I’m 61 but often mistaken for being in my forties. This is my exact routine to stay looking so young – and one of them costs absolutely nothing

Just last week, Sharon Williams was sitting in the back of a taxi in Bali, on her way to celebrate a close friend’s 70th birthday.

The 61-year-old struck up a conversation with the driver and mentioned it was a significant milestone for her friend. He then asked for her age – and was shocked.

‘You’re 61? I thought you were 35!’ he gasped.

Sharon was flattered by the man’s compliment, but admits it’s not the first time she’s heard it.

Thanks to her youthful complexion and fit physique, she’s often mistaken for someone in her 40s – or even younger.

‘There was a young guy in the resort swimming pool giving me the eye the other day, which I thought was exciting!’ she tells me.

The mother-of-three, originally from the UK and now living in Sydney, credits her remarkably youthful appearance to three non-negotiables.

They are ocean swimming, strength training and callisthenics – a type of exercise that focuses on using your body weight as resistance.  

Mother-of-three Sharon Williams (pictured) has revealed her secrets to a youthful complexion

For Sharon, getting fit in her late 50s wasn’t about appearance – it was about survival, resilience and longevity.

On May 8, 2014, her world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer on her 50th birthday.

‘I got the not-so-good gift of breast cancer. You don’t realise how good you have it until it’s at risk of being ripped away,’ she says.

‘For me, the fear of dying and leaving behind my children was worse than the disease and treatment. That fear was petrifying – so I made it my mission to live long enough to see my youngest through high school.’

Despite having four surgeries, the cancer returned in 2016, and again in 2018. After extensive treatment, followed by radiotherapy, she was finally deemed cancer-free.

The experience reshaped Sharon’s outlook on health – especially after another wake-up call at age 59. 

‘I was getting out of the car at Randwick Racecourse and my Louis Vuitton heel got stuck in a crack on the pavement – I hadn’t even had any drinks yet!’ she laughs.

It was a bad fall and she broke three ribs. The accident ‘changed her life’, Sharon says, because it made her realise she needed to be stronger if she was going to stay fit into her 60s and beyond. 

The 61-year-old swears by three non-negotiables when it comes to living well and looking younger: ocean swimming, callisthenics and strength training

‘The fall was such a shock to my body, so I started strength and mobility classes with Will from Total Lift Studio – he is my godsend,’ Sharon says. 

‘I am not a manic exerciser and have tried lots of things over the years – the most consistent is swimming. I am so much more confident with my movement now.’

Sharon says exercising with others keeps her consistent – and competitive.

Ocean swimming

Every morning at 6am, Sharon heads to Manly Beach for an ocean swim with friends.

She doesn’t wear a wetsuit – a tradition among her swimming group – and admits it can be difficult to get out of bed in the depths of winter.

‘There are times when I don’t want to go, but there’s a saying among swimmers, “You never regret a swim.” And it’s so true,’ she says. 

‘Once you’re out in the water, it’s so invigorating and terrific. You feel younger and amazing for the rest of the day. All the benefits outweigh the cold start.’

She also believes the exposure to minerals in the seawater has drastically improved her skin texture. 

‘If I’ve got a scratch, I get in the water and within days it’s gone,’ she says. 

‘So the ocean swimming gives me friendship, skin health, mental health, emotional health, strength, exposure to nature and a beautiful sunrise.’

Strength training and callisthenics

Since breaking her ribs, Sharon has been working with a trainer to get stronger.

She trains at the gym for 45 minutes, three times a week, focusing on strength and callisthenics.

‘Every week, I incrementally improve. When I first started, I could only hang from a bar for a few seconds, but now I can hang for two to three minutes and raise my legs,’ she says proudly. 

Perhaps most impressively, Sharon can perform the ‘skin the cat’ exercise, which involves hanging from a bar, rotating your body weight backwards and hanging upside down. 

‘It’s so liberating to be able to do so much at 61. I never thought I could!’ she beams. 

Currently, she is working on being able to do a chin-up, but other exercises in her routine include sit-ups, push-ups, rowing, squats and more. 

Sharon also does dance classes, Pilates, yoga and beach runs.  

As for her youthful complexion, she owes it to spending her first 30 years in England before emigrating to Australia.

She considers being ‘sheltered from the sun for so long’ a blessing in disguise, as many Australians pay the price for a youth spent outdoors in their later years.

‘My mother also had fabulous skin,’ she adds. Sharon also makes sure to wear SPF sunscreen every day – ‘even in winter’.

While she has dabbled in cosmetic treatments, including Botox, Sharon says the most important thing she does is maintain a consistent skincare routine. 

Every morning at 6am, Sharon (second from left) heads to Manly Beach for an ocean swim with friends. She also works out with a personal trainer three times a week 

As for her skincare, Sharon has an extensive collection in her bathroom cupboard (pictured) 

‘I do enjoy taking care of my skin and my schedule is super speedy, with my favourite staples being from Dermalogica and La Prairie – sheer luxury,’ she says.

Sharon also doesn’t drink alcohol too often and watches what she eats to avoid accidental weight gain.

She opts for an intermittent fasting-style diet by starting the day with nothing but a morning latte.

For lunch, Sharon enjoys a salad with boiled eggs and nuts or avocado toast. Dinner is often a protein source served with mixed vegetables.

Her advice to those her age thinking it’s too late is simple: you’re never ‘too old’ to start living a better, fitter, healthier life.

‘It’s all about discipline. Of course I am no saint, but I try – and I know my body simply needs less food to live,’ Sharon says. 

‘At the end of the day, it’s all about conscious living and minimising any nasty surprises by intentional and careful living.’