Martha Stewart, the American businesswoman and television personality, has made history by becoming the oldest person to grace the cover of the annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition at the age of 81. Stewart was one of four models chosen for the issue, alongside Megan Fox, musician Kim Petras and model Brooks Nader. Colombian-born photographer Ruven Afanador captured the images, which show Stewart wearing a white one-piece swimsuit on the front page of the magazine, posing in various swimsuits on the beach in the Dominican Republic.
Stewart told the magazine that she hoped to inspire other women, saying “I don’t think about age very much, but I thought that this is kind of historic and that I better look really good. My motto has always been: ‘when you’re through changing, you’re 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 all very good things, indeed.”
Martha Stewart began her career in the 1970s with a catering business, and later gained fame through her own magazine, Martha Stewart Living. Her media empire later led her to become a billionaire. In 2004, she was sentenced to five months in prison after being found guilty on charges related to an insider trading scandal, but later attempted to rebuild her brand by starring in her own reality television show, expanding her food products, and teaming up with rapper and friend Snoop Dogg in 2016 for a television series.
Stewart’s achievement of being the oldest person to pose for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition cover is particularly notable, as the magazine has traditionally featured younger models. In 2019, Tyra Banks made a historic return to the cover at the age of 45, while the previous oldest model to pose for the cover was billionaire Elon Musk’s mother Maye Musk at the age of 74.
Stewart’s cover shoot shows that age is no barrier to success or being fashionable. It is a reminder that people should never stop seeking new opportunities or experiences, as every chapter in life has something to offer. By promoting the values of change, evolution, and fearlessness, Stewart has set an example for women of all ages to follow. In her own words, “those are all very good things, indeed”.
