A 106-year-old woman who gained international fame as a model in her 90s for a popular skincare brand, and who was asked to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show, has been honoured in a special ceremony.

Award-winning Stoke Newington model, Irene Sinclair, who appeared in Dove’s ‘Real Women’ campaign, aged 96, celebrated 10 years of being a model at an afternoon tea at the Dorchester Hotel on May 27.

Ms Sinclair said: “It is important to share your journey as it will encourage others to take up challenges which they may feel they are not up to. Age is just a number and if you live well, keep fit and always remain positive, then living is a natural way of life.

“I grew up eating good food which was cooked from scratch every day. We walked a lot and as we did not have TV, we listened to the radio and read a lot. I believe that the campaign has shown other women, older and young that we can do anything that we want to do. Never say never.”