According to Carrie Berkey, it is by not trying too hard at all.
Ms Berkey has continued modelling after having five children, one of whom joined her on the catwalk at the iD International Emerging Designers Show this week.
The former New York-based model has been in the business since she was 18, living mainly in New York, but working full-time in Paris, Milan, Germany and Miami.
She moved to Wanaka 10 years ago, and is juggling about two modelling assignments a month with her other job of bringing up her children, who are aged between 10 and 18.
She said last night a modelling career working from Wanaka was, not surprisingly, different from modelling in New York.
There would be more work if she lived in a bigger centre.She had been asked to do the emerging designers show, which was the first time she had modelled in the same show as her daughter.
Asked if her daughter Lucy took her advice on modelling, she said: "She’s a teenager, you know".
"She’s so gorgeous, she’s so humble, she’d rather be at a party with her friends right now than being in a fashion show."
Ms Berkey had put together shows in Wanaka, where she trained models.
"My goal was to train them all how to walk.
"I didn’t want anyone to go on the runway unnoticed, I wanted them to feel confident, and just give them some experience that I have had in the past."
Asked how she kept herself in condition for modelling, Ms Berkey said she did not keep herself in trim "for that possible phone call".
Rather, she did not like to feel less than "somewhat fit".
"I’ve always had a sort of naturally fast metabolism, but I just go for walks up Mt Iron with my dogs and stuff. I don’t really like going to the gym."
On skin care she described herself as "really no fuss. I’m terrible".
"I think less of everything is probably better."
Her agent Andrea Basile, of Unique Model Management in Auckland, said older models had a wider market reach and were "just as beautiful as the younger girls".
"They know how to model ... they’ve got experience behind them, and they’ve got wisdom."
"There’s definitely a market for the slightly older model."
