The 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue was just released and it features hottie and lifestyle icon Martha Stewart on the cover, looking absolutely incredible at age 81. Stewart is now the oldest woman to grace the cover of the renowned magazine, beating (then) 74-year-old Maye Musk who posed for the mag last year. Other 2023 cover models include Megan Fox, Brooks Nader and Kim Petras, who is the second trans model to grace the sought-after Sports Illustrated cover page.
Stewart, who is best known for her dining and lifestyle brands, has worked as a model since the age of thirteen. According to a Vanity Fair interview, Stewart worked as an in-store model for Bonwit Teller department store, and modeled in television commercials for Clairol, Lifebuoy soap, and Tareyton cigarettes. And while she developed a career unrelated to her modeling, she clearly has had the chops since birth!
Stewart shared a photo of the cover on her instagram saying, “I am so thrilled to be on the cover of the @SI_Swimsuit issue! 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.”
Sports Illustrated recorded a behind-the-scenes video with Stewart, talking about her experience on set and her feelings about the historic cover photo. “Usually I’m motivated by pay,” said Stewart in the video (a truly iconic line– us too, Martha!) “But this time I was motivated by showing people that a woman my age can still look good, feel good, and be good.”
The cover shoot was photographed back in January. Stewart was photographed by artist Ruven Afanador in the Dominican Republic, and had about ten outfit changes.
“When I heard that I was going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit, I thought, ‘oh that’s pretty good,’” Stewart said. “I’m going to be the oldest ever on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I don’t think about age very much, but I thought this was kind of historic, and that I better look really good!”
I don’t think there can be any more proof– women do not suddenly stop being hot after age 40. Age, wisdom, success, and a life full of adventure sure looks good!
Top photo: Photos of Martha Stewart, screengrabs from the Martha Stewart instagram, photographed by Ruven Afanador. Background photo: Leonardo Rossatti via Pexels.
