I wear a two-piece at 67 – here are my fearless rules for bikini-maxxing at ANY age

YOU are never too old for swimwear – that’s the message from 67-year-old Diana Julia. Lawyer and model Diana insists that anyone can look and feel great in a two-piece. Here is her indispensable guide to fearless bikini wearing this summer, as told to Lynsey Clarke. STOP CARING ABOUT PEOPLE STARING Diana, wearing a green shirred top, £22, from Next and briefs, £12.99, from New Look, says she focuses on the good comments about her wearing a bikini Credit: Lorna Roach More than anything, getting in a bikini in your sixties is about your mindset. There is this weird outdated belief in society that you have to hang up your two-piece in your thirties or forties. I even saw a post on Reddit with a man asking how he should tell his wife, aged 60, it is time to wear a one-piece. When you’re wearing a bikini out and about, you have to think: “And so what if they look at me? What is the worst that can happen?” Even though my body began to change in my fifties, with my skin losing elasticity and becoming more crepey, I also grew in confidence because I started to not care about what people thought. Life is short. I go on holiday in Italy a lot and people look at me on the beach. I tend to think it’s probably with admiration rather than disapproval. Of course, I’ve had the odd sideways look or comment – some people say I’m skinny and I need to eat more, but my figure is just the way I am. Most people say: “You look great” and it’s those comments that I focus on.I also have a husband and two grown-up sons who are very accepting of what I wear. GET YOUR BODY ‘BIKINI-READY’ Diana makes sure she exercises for just 10 minutes every day and does a lot of walking (wearing Polka-dot top, £32, and briefs, £16, from Boux Avenue) Credit: Lorna Roach Diana says a bit of fake tan can help you feel better about wearing a bikini (wearing yellow top, £16.99 and briefs, £12.99, from New Look) Credit: Lorna Roach Exercising for just ten minutes a day is all it takes to feel good about yourself. I have always moved, but I have changed the type of exercise I do over the years. Now I’m in my sixties, I have osteoporosis, so I do ten to 15 minutes a day on leg strength – weight-bearing exercises like squats, and also jumps. I also walk a lot and, when it’s not too hot, I do gentle runs. It doesn’t have to be laborious or cost a lot. You’re not exercising to get into that bikini, either, you’re doing it to feel healthier and stronger and that transcends into feeling good in your two-piece. I am in the sun quite a bit, but if you have pale skin and want to feel better in a bathing suit, a bit of fake tan can help. It just evens out your skin and can help disguise the odd blemish. NEVER COUNT CALORIES (BUT DO DITCH SUGAR) Diana made sure to cut out sugar from her diet as she got older (wearing pink top, £25.60, and briefs, £16, from Boux Avenue) Credit: Lorna Roach The biggest change I have made to my diet since getting older is cutting out sugar. Do that, and your belly goes down. It is ridiculous how bad sugar is for us. My cholesterol was at 7.1 [according to NHS guidance, total cholesterol should be below 5.0 mmol/L] and I got it down to 4.8, just by cutting out sugar, and by exercising. It wasn’t hard – I simply replaced it with healthy food. I swapped my evening cup of tea and biscuits for homemade popcorn. I replaced my morning cereal with porridge loaded with blueberries and seeds. For lunch I eat protein, like chicken with salad. I never count calories or diet. If you eat three good meals a day, you don’t need to. And I don’t sacrifice anything else to look good in a bikini – life is about balance. I still enjoy a glass of red wine with a meal. It’s good for me. EMBRACE YOUR INDIVIDUAL BODY Diana believes choosing the right bikini colour is key (wearing black top and briefs, £5 each, from Primark) Credit: Lorna Roach I don’t want people to look at me and think I am comfortable wearing a bikini just because I am slim. When I see curvy women in bikinis, I just think “wow”. They look lovely. If you have a body like that, I’d encourage you to embrace your figure. Generally, when choosing a bikini, I’d suggest thinking about the areas of your body you love and showing them off. If you feel like your boobs are your best asset, then get a bikini that’s low cut. If you want to hide your bum, then you can get a bikini that’s got a fuller bottom. You can mix and match from different sets, too. Choosing the right colour bikini is key. Go for the shades and patterns you already have in your normal wardrobe – that’s what you are comfortable with. I own a lot of leopard print and find it so flattering. I love my leopard print bikini, but I also love my bright pink and bright green bikinis. However, if you’re unsure, black is a safe bet for bikini beginners. It is both elegant and flattering. CHOOSE COMFORT OVER TRENDS Diana always picks a swimsuit that is comfortable as that makes her feel confident (wearing dark green top, £14 and briefs, £12, from Tu at Sainsbury’s) Credit: Lorna Roach Diana also avoids bikini trends that simply do not look good on her (wearing metallic top, £7.50 and briefs, £6, from George at Asda) Credit: Lorna Roach Swimwear trends come and go and I would never wear a trend if I didn’t think it looked good on me. Personally, I don’t like diamond-shaped bikini tops – or the current fad for those nappy-style bikini bottoms with lots of ruching. I also would never wear g-string bikini bottoms, not because I think I can’t wear something so revealing at my age, but because I personally just don’t like the way I look in it. Others might look gorgeous in them, though. I would also never go topless, but that’s just my preference. I choose bikinis that are comfortable because I feel more confident.I like brief-style pants – bigger than a string, but not like Bridget Jones. And I like tops with a little bit of coverage as I think they are more flattering on me. I avoid all swimwear with metal clips on them. They get hot in the sun, can be uncomfortable and look awful. Avoid getting anything you have to faff with. You want something you can slip on and feel like yourself in. It’s not about feeling sexy per se, but it is about loving yourself, feeling empowered and, in turn, enjoying the way your body looks. Others will admire that in you. ACCLIMATISE TO BIKINI WEARING Diana wants women to know that wearing bikinis isn’t about showing off – it’s about owning your body (wearing blue and white top, £40 and briefs, £26, from Freya) Credit: Lorna Roach News Group Newspaper If you haven’t worn a bikini for years, it is not about adjusting to the hot weather, it is about adjusting to the feeling of wearing a two-piece. My advice would be to start off at home. Wear your bikini in your garden or on your balcony. Next, go to your local pool. When you get to the beach on your summer holiday, you can start by lying down, then sit up, and eventually walk around. You don’t just suddenly reach your destination and go: “Wow, look at me!” and strut around in your itsy-bitsy. You need to gradually build up your confidence. Remember, it’s not about showing off, it’s about being confident and owning your body.