80-year-old fitness influencer who's posed for Playboy breaks planking record
80-year-old Annie Judis is used to turning heads – she’s been doing it practically her whole life.
She’s been a beauty pageant queen, a Playboy cover girl, and a Hollywood actress in the likes of Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets, under the screen name Jeannie Bell.
She also made headlines for dating famous actor Richard Burton between his two marriages to Elizabeth Taylor.
And if that didn’t give her enough material for an epic life story, the super fit grandmother-of-three has made her mark on history as a Guinness World Records title holder too.
Her most recent foray into record breaking came when she became the oldest person to perform an abdominal plank (female) at the age of 80 years 244 days.
She had to hold the plank for at least three minutes to qualify.
But mum-of-two Annie has been breaking records for years.
She first became the oldest competitive rope skipper (female) when she was 75 years 92 days old… and she’s still at it, last updating her record earlier this year when she competed in the Southern California Open at age 80 years 156 days.
She’s also become somewhat of a fitness influencer, with over 65,500 followers on Instagram.
Annie at a jump rope competition
Planking is part of Annie’s normal exercise regime, but she admits she usually only does it for a minute to appease her trainer.
When it came to breaking the record, it was thinking about her late husband Gary that spurred her on.
She explained: “When I was holding that plank, I’ll tell you… my husband and I, I was married for 44 years, and I used to always compete against him at the gym.
“We were planking and I remember I did seven minutes and he only did six minutes.
As I was planking this time I was thinking about him, thinking he was next to me and telling me to keep going.
Choking up, she added: “It felt like the time was going pretty quick. I could have gone for five minutes but I got a little emotional because I was thinking about my husband and I gave up.”
Annie, who had her miniature poodle Carmen by her side throughout her attempt, said she didn’t realize she was particularly fit until she joined Instagram.
The accidental influencer said: “People tell you how it is on there and I was getting all these nice comments and people were even asking to see my birth certificate.
“I get a lot of compliments and that motivates me to keep going.
You’ve got to keep moving your body. If you don’t move it, you’ll lose it.
“I’m blessed that I’m living at this age with no pain, to me that’s a miracle.”
Her sister Emma, 78, has even developed a bit of a competitive nature and planks for three minutes in a bid to keep up with her older sister.
Annie works out with her trainer three days a week and also loves to paint in her spare time.
And keen to inspire the next generation of jump ropers, she’s also penned a children’s book that’s set to be released soon.
It’s aptly titled Beverly Hills Jump Rope Queen.
“Kids don’t jump rope anymore and it’s the best thing for their health,” Annie said.
“This book is going to get the kids off the couch and they’ll encourage their parents to jump rope with them.”
Annie loves nothing more than hearing she’s inspired someone to get fit.
She said: “That’s the best news I could have, someone telling me I’ve motivated them to get up and work out.
“If they don’t do it, it’s going to be too late for them and I don’t want that to happen.
Health is wealth. It’s important to take care of your health.
She added: “I think age is just a number. You’d be surprised what people can do in their 80s now, in their 70s and 60s.
“People are stronger. I feel like I got stronger as I got older. I feel like I have more energy.”
Annie is hoping to break more world records, and wants to become the oldest person to hold the dead hang position.