54-year-old mother who is always mistaken for her son's girlfriend

Pamela Jay, 54, and son, Marley, 22

A 54-year-old mother who doesn't look a day over 21 looks so sprightly her son gets mistaken for a her boyfriend.

Mum-of-one Pamela Jay could pass for a woman more than half her age - which has led to strangers assuming her and her 22-year-old son are a couple.

She has bright, clear skin, luscious locks and a figure women half her age would kill for - and she claims her secret is as simple as a jar of coconut oil.

Pamela, from Yorkshire, also has a strict beauty routine and a host of lotions, potions and vitamins that help maintain her youthful glow.

She wakes up at six o'clock every morning to a black coffee mixed with a spoonful of coconut oil, before showering, cleansing and moisturizing her face with top-of-the-range products and preparing a healthy breakfast of organic eggs and gluten free toast.

Some evenings it can take Pamela an hour to get ready for bed - with a routine that involves body brushing, showering, exfoliating and moisturizing with coconut oil.

Pamela, who works as a civil servant, said: "People often think I'm lying when they find out my age - sometimes people are so stunned I almost have to get out my ID to prove it to them.

"Sometimes even I look in the mirror and can't believe I'm 54!

"I'm not sure I look like I'm in my 20s - although people do say that to me - but I feel like I could pass for mid to late 30s, and that's how I feel energy-wise.

"My son and I went to view a property recently, and were asked if we were a couple - when I said he was my son, the estate agent went bright red and looked really embarrassed.

"He always jokes to me, 'mum either I look really old, or you look really young!'

"I don't think we act like a couple - it's not like we go around holding hands!

"Often women will ask me what my secret is, and I'm happy to tell them all about my diet and lifestyle - coconut oil is my big secret weapon.

"I use it for everything - on my body, on my hair, in my food. It's fantastic, it's about £15 a tub and it lasts me around six weeks. It really is a miracle product.

"I also use a lot of different products - I don't buy them often, but when I do I buy quality and they last a long time.

Pamela attributes her youthfulness to using coconut oil

"I use Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, By Terry Densiliss concealer, Nars blusher and lip gloss, Decleor micellar water and oil cleanser, Pixi Glow tonic, Liz Earle cleanser, as well as Sukin super green moisturizer, and I use Living Proof and Aveda shampoo and hair treatments.

"It actually only takes me five minutes to put all my make up on though.

"I also use an SPF every day - I use SPF 50 Dermalogica on my face, and Korres on my body - I do love to sunbathe, but it's important to be protected from UV.

"I try to use natural, paraben-free brands and products where possible.

"I have a regular routine of body brushing, exfoliating and moisturising with coconut oil that helps keep my skin looking smooth.

"It can sometimes take me up to an hour to get ready for bed, but that's not every night - my routine is now quite streamlined.

"Another really important factor is my diet - I try to eat clean and organic food, and eat a lot of salad and healthy proteins.

"I usually have organic eggs and gluten free toast for breakfast, with a glass of coconut water and added liquid iron, then prepare a fresh salad for lunch every day.

"I usually prepare something with organic kale, spinach, rocket, cucumber, olives, tomatoes, red pepper and avocado, with pumpkin and sunflower seeds for added crunch and salmon, eggs or chicken for protein.

"A handful of almond nuts are also a really good snack to keep my fuelled during busy days!

"I avoid too much sugar, or wheat products which can cause bloating.

"I use a lot of spices in my cooking like ginger, cumin and turmeric, which can act a bit like food supplements.

"Dinner is normally something along the lines of oily fish, or organic chicken or steak, served with tonnes of vegetables.

"I try to follow an 80/20 rule - I'm strict with myself 80 per cent of the time, but I'll allow myself the occasional pudding or square of organic dark chocolate if I feel like it."

As well as having a super-healthy diet Pamela drinks gallons of filtered water every day, goes to weekly body conditioning and yoga classes, and does yoga stretches morning and evening with daily meditation.

She also hits the gym once a week where she has a steam and sauna, followed by freezing cold showers to keep her skin toned, along with a weekly detoxing bath filled with pink Himalayan salt crystals, and weekly face and hair masks.

Pamela Jay, 54, and son, Marley, 22

She said: "At the end of the day it's down to my clean diet and lifestyle - if I ate unhealthy all day, I probably wouldn't look or feel as good.

"I've always looked young for my age I think, but obviously I've aged well.

"I think laughter's really good for you - I have a wicked sense of humour and I'm always laughing, I try to look on the positive side of life."

Pamela has had to deal with countless people over the years thinking she's lying about her age - she has even been asked to show a student rail card - leaving the conductors red-faced when they find out how old she is - but she remains modest about her incredible looks.

Pamela, who is happily single, said dating can be difficult - as most of the men who approach her are somewhat younger.

She said: "A lot of men who come up to me are younger, often in their 30s.

"When I tell them how old I am they're pretty stunned, and straight away tell all their mates.

"They always think I'm making it up, they look at me in disbelief - on a couple of occasions I've had to show my driving License".