An age-defying influencer has shared how she manages to stay looking so young, sharing the daring reasons why she'll continue to dress exactly as she pleases...11:06, 20 May 2026Updated 11:06, 20 May 2026When you think of bodycon dresses, you probably think of women in their 20s donning them for a night of clubbing, and not 83-year-olds. But Mikki Williams is here to change your perception, as she doesn't believe there's such a thing as "age-appropriate" fashion.‌Mikki insists that people should wear whatever they want to and stop "waiting for permission" from others to do what they want. She'll purposefully pick the most "outrageous" thing to wear because she still wants to express her individuality.‌Mikki, from Naples, Florida, spends $15,000 (£11,180) a year on her colour-coded wardrobe, which includes 200 pairs of shoes and more than 100 tops. She doesn't agree with "dressing for your age," and refers to herself as "a bit of a rebel" or "a maverick".‌"People stop me every single day and say, 'I love your outfit, but I could never wear that.' And I always say - of course you could. They just don't give themselves permission. That's the difference," she shared.Mikki says her confidence was shaped early in life by her mother, Bette Rawson, who raised her alone and encouraged her to embrace being different and not to "conform" to standards people may expect. "When other kids were smoking or trying to fit in, I was reading fashion magazines and figuring out what I loved," she said.‌"She believed me when I said I wanted to be different, and that gave me incredible confidence. I was always outside the box, and I've stayed there my whole life."She used to love going shopping with her mum in New York, where she grew up, and their shopping trips have become core memories. Mikki shared a fond moment she remembers from when she was little."There was this little boutique and my mum took me there and bought me the most perfect dress with a matching bow in my hair," she said." That was two women as a team - we just loved going to the shops together. I think that's where I got my shopping gene from".‌And to honour that young girl who loved shopping, an entire room in her home has been transformed into a wardrobe. She said: "My closet is completely colour-coded, there's a whole section of yellow, a whole section of green, and everything in between. And my shoes? I have a shoe spinner with around 200 pairs. Fashion is my passion. That's always been my motto."And when it comes to styling outfits, she has a unique process. "I always start with the shoes or the jewellery," she said. "If you start with clothes, you limit yourself to what matches.‌"But if you start with something like a pink and green necklace, suddenly you're creating an outfit you would never have gone looking for. That's where the magic happens."Mikki has "always taken risks" and "never followed trends," sharing that she "doesn't need to". However, there have been a few looks that have shocked even her when she's looked back.Alongside her quirky fashion sense, Mikki credits her energy and youthful appearance to a disciplined lifestyle. She said: "People always ask me what my secret is, and I give them the same four answers - exercise, obsessive skin care, supplements, and a positive attitude.‌"I've always exercised - I was a professional dancer, so it's part of my DNA. I'm in the gym every day doing Pilates, swimming, weights, and I love to dance."I'm also obsessed with skincare and makeup, I read about it, I study it, and I have routines morning and night. I use supplements all the time, and energy is a huge part of it too."Article continues belowMikki has even managed to turn her passions into a TikTok career after a friend suggested it to her. She explained: "I said, 'That's for 20-year-olds'. And she said, 'No, they need you'."So I asked my 17-year-old neighbour to help me, and I said, 'I don't know what I'm doing, you have to teach me'. I made a video and said, 'Hi, I'm Mikki, I'm a natural 82-year-old', and the next thing I knew, I was trending. By the next morning, I had over a million views. It just took off so fast."She shares her outfits, fitness routines and her daily life, urging people to "take a risk, be outrageous, and just do it" if there's something you fancy trying!