Leslie C. Bowering on Reinvention, Wellness, and Finding Confidence in Front of the Camera

Model and Pilates reformer instructor Leslie C. Bowering describes her professional journey as one deeply rooted in physical, mental, and emotional self-care. An emerging talent within the modelling industry, Leslie leverages her unique experiences and perspective to build a versatile portfolio. 

Her work is living proof that the fashion and modelling industries have no expiration date—nor are they sectors restricted to traditional age brackets. In this exclusive interview, Leslie reveals that dedication and technical movement have fuelled her on-camera development, cultivating a powerful mindset and versatile skill set that prove essential to her work in front of the camera. 

“At a stage in life when many women are told to shrink themselves—physically, emotionally, and socially, I decided to expand,” Leslie tells us. 

Could you take us back to your early days in design and couture?

My journey into the world of design began immediately after high school, fueled by a profound passion for fashion. I studied at and eventually earned my certification from Form and Function Studio in Calgary, Alberta. Armed with a natural, intuitive talent for sewing, I took a bold leap at just 18 years old, moving to British Columbia to open my own custom sewing house.

Driven by the refined elegance of the early 1990s, I found my ultimate creative anchor in Valentino. He became my icon—the standard against which I measured beauty and craftsmanship. During that era, I acquired a piece of fashion history: one of Valentino’s highly coveted, limited-edition black satin sketchbooks from his 1991/92 collection. Bound in luxurious satin and complete with original textile swatches, only 3,000 of these volumes were ever produced. Today, they are revered as true artifacts of fashion history.

I sourced the volume out of Vancouver, using its exclusive textiles to offer my clients a tangible piece of haute couture. It wasn’t just a tool for my business; it was a testament to the high-end, uncompromising artistry that defined my early career.

How has your wellness journey translated into modeling?

My journey into Pilates reformer instruction in my fifties wasn’t part of some carefully mapped-out career plan. It began as something much more personal: a desire to feel strong again, connected to myself, and fully alive in my own body. What started as wellness slowly became transformation. Consequently, Pilates became the doorway into the modelling industry.

This personal understanding of myself allowed me to master a pre-shooting ritual that includes Pilates, hydration, music, and a calm mindset. In front of the lens, modelling requires immense physical control. Understanding how to hold shapes, micro-adjust lines, and project energy through a silhouette comes directly from my training on the reformer. It changed how I occupy space, which completely transformed my on-camera presence.

How has modelling shifted your perspective on aging in the fashion industry?

I’m still very new to the modeling world, and I don’t pretend to have decades of fashion experience behind me. But what I do have is life experience. I bring confidence, perspective, wellness, and authenticity into every opportunity. In this industry, you stop trying to fit into other people’s expectations and start becoming more comfortable in your natural frame. Modeling, for me, isn’t about perfection or chasing youth. It’s about visibility. It’s about showing that beauty, vitality, and reinvention don’t expire at a certain age.

What serves as your biggest source of inspiration?

What inspires me most now is the idea that women can evolve endlessly. The industry is opening up to talent who begin their journeys and pursue their passions later in life. We are securing space to feel beautiful, strong, ambitious, and visible at any age. 

Fashion is also one of my biggest inspirations both inside and outside of modeling, solidifying my personal style of elevated wellness with a touch of effortless sophistication. Preparing for shoots or projects is less about vanity and more about energy—feeling rested, centered, strong, and confident.

What is one myth you are determined to debunk?

One of the biggest myths, both in modeling and in life, is the idea that there’s an expiration date on entering commercial print or runway spaces. Society often celebrates reinvention in younger people, but when mature women establish themselves later in life, it can surprise people. I think that perception needs to change.

How do you define success at this stage of your journey?

Success for me now looks very different from how it did years ago. It’s not just about titles or accomplishments. Success is challenging industry standards and maintaining longevity in your body. Understanding that confidence on set is built through technical execution and experience is essential to modelling. 

If I could say one thing to women considering a new path later in life, whether in wellness, fashion, or anything else, it would be this: Modelling and fashion have no age restrictions. Some of the most beautiful chapters of our lives begin when we finally decide to choose ourselves.

And honestly, that has been the greatest transformation of all.

By Bree Robinson