At 81, Martha Stewart Makes History As Sports Illustrated’s Oldest Cover Star

International

oi-Prakash KL

Age is just a number, at least for American writer and television personality Martha Stewart as she graced the cover page of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit issue at the age of 81!

Yes, you heard it right. She has made history as Sports Illustrated’s oldest cover star. “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?” Stewart said on Instagram. “I hope this cover inspires you to challenge yourself to try new things, no matter what stage of life you are in.”

In an interview, she spoke about the preparation for her shoot. “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 that was great; I’m still going to Pilates every other day ’cause it’s so great. And I just, I live a clean life anyway – good diet and good exercise and healthy skincare and all of that stuff,” the 81-year-old said.

The photoshoot was held in the Dominican Republic and photographed by Ruven Afanador. The offer came her way in November 2022 and the shoot took place in the last week of January.

“To be on the cover at my age was a challenge. And I think I met the challenge,” she said. She wore nine different swimsuits for the shoot.

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She shot to fame with cookbooks in 1980s. She has 99 books to her credit and also manages her own magazine, restaurant, podcast, and television programs.

Talking about the photoshoot experience, she said, “They were prodding me and pinching me and pouring water all over my head! … There’s no tricks. They tell you you look okay. That’s nice. They sort of reinforce that it’s okay to be doing what you’re doing.”

For Stewart, her mother is a role model as she used to wear a two-piece bathing suit even after delivering four babies. “And she still had two more after that, and she was still wearing a two-piece bathing suit, so that’s pretty fabulous. My genes are good,” she added.

Her pictures have now gone viral, inspiring women and men of all ages to pursue their dreams without worrying about age.