Liv Nicholson:Your fifties aren’t the end of your visible years; they could be the beginning of your most exciting ones!

You stepped into this industry almost by accident at 54, an age when many assume the door has already closed. What shifted in how you saw yourself once you realized this was really happening?

It was completely accidental. Modelling, particularly commercial modelling, had genuinely never crossed my mind. I didn’t even really know that world existed for someone like me. I’d fallen into the mindset that work meant sitting behind a desk, which I found quite routine and, if I’m honest, a bit draining.

So the biggest shift wasn’t necessarily in how I saw myself, but in realising how other people saw me. I’d never imagined that I might have the look, personality or energy that could translate through a camera lens. When photographers, clients and other people in the industry began commenting on my energy and the positivity I brought to a shoot, I gradually started to believe it myself.

That has probably been the biggest surprise - discovering something in myself in my mid 50s that I didn’t know was there.

The name "Pocket Rocket" has become part of your story. How did it come about, and how much of it captures who you truly are?

Pocket Rocket is something I’ve been called for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t a name I created when I started modelling; it has followed me through my life. I’m tiny, but I’ve always had lots of energy. I did gymnastics from a young age, karate in my twenties and I’ve always been very active. Movement seems to be in my bones; if I sit still for too long, I actually feel more lethargic.

What makes me laugh is that people who know nothing about the nickname will meet me and say, “You’re quite the Pocket Rocket!” I’ve had doctors, sportspeople, colleagues and complete strangers call me it over the years.

So when I began this new career, it felt completely natural to take the name with me. It isn’t really a persona or a brand I put on - it’s probably the most accurate two-word description of me. Small frame, lots of energy, and very rarely still!

Modeling was a new language to learn later in life. What has surprised you most about the craft of being in front of the camera?

It was a completely new language for me, but I love learning new things, particularly when I’m genuinely interested in them. I’ve always loved make-up, having my hair done and taking pride in how I present myself, so suddenly finding myself in an environment where all of that is part of the working day has amazing.

I’ve also been surprised by how friendly and collaborative the industry can be. There’s a completely different atmosphere to the desk-based working world I came from; you’re meeting photographers, make-up artists, stylists and other creatives and everyone is working together to produce something.

But the biggest surprise? I can still feel incredibly awkward in front of a camera! I think I assumed that eventually you’d just stand there and automatically know what to do, but there’s a real craft to it, for eg learning your angles, making tiny adjustments, taking direction and somehow making it all look completely natural. I’m still learning, and I think that’s part of what keeps it interesting.

Your mission centres on brands genuinely embracing petite women under five feet tall. Where do you feel the industry still falls short, and what would real representation look like to you?

I feel the industry still falls short when it comes to extra-petite women. We have petite ranges, but they often cater for women around 5’3” and under and there is a huge difference between dressing someone who is 5’3” and someone like me at 4’10”.

I would love to see brands offer petite and extra-petite options, with the proportions properly considered rather than simply making a standard garment shorter. It’s about the rise of a pair of trousers being right, the waist sitting at your actual waist rather than your ribcage, and sleeves, inseams and overall proportions being designed for a smaller frame. There are plenty of women around the world who are five feet and under, yet we’re still largely invisible in fashion.

For me, real representation would also mean seeing those women actually modelling the clothes. I would love to see a beautifully proportioned woman under five feet walking a major runway alongside models of different heights. Have you ever seen that? I certainly haven’t. The day it happens without being treated as a novelty would feel like genuine progress.

Beginning something this bold in your fifties takes a certain nerve. Where does that confidence come from, and was it always part of you?

I love that you call it bold, because it is! When I left my previous job, a couple of colleagues told me I was brave. The truth is, that confidence wasn’t always part of me. Being so small affected my confidence for much of my life.

But something changed in my fifties. Life moves incredibly quickly and I started thinking, “What if I don’t?” What if I don’t do all these things I still feel this fire inside me to do? Eventually worrying about what other people might think became far less important than worrying I might never try.

I suppose I developed a ‘now or never’ mentality. I wish I’d found that confidence earlier, but I’m very glad it’s here now.

You talk about style, confidence, and energy coming in all heights. How do you bring your own presence into a shoot so that height becomes an asset rather than a limitation?

I think the key is that I’m completely myself. I turn up on time, work hard, take direction and give everything I can, but I also bring humour, positivity and a little bit of sparkle. I feed off the energy of the people around me, so even when I’m tired, something switches on when I’m on set. I don’t feel I have to compensate for my height; I’d rather make it part of what makes me memorable. I smile, I laugh and I don’t feel the need to be overly serious in front of the camera. One of the nicest things has been hearing that my personality and positive energy come through even in a still photograph. That’s my presence and it has nothing to do with inches.

Many women your age are quietly told their most visible years are behind them. What would you say to a woman in her fifties who assumes it's too late to begin something like this?

Absolutely not. For me, life really has begun in my fifties. Earlier decades can be filled with trying to fit in, building a career, raising children, financial pressures and worrying about everyone around you. Somewhere along the way, your own ambitions can get pushed aside.

I used to have two voices in my head: “It must be too late” and “It can’t be too late.” Thankfully, the second one won. So I’d say start. Your fifties aren’t the end of your visible years; they could be the beginning of your most exciting ones!

When you work with a brand or a photographer, how do you make sure your personality, and not just your look, comes through in the final images?

For me, it’s all about the chemistry between the photographer and me. I connect with people quite quickly and when a photographer communicates, has a bit of banter and shows enthusiasm for what we’re creating, I relax and they get the best from me.

I also love it when they show me a great shot early on. That little bit of reassurance allows me to stop thinking about how I look and just be myself. That’s usually when my cheekier side comes out and the most natural images happen. A good photographer doesn’t just capture what you look like; they capture who you are.

Representation is talked about far more often than it is acted on. What kind of campaign or moment would tell you the industry is genuinely changing for petite women?

For me, genuine change would be seeing a major brand introduce an extra-petite range and using extra-petite women to represent it. If one established brand took that step, I think it could encourage others to follow.

And I would still love to see a perfectly proportioned woman under five feet walking a major runway; not as a token gesture, but simply as a model. I think that moment would be genuinely newsworthy and could start a much bigger conversation about height inclusivity in fashion.

Fashion is so often designed and shown on taller frames. How do you approach style for yourself, and what do you wish designers understood about dressing petite women?

I wish designers understood that dressing an extra-petite woman isn’t simply a matter of shortening a hem or taking up a sleeve. The whole structure and proportion of a garment changes- literally. A jumpsuit might look perfect in theory, but if the waist, bust, crotch and seams all sit in the wrong places, it simply won’t work.

For myself, I’ve learnt to dress for my proportions rather than follow every trend. Too much oversized or draped fabric can completely overwhelm my frame. It’s about finding shapes that flatter rather than swamp me. I’d love designers and stylists to recognise that petite design needs to start with the proportions, not finish with the alterations.

This has clearly become an exciting new chapter for you. Beyond the work itself, what has this journey given you personally that you didn't expect?

It’s given me a completely fresh and exciting lease of life. I spent many years in administrative roles feeling drained by work that often seemed repetitive and without much purpose and I wondered if that was simply what working life was meant to feel like.

This journey has given me enthusiasm, vitality and a real sense of purpose. Finding something that genuinely suits me has been a long time coming, but I’m incredibly glad I found it.

You've said you'd love to see where this could lead next. When you picture the next chapter of the Pocket Rocket story, what do you hope it holds?

The dream would be for the Pocket Rocket to become known for showing that life and your working life, can begin again in your fifties and beyond. Once children are grown up and some of those earlier pressures begin to ease, there can be a whole new world of opportunities waiting for you.

I’d love to keep modelling, move further into presenting and hopefully become more recognised along the way. If the Pocket Rocket could give other women the confidence to think, “Maybe I could do something new too,” that would mean an enormous amount to me.

Model: Liv Nicholson @ZBD Talent | @Ugly Models @iv_pocketrocket

Makeup Artist: @beautyby amineh

Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist: @beautynyamineh.treatments

Photographer: Emd photography @emdphotography

Brand: Boat_blackbullet