American Entrepreneur Martha Stewart has added another feather to her cap! The TV personality and cook has posed for Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit edition. Martha Stewart is one of the four cover models for this year’s issue, which aims to celebrate powerful women.
The women who ”live in a world where there are no limitations, externally or internally.” The other models were actor Megan Fox, model Brooks Nader, and singer Kim Petras.
At 81, Martha Stewart has become the oldest magazine cover model for Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit edition.
Who is Martha Stewart?
Stewart, well-known as ”The Queen of Domestic Arts”, is a successful American Entrepreneur. She has been a lifestyle icon for decades and has managed to leverage this popularity to earn a million dollars.
Stewart rose to fame in the 1980s when she started to write cookbooks and appear on television after her success as a chef. Since then, she has written 99 books, hosted multiple cooking shows, launched her own lifestyle magazine, and released her own lines of clothing, cooking, and home products.
Martha Stewart was thrilled when she learned about the opportunity
In an Instagram post, Stewart wrote, ”I am thrilled to be on the cover of the @SI swimsuit issue! My motto has always been: When you are through changing, you are through. So I thought why not be up for this opportunity of a lifetime? I hope this cover inspires you to challenge yourself to try new things no matter what stage of life you are in. Changing, evolving, and being fearless- those are very good things indeed.”
Stewart traveled to the Dominican Republic for her photo shoot, where she worked with the photographer Ruven Afanador, whom the Emmy Award-winning TV show host calls ”so much fun” to work with. While on the location at the beautiful Casa de Campo Resort and Villas, Stewart donned 10 swimwear looks. This included a plunging, red, halter swimsuit, a tan one-piece paired with an oversized hat, and a sporty metallic black-and-silver zip-up suit.
Martha Stewart is among the cover models for the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
The lifestyle businesswoman, 81, is the oldest swimsuit model the magazine has featured. https://t.co/HdguORqPZR
— CNN (@CNN) May 16, 2023
Before Stewart, the oldest swimsuit cover model was the model and mother of Eon Musk, Maye Musk, who appeared in 2022 at the age of 74.
Sports Illustrated called Stewart the ”OG of influencers”. SI swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day said, ”Never in her life has she let her circumstances dictate her outcome. She’s changed with the times, always one step ahead, it seems to build a wide-reaching business empire.
Stewart said in an interview that when she heard that she is going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, she was enthusiastic. She said, ”Oh, well that’s pretty good, I’m gonna be the oldest person, I think, ever on the cover of Sports Illustrated.” When asked about being the oldest to accomplish this task, she added, ”I don’t think about age very much. But I thought that this is kind of historic and that I better look really good.”
Her appearance on the swimsuit cover has triggered praise
When asked about her pal, Snoop Dogg’s reaction, she laughed and said, ”Snoop is going to just think that it is fantastic.”
Fellow celebrities have shared their admiration, including actress Jennifer Garner and Ellen Pompeo, of ”Grey’s Anatomy” fame. ”Congratulations Queen,” Pompeo wrote.
Shani Orgad, professor of media and communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science, agreed that it’s ”about time”. ”Older women gain more positive visibility in the media but said such representation can be problematic.” He added, ”We rarely see older women across lines of race, class, disability, and beauty standards.”
Has Martha Stewart’s swimsuit cover broken the barriers?
Stewart is breaking boundaries and commanding the social media spotlight yet again. This time with an appearance at age 81 on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue. In recent years, she has become a social media personality who often shows up in memes, striking up a friendship with Rapper Snoop Dogg and presenting an unusual narrative arc in the public eye.
The magazine, which for years drew buzz for covers with some of the skimpiest bikinis and most buxom of models, has taken a different approach of late. In 2019, Muslim model Halima Aden made history as the magazine’s first model to be photographed wearing a hijab and burkini. Additionally, last year’s issue featured Katrina Scott as the first visibly pregnant swimsuit model.
To add on, Kim Petras is just the second trans woman to appear on the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover, following Leyna Bloom, who was the first trans woman to ever appear. On this Petras stated, ”No matter what your gender or sexuality or any of that stuff is, it’s about what you make of life. It’s about what’s inside you.”
Martha Stewart spoke on Plastic Surgery after online skeptics
Stewart responded to critics about her plastic surgery history. There is none, she said. When asked Martha Stewart whether she had a plastic done on her body or phase for the swimsuit cover she replied, ”Well, it’s not true. I’ve had absolutely no plastic surgery whatsoever. And I have very healthy, good hair. Also, I drink green juice daily. I take my vitamins. I eat very healthfully and have good skin doctors. Further, I’m very careful in the sun. I wear hats and I wear sunblock every single day.”
Well, when asked about Botox and fillers, she said, ”There are certain fillers that I can do for a little line here or there, but I hate Botox. It’s a weird thing for me.” Also, on the diet and exercise, Steward stated, ”I didn’t starve myself. But I didn’t eat any bread or pasta for a couple of months. I went to Pilates every other day. And I just live a clean life anyway- a good diet and good exercise and healthy skin care and all of that stuff.”
Undoubtedly, at the age of 81, it is commendable for a woman to make such sort of accomplishment, and that too so gracefully.
Thanks, @etnow !
Martha Stewart Reacts to Critics of 'Sports Illustrated' Swimsuit Cover and Plastic Surgery Rumors | Entertainment Tonight https://t.co/s9vQpL3ErA— Marc Malkin (@marcmalkin) May 17, 2023
Conclusion
Without a doubt, Martha Stewart’s inclusion as the oldest Swimsuit Illustrated cover model is a remarkable achievement that transcends age and challenges conventional notions of beauty. Through her accomplishments, grace, and confidence, she inspires many people of all ages, proving that there is no age to embrace new challenges and opportunities. As said, age is just a number!
