Not long ago, hitting your fifties meant you were officially over the hill.

After your fun twenties, corporate thirties and ‘naughty forties’, it was time to swap stilettos for orthopedic shoes and settle into a life of early bird specials and sensible cardigans.

Here’s a sobering fact: When The Golden Girls premiered in 1985, Blanche was only 53. And she was considered the ‘sexy one’ of the group! Meanwhile, Dorothy and Rose were both just 55.

Now, in today’s world, 55 is prime Jennifer Lopez posing-in-a-bikini-on-a-yacht age.

For me, the big 5-0 is a whole decade away, but honestly I’m looking forward to it. Just look at the fifty-something role models we have to look up to. Halle Berry (57), Salma Hayek (57), and Nicole Kidman (56) – they’re all absolute bombshells proving that 50 is the new 25. They’re strutting down red carpets, gracing magazine covers in lingerie and shooting some of the smuttiest movies Hollywood has ever seen.

Good lord, you love to see it.

And I happily discovered this week it doesn’t actually take that much work to look fabulous at 50. That’s because I have a friend who is 50 – and she’s living her best life, looks half her age and has men falling over themselves to get her attention.

And, no, she isn’t a celebrity with a limitless surgery budget, nor is she spending every waking moment investing in ungodly ‘biohacking’ to reclaim her youth.

Exclusively dating younger men is one of Maria Sprem's first rules of thumb for staying young

Exclusively dating younger men is one of Maria Sprem’s first rules of thumb for staying young

And she’s not even living on green juices or waking up at the crack of dawn for Pilates.

Last night, I had dinner with one of those women who seem to defy time. You know them. While the rest of us throw cash at serums that promise to ‘plump and hydrate’, they’re out there just living and somehow looking hotter with each passing year.

Meet Maria Sprem, a woman I first came across two years ago through mutual friends. We had all been invited to a rooftop party hosted by a ‘Mr Big’ of Bondi. When she swanned in, I’d never seen a group of men flock so thirstily to a woman before. Despite the place being filled with hot, young influencers, all eyes were on a then-48-year-old financial advisor. It was fascinating to watch.

Turns out, Maria has cracked the code to staying youthful without even trying. Now 50, she’s glowing, thriving and turning heads (the right heads – think chiselled finance bros and handsome TV stars).

So, what’s her secret? Well, if you think it’s kale smoothies and yoga, think again.

I took her to dinner at Darling Pavilion and got her to spill the beans. Her winning formula? Younger men, Paris and girly dinners. And that’s just the start…

1. Only date younger men

Maria refuses to date men her age because, in her words, ‘older men can’t keep up and use their kids as an escape clause’. And honestly, she’s not wrong.

Mail+ columnist Jana Hocking got Maria to spill her secrets on how she seems to defy time

Mail+ columnist Jana Hocking got Maria to spill her secrets on how she seems to defy time

‘You know the type,’ she says, rolling her eyes. ‘One minute, everything’s going great, the next, “Oh, sorry, my teenage daughter needs me to pick her up from a party across town. Gotta go!”‘

I hate to say it, but I’ve seen it firsthand – the number of times I’ve dated a guy who suddenly cancels plans because of an unexpected custody change. And look, sometimes it’s legitimate, but let’s be real: it’s also a very convenient excuse when they can’t be bothered to commit.

Maria recently gave an ‘age-appropriate’ guy a chance, only to find out he was a full-blown Peter Pan. (I too have dated this man and can back her up on that theory.)

‘Younger men bring more fun, less baggage, and don’t try to control me,’ she says matter-of-factly. They are almost always a better choice.

In recent years, flings with younger men have taken her around the world – to Fifty Shades of Grey-themed parties, superyachts and the finest restaurants.

‘Keeping up with someone younger keeps me young,’ she laughs.

2. Pursue a stable, low-risk career

Nothing keeps you youthful like financial independence, Maria says.

Forget the twenty-something girlbosses telling you change jobs every other year, get a side hustle and work ‘5-9’ even after finishing your ‘9-5’.

Maria says one of the main reasons why she looks so young at 50 – and has energy to spare – is that she’s been consistent with her career and tried not to overthink it.

She has been with the same organisation for many years. She’s worked her way up steadily rather than job-hopping her way up the corporate ladder – which is the sort of high-risk-high-reward approach that can lead to stress and career burnout.

As a result of her quiet dedication, she is now Financial Operations Coordinator for Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum. It’s a great job that pays well and brings her into contact with some fascinating people.

And she’s never had to flog a discount code on Instagram.

As for her personal finances, Maria says being able to pay off a mortgage on her own is just as important as exercise, anti-ageing cream or anything she puts into her body.

Nothing blows away the cobwebs of stress than knowing you’re debt free, and it shows on her practically line-free face.

'Stress ages you,' says Maria (right). Her mantra is to only spend time finding the courage to change the things she has control over, and not to worry about the rest

‘Stress ages you,’ says Maria (right). Her mantra is to only spend time finding the courage to change the things she has control over, and not to worry about the rest

Maria is pictured celebrating her 50th birthday in Paris, a city she visits once a year

Maria is pictured celebrating her 50th birthday in Paris, a city she visits once a year

3. The daily mantra that actually works

‘Stress ages you,’ Maria tells me. ‘So I just don’t stress.’ How the hell do you do that? I asked. She swears by a simple daily mantra: the serenity prayer.

‘God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.’

She has been saying it daily for decades now and swears it has given her a stress-free life. Meanwhile, the rest of us are spiraling over unread texts…

That’s really it, she insists. No vision boards, no manifesting, no long-winded morning affirmations and sending messages to the universe. Just 27 words.

4. Forget the gym – walk everywhere

Maria doesn’t do overpriced fitness classes. Instead, she walks everywhere, insisting it ‘does wonders for my metabolism’.

This includes walking to work and back (roughly an hour each way), plus very long walks with a podcast on weekends.

Most of us adhere to the mantra ‘take the stairs instead of the lift’, but that sort of incidental exercise really isn’t enough. Maria says that in order to see results and keep fit, you need to think bigger. For example, replace short car journeys with walks.

She also adds 2kg arm weights for bone density and strength.

Despite being 50, Maria (left) has few lines on her face. 'Less is more' is her secret when it comes to tweakments. 'If people can tell you've had something done, you've had too much'

Despite being 50, Maria (left) has few lines on her face. ‘Less is more’ is her secret when it comes to tweakments. ‘If people can tell you’ve had something done, you’ve had too much’

Maria swears by walking – and science backs her up. Walking keeps your heart strong, bones sturdy, weight in check, and brain sharp. It’s basically therapy for your legs, boosting your mood, reducing stress and keeping those joints from seizing up.

So if you want stay young, ditch the gym and just walk everywhere. It’s easy, free and there’s zero risk of running into a guy mansplaining protein powder. What’s not to love?

5. ‘Maintenance’ over facelifts

For tweakments, like filler and Botox, the trick is to have just ever so slightly less than you think you need. This usually gives you results that are noticeable yet 'invisible'

For tweakments, like filler and Botox, the trick is to have just ever so slightly less than you think you need. This usually gives you results that are noticeable yet ‘invisible’

While some people freeze their faces into oblivion, Maria is all about the art of subtle maintenance. Think regular facials, good skincare and a little tweak here and there.

For tweakments, like filler and Botox, the trick is to have just ever so slightly less than you think you need. This usually gives you results that are noticeable yet ‘invisible’.

‘If people can tell you’ve had something done, you’ve had too much done,’ she says.

She warns against facelifts and is especially wary of the ‘half facelift’ that’s becoming the go-to surgery of millennials (and even Gen Z) women looking for a refresh.

(I saw one up close at the Australian Grand Prix last week and, trust me, they make look good on Instagram but are terrifying in real life. The stretch was real!)

6. Go to Paris. Every year

Maria’s sister lives in Paris, so she visits annually.

It’s a hell of a journey from Sydney, but she says it’s a pilgrimage worth taking because having something to look forward to keeps her young.

No-strings flings with hot European men half her age don’t hurt either. 

‘I had a very special birthday there for my 50th,’ she cheekily told me, ‘and it involved a fling with a man half my age.’ Yes, girl!

No children, no husband, lots of holidays planned and disposable income means she can hop on a plane whenever she likes.

Chef’s kiss.

Maria (centre) travels to Paris every year, dates younger men, walks everywhere and eats a large salad every night to stay looking young

Maria (centre) travels to Paris every year, dates younger men, walks everywhere and eats a large salad every night to stay looking young

Maria walks an hour to work and an hour home every evening. She goes on even longer walks with a podcast on the weekend

Maria walks an hour to work and an hour home every evening. She goes on even longer walks with a podcast on the weekend 

You may not believe it, but Maria doesn't work out at the gym

You may not believe it, but Maria doesn’t work out at the gym

7. Girls dinners are sacred

‘Dating is great and it’s wonderful meeting new people, but date nights can be stressful. Give me a gossip-fuelled dinner with my girlfriends any day of the week,’ Maria declares.

She swears by keeping weekends fun and busy, always. And make dinner with the girls the centrepiece.

As for her weeknights, she spends her evenings on Wordle (great for keeping the brain sharp), bingeing Netflix (no sport!) and regularly has early nights. Her typical dinner is a huge salad, the sort of meal a man would never consider a ‘proper’ dinner.

8. Stop waiting, start living 

When her sister died suddenly, Maria made a promise to herself: no more waiting, no more playing it safe.

One day, they were making plans, laughing and thinking they had all the time in the world; the next, she was gone. It was a brutal wake-up call.

‘Life’s too short to hold back,’ she tells me. ‘I realised I’d been living with this idea that I had endless time to do all the things I wanted. But we don’t. None of us do.’

So she stopped waiting. She booked trips. She started saying yes to adventure. She let go of worrying about what people think and started really living. 

From the ashes of her grief, she built a new life – one filled with travel, romance and a complete disregard for outdated societal expectations.

‘I honour her by making the most of every day,’ she says.

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk