkov)

“When I was the most seen, I was the most insecure. My body and face were my capital, and held to ridiculous standards of perfection,” she wrote in the caption. “When you’re constantly compared to other versions of perfection, your own will certainly be questioned.

It was really hard for Porizkova to always be compared to others. Plus, if anyone ever made her feel anything less than perfect, it just wasn’t enough and made her feel terrible. “When the measure is perfection, no one can live up to it,” she said.

However, she has some choice words for her past self, and anyone having some self-image issues. Sure, you don’t need to have a sexy photoshoot to feel good about yourself, but you do have to celebrate your body for what it is. “No, you don’t have to celebrate your body by posing in lingerie or nude, although it is a pretty good way to capture your beautiful hard-working body,” she advises. “But DO love it. Celebrate it. Pay homage to it. It’s the only one you have.”

 

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A post shared by Paulina Porizkova (@paulinaporizkov)

So how does she feel this good, even as she continues to get older? While Porizkova admits that she may not look the same as she did when she was younger, she feels the most like her at her age. “No, I no longer have the suppleness of youth, but I have the softness of maturity … My skin no longer reflects light like a polished mirror, instead, it gathers it, and puts it inside my heart, where it warms and makes me shine,” she wrote.

Man, that is one confident woman! Go, Paulina, go.

How beautiful is this sentiment Porizkova is trying to portray to her followers? How do you manage self-esteem?