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

Today, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit unveiled its four new 2023 cover stars. Per the magazine, this year’s issues aimed to celebrate powerful women who “live in a world where they feel no limitations, internally or externally.” On the roster of its iconic swimsuit models? Actor Megan Fox, singer Kim Petras, model Brooks Nader, and business and lifestyle mogul Martha Stewart. It’s the latter cover star who made history today: Stewart is now Sports Illustrated’s oldest cover model ever, at 81.

“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 wrote on Instagram. “I hope this cover inspires you to challenge yourself to try new things, no matter what stage of life you are in.”

Stewart first rose to fame in the 1980s after a slew of successful cookbooks; She’s since written over 99 books and launched her own magazine, restaurant, podcast, and television programs. “Never in her life has she let her circumstances dictate her outcome,” said Sports Illustrated editor-in-chief MJ Day. “She’s changed with the times—always one step ahead, it seems—to build a wide-reaching business empire.” 

For the magazine’s striking cover photo, Stewart was photographed in the Dominican Republic: She’s seen wearing a white bathing suit by Monday Swimwear with an orange cover-up by Torso Creations. Inside, her editorial spread features 10 beachy photographs, in which she sports pieces from Isa Boulder, Eres, Zimmermann, and Norma Kamali. At 81, she’s clearly as fabulous as ever—and she attributes the glamorous photo shoot to one key beauty secret of her own. “For me, it is a testament to good living,” Stewart said. “All of us should think about good living, successful living—and not about aging. The whole aging thing is so boring.”