You know what I love about being 74?
I don’t have nearly as much patience for the word “should.”
Watch this full video:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2KktgdJOPzg?is=fuwkMI9zXHF6u5vY
If you’ve been cheering me on, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you haven’t voted yet, I’d be so grateful for your support today.
Vote here: https://nextrunwaystar.com/2026/wendy-ida
YOU CAN VOTE DAILY UNTIL SEPT 5.
I should slow down.
I should be happy with everything I’ve already accomplished.
I should leave certain things to younger women.
No, thank you. ❤️
I’m still here. I’m still curious. I’m still excited about what’s next.
And apparently, what’s next is a runway. 💃
I recently entered the Next Runway Star competition, and I’m now a quarterfinalist!
Why Not Me?
I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I never imagined I’d do.
I’ve stepped onto bodybuilding stages. I’ve broken records. I’ve built a career helping women become stronger and more confident in their bodies and their lives.
None of those things happened because I woke up one morning feeling fearless.
I did them because somewhere along the way, I learned to stop asking, “Am I too old for this?” and start asking a much better question:
Why not me?
I want you to remember that question.
Maybe you’ve thought about taking a class but worried you’d be the oldest person there.
Maybe there’s somewhere you’ve always wanted to travel.
Maybe you want to get stronger, change careers, learn something new, wear something you’ve never had the confidence to wear, or finally do that thing you’ve been talking about for years.
And then that little voice shows up.
Maybe I missed my chance.
I know that voice.
I just don’t let it make my decisions anymore.
You Don’t Need a Guarantee
Here’s something else I’ve learned.
You can do everything right and still not know how something is going to turn out.
I have no guarantee that I’ll win this competition.
But winning isn’t the only reason I entered.
I entered because I still want to surprise myself.
I still want experiences that make me a little nervous.
I still want to walk into a room and think, “Well, Wendy, this is new!”
That’s part of staying alive to your own life.
And I hope you keep doing that too.
You don’t have to make some enormous change tomorrow.
Just stop automatically telling yourself no.
Give yourself the chance to try.
Now I could use a little help with this particular adventure!
I’m currently a quarterfinalist in Next Runway Star, and voting determines who moves forward. You can cast one free vote every day, and I’d be so grateful to have you in my corner.
Vote for me here —>> And send this link to friends…
https://nextrunwaystar.com/2026/wendy-ida
You’ll be asked to sign in with Facebook to verify your free vote. Voting for this round closes August 28 at 10:00 PM Eastern.
The competition also supports Rise, a nonprofit working to protect survivors of sexual assault. Donations are optional and separate from your free vote.
If you vote for me, thank you. I mean that from my heart. ❤️
But I also have a little challenge for you.
The next time you catch yourself saying, “I’m too old for that,” stop yourself.
Ask one question instead:
Why not me?
I’m 74, and I’m still finding new reasons to put on my heels and show up.
I hope you keep finding yours.
“We do not stop exercising because we grow old – we grow old because we stop exercising.” – Dr. Kenneth Cooper