Penny Lancaster, the wife of rock legend Rod Stewart, has found herself in the middle of a social media storm after being seen on a luxury yacht off the coast of Sardinia, Italy, wearing a very tiny bikini.

While some people have praised Penny for her beach style, others have been harsh. Some critics said the 53-year-old model looked like she was “sagging” and “drooping” in her swimsuit, while others felt there was no reason to be so harsh.

But why are so many fans still loving Penny’s beachy look? Keep reading to find out!

Despite his busy touring schedule, Rod Stewart decided to take some time off to enjoy a family vacation with Penny in Sardinia, Italy. The couple, who got married in 2007, shared their happy moments on Instagram.

Penny posted, “Another amazing family holiday together (a few were sadly missed) in the [Mediterranean] bonding, healing, love, and laughter,” along with a photo of Rod, who is now 79, with their daughters Kimberly, 44, and Ruby, 37, and their sons Aiden, 13, and Alastair, 18.

Also joining the fun were Rod’s two sons-in-law, Adam Sumner and Jake Alick, and his adorable grandson, Otis, who is just over a year old.

In a July 2024 interview with Hello! magazine, Penny shared, “We like to take every opportunity to bring the family, children, and grandchildren together. The whole clan gets together at least two or three times a year, but it takes a lot of planning because part of the family lives in America and part in England.”

“The Wrong Bikini Top”

Before heading back to Las Vegas for his residency at Caesars Palace, Rod and Penny were spotted enjoying themselves on a $65 million superyacht in Porto Cervo, a beautiful seaside town in northern Sardinia.

Rod, best known for hits like “Tonight’s the Night,” kept cool in a lemon-yellow button-down shirt and protected his face from the sun with a towel. Penny, on the other hand, showed off her incredible figure in a tiny black bikini, her hair tied back in a ponytail.

But not everyone was impressed. Some people on social media criticized Penny’s bikini choice. “After noticing the drooping, sagging, and wrinkled skin barely held together by the bikini… it’s more like ‘Ewwww,'” tweeted one critic.

Another added, “Wrong bikini top.” A third remarked, “For someone who was famous for modeling, she’s letting the side down. She needs to remember that ‘just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.’ And maybe get a stylist before going out in public.”

Rod Stewart’s wife, Penny Lancaster, looks radiant on beach in string bikini https://t.co/q4eykVX6LM pic.twitter.com/JlnFG51jGm

— New York Post (@nypost) April 5, 2023

However, there were also fans who jumped to her defense. One person said, “The swimsuit is not flattering, but let’s stop the criticism; she’s in her 50s. She may not look amazing to everyone, but there’s no need to be mean.”

Penny Lancaster, 53, wows in a tiny black bikini as she soaks up the sun with husband Rod Stewart, 79, on £50million yacht in Sardinia https://t.co/mD8AIVvlGo pic.twitter.com/tlwVOAQyZB

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) July 17, 2024

Another wrote, “Leave her alone, they’re on vacation on their yacht, not a public beach.”

Fashion Icon

Meanwhile, Rod Stewart, always known for his bold style, teased his return to Caesars Palace on July 12 by posting a photo of himself on the yacht wearing a short suit with black and white stripes.

All striped up on me holidays and looking forward to @CaesarsPalace in Las Vegas 24th July till the 7th of August pic.twitter.com/8sxSj7UpY3

— Sir Rod Stewart (@rodstewart) July 12, 2024

“I’m all decked up for the holidays and excited to visit Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from July 24 to August 7,” he wrote.

His outfit was a fresh twist on one he wore back in 1973, one of the many “anything but subtle” looks that have earned him the title of “fashion icon,” according to Vogue magazine.