Meet three women who beat out thousands to appear on “She’s Got the Look,” a modeling competition for women over 35.
At 72, Delores De Vega, a wife, mother and grandmother of eight, is a timeless bombshell. “I’m loving it, which is why I am involved right now,” says the eldest diva on the show. “The older woman is an important part of everything and deserves her space and the acknowledgment.”
“I kind of keep in mind that I’ve been where they are and actually it’s up to them to get where I am,” says De Vega of her younger competitors.
De Vaga vogues for the camera. “I was so young and so excited and happy about doing any modeling at all,” she says of her younger years.
A youthful De Vega strikes a pose on Our World magazine. “That experience way back then was very limited. The only exposure was in African-American magazines, in which was probably less than five,” she says of her early short-lived modeling career.
De Vega struts her stuff for the judges. “I’m definitely more confident today,” she says. “Younger women can look at me and say I’m not too shabby for my age.”
Forty-year-old stunner Cindy Cohen never got her chance at modeling because of her past, but now she is ready to still give it a try. “I was in an abusive relationship and I was once homeless, but I got through it and took care of my son,” says Cohen of her past. “He’s now in college, and I thought, What can I do for myself? Maybe I can model.”
“Well, my son is very embarrassed. He was always very protective,” says Cohen of her son’s reaction to her modeling. “He wasn’t very happy about seeing me in my underwear.”
Although married, Cohen is now eye candy for many but her husband doesn’t mind. “He’s actually very supportive. He actually likes the attention,” she says.
Cohen looks forward to modeling in the future. “I’m excited about that,” she says.
“I was very awkward and tall and had bad skin,” Cohen says of her days as a young woman. “I really didn’t take care of myself when I was young.”
Raquel Riley’s time on the show has been cut short as the 35-year-old former U.S. military officer was eliminated after just three episodes, but she insists that this is not the last time you will see her. “You haven’t heard the last of me just yet.”
The Rileys gave each other a high-five when they learned they were expecting a new bundle of joy. “We were excited because we wanted another kid,” admits Raquel.
“In reference to the beauty secrets used, I did a lot of prenatal pilates and yoga. It was great” she says. “I was only in labor for four hours. I definitely would recommend that women try prenatal pilates.”
“You see so many woman out there that are in their thirties and forties, and people are looking at them and are like, Are you kidding me?” Riley says. “Sometimes I wish some of the younger females would take knowledge of what we are doing, and what we’re doing is continuing to look younger.”
Just because Riley was voted off the show doesn’t mean she’s lost confidence. “I don’t want to put all of my eggs out there just yet, but you haven’t heard the last of me just yet.”
