‘80s Supermodel Carol Alt Walks The Runway For ‘SI’ And Still Looks Incredible

Carol Alt made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut in 1981 at 20. By 1982, she had already scored the SI Swimsuit cover after being photographed by John Zimmerman in Kenya. Alt was named The Next Million Dollar Face by Life Magazine and sought by Playboy, where she was named The Most Beautiful Woman in The World. The supermodel has appeared in over 700 magazines throughout her decades-long career.

Recently, Alt walked the SI swimsuit runway looking as stunning and youthful as ever during Miami Swim Week. Alt closed the show with former SI models like Roshumba Williams, Samantha Hoopes, Elsa Benitez, and Vendela Kirsebom. The event commenced with one of the 2023 cover girls, Brooks Nader, and her three sisters strutting the runway. Camille Kostek, 2019 cover star,  was also present for her sixth runway appearance, walking alongside 2022 co-Rookies Christen Harper and Katie Austin.

Alt’s last ‘SI’ swimsuit appearance was about a decade ago

It has been almost ten years since Alt appeared in an SI swimsuit. This time, the former cover-girl returned with a jaw-dropping look and walked the runway in a Nordstrom white snap one-piece and matching Gigi C sarong. She also donned a cobalt blue deep plunge bikini with a matching cinched cover-up. “I love it. It was so much fun!” Alt told DailyMail.com after the runway show.

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“It was quite a long runway. Halfway through, I just couldn’t be straight-faced anymore. I had to smile and laugh and interact with the wonderful crowd there. They were very supportive and cheered us on,” she added. “Women are beautiful at any age, any size— be happy to let your light radiate.”

Alt’s beauty secret at 62

For Alt, her raw food diet and consistent exercise routine are responsible for her youthful look, even at 62. The ex-supermodel went on the diet in 1996 and has since written on its “life-changing benefits.” According to Alt, the diet consists of “clean, organic, unprocessed food,” notably fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, extra-virgin olive oil and raw coconut oil. Her food is also cooked with natural ingredients below 118 degrees Fahrenheit.

Alt swears by the healing benefits of her diet, saying she no longer has to use her regular drugs. “Seventeen years ago I lived on Afrin, Tums and Tylenol, to name a few of the over-the-counter drugs that I wouldn’t leave home without,” she said. “Today I take none. When people ask me how I did it, all I say is that I changed my diet.”

Alt uses a Pilates PRO chair and Core 46 machine for her intense workout routine. She also does cardio and yogalates — a combo of yoga and pilates- and cycling in the sauna, weight-lifting, lunges, squats, and jumping trampoline.

What inspired Alt’s lifestyle?

Alt shared the experience that made her transform her diet and life, admitting that it was motivated by self-described vanity. “I was on a shoot, I was 34–35 years old. There was a 22-year-old model … the whole set just gravitated toward her, because she had this energy and exuberance for life. She was jumping around and having a good time… she put me to shame. She really did. I just watched her in fascination,” she recalled.

The incident motivated Alt to reflect and research ways to regain that energy. “I was thinking, ‘How did I go from that… to feeling so tired, bloated and ugly?’ I started researching, and I started praying because I realized there was something that was happening,” she recalled. Thankfully, her friend suggested the raw food diet, which has worked great for the veteran supermodel so far.