Kim Alexis was one of the top models of the 1980s as she appeared on the cover of Vogue and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and represented brands like Gucci, Perry Ellis and Ralph Lauren.

These days she is away from the spotlight but still thriving as a mother of three living in Arizona.

The 63-year-old catwalk veteran has now talked to People Health about how she has finally felt ‘comfortable’ by accepting herself as is after struggling with hypothyroidism, menopause and weight gain.

That caused her to pull away from public life.

‘People want us to continue looking the way we did when we were younger,’ she noted. ‘We’re not allowed to get older. It’s not fair.’

These days the star – who looks much younger than her years – is active on social media talking about how to age gracefully. ‘I feel great,’ she told People Health as she posed in denim for the cover along with her dog.

Kim Alexis was one of the top models of the 1980s as she appeared on the cover of Vogue and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and represented brands like Gucci, Perry Ellis and Ralph Lauren. These days she is away from the spotlight but still thriving as a mother of three living in Arizona. Seen in 2012 in NYC
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Kim Alexis was one of the top models of the 1980s as she appeared on the cover of Vogue and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and represented brands like Gucci, Perry Ellis and Ralph Lauren. These days she is away from the spotlight but still thriving as a mother of three living in Arizona. Seen in 2012 in NYC

The 63-year-old catwalk veteran has now talked to People Health about how she has finally felt 'comfortable' by accepting herself as is after struggling with hypothyroidism, menopause and weight gain. That caused her to pull away from public life

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The 63-year-old catwalk veteran has now talked to People Health about how she has finally felt ‘comfortable’ by accepting herself as is after struggling with hypothyroidism, menopause and weight gain. That caused her to pull away from public life

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The New York native also said during her interview that she has never had any surgery or injections like Botox.

‘And I never will,’ she shared.

The blonde beauty added the older she gets, the more ‘confidence and wisdom’ she has.

Alexis also noted that she has struggled with menopause.

In her 50s she felt a hormonal imbalance, she shared, after she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in the 30s.

The hypothyroid condition resulted in weight gain. ‘I had to learn to be tolerant of myself and learn what I could handle,’ she said. ‘I didn’t always like it but I adapted.’

When she was 54, one of her sons had a crisis, which left her ‘bedridden.’ She learned she had perimenopause.

But she said she was always a glass half full type and after she was given the right medication, she plugged on.

‘I’m figuring things out along with every other woman,’ the cover girl shared. ‘About how to age gracefully, naturally and beautifully.’

Seen here on the cover of Cosmopolitan in 1984. She said of this shoot: 'There were many shoots that might have looked great but were hard to pose for. This was one of them! I had on a metal swimsuit and not only had to hold in my stomach but also keep my hair behind my arm¿ they placed the hair there so I couldn't move my arm for a long time!'
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Seen here on the cover of Cosmopolitan in 1984. She said of this shoot: ‘There were many shoots that might have looked great but were hard to pose for. This was one of them! I had on a metal swimsuit and not only had to hold in my stomach but also keep my hair behind my arm… they placed the hair there so I couldn’t move my arm for a long time!

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Bride;s in 1986
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In a swimsuit for the cover of Platinum in 1983, left, and Bride’s in 1986, right

Kim on the cover of Vogue EPR in 1980

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Kim on the cover of Vogue EPR in 1980

She got her start in 1978 and the following year was on the cover of Family Health
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She got her start in 1978 and the following year was on the cover of Family Health

She also noted that she retreated from the public eye after her third child because the world is not kind to aging models.

‘People want us to continue looking the way we did when we were younger,’ she noted. ‘We’re not allowed to get older. It’s not fair.’

Kim also reflected on her modeling career which began in 1978.

After she was signed to agent John Casablancas he told her to lost 15lbs but she said that was not easy as she was more athletic than skinny.

That caused her to try to ‘starve’ herself. ‘It was tough,’ the pinup allowed.

At age 23, however, the cash rolled in as she signed a deal with Revlon for Ultima II. Next came marriage and babies, and even some hosting duties.

She posed for high fashion brands like Christian Dior
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She posed for high fashion brands like Christian Dior


Her contemporaries were Gia Carangi, Patti Hansen, Christie Brinkley, Kelly Emberg, Iman, Janice Dickinson, and Paulina Porizkova.

In the early 1990s, Alexis hosted health shows, such as Healthy Kids on the Family Channel.

In the late 1990s, she was host of Daily Edition.

She acted too: in 1993 also appeared with Mike Ditka in the last episode of Cheers.

Alexis was also in the 1993 movie Body Bags, and the 1998 film Holy Man with Eddie Murphy.

In 2005, she appeared on VH1’s reality competition But Can They Sing?.

‘I am featured on the cover of the Winter/Spring issue of People Health! In this edition, I share my personal choice to age naturally, discussing the beauty and strength in embracing our authentic selves ,’ she wrote on Instagram.