At 81, Martha Stewart Poses for ‘Sports Illustrated’ Cover in Plunging Swimsuit

Kayla Blanton
·3 min read
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At 81, Martha Stewart Poses for ‘Sports Illustrated’ Cover in Plunging Swimsuit


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  • Martha Stewart is a 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover star.

  • At 81, she is officially the oldest person to cover the issue.

  • “I don’t think about age very much, but I thought that this is kind of historic,” Stewart said.

Martha Stewart’s thirst trap selfies just got a major upgrade. At 81, the lifestyle mogul is covering Sports Illustrated’s 2023 swimsuit edition in a plunging white one-piece bathing suit and voluminous curls. The entire shoot is a glamorous ode to Stewart’s effortless-yet-luxurious brand, and to say the internet is freaking out about it would be an understatement.

In the pool-side, beach-side snaps taken in the Dominican Republic, Stewart channels her modeling days and lounges on a sofa with a martini in hand, lays in the sand wearing a champagne suit and oversized sunhat, and, in homage to her first viral thirst trap, she takes a dip wearing a hair towel and giant sunglasses. The cheeky, vibrant shots make Sports Illustrated history—Stewart is officially the oldest cover star to date (breaking the record set by Maye Musk, who posed for the magazine at 74 last year).

“When I heard that I was going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s pretty good, I’m going to be the oldest person I think ever on a cover of Sports Illustrated,” she told the outlet. “And I don’t think about age very much, but I thought that this is kind of historic.”

And despite age being an afterthought for Stewart, she knew that taking this opportunity would (hopefully) encourage others not to limit themselves—no matter their age. “Age is not the determining factor in terms of friendship or in terms of success, but what people do, how people think, how people act, that’s what’s important and not your age,” she said. Sports Illustrated star or not, Stewart has proven just that as a businesswoman with consistent new product launches, promotions, travels, and adventures.

Megan Fox, Kim Petras, and Brooks Nader join Stewart as cover stars for the Swimsuit Issue. On the morning of May 15, Sports Illustrated teased the models on Instagram, receiving quite a reaction from fans. “Screaming crying throwing up,” one person commented. “Martha >,” another added. “OMG YESSSS!!!!” someone else wrote.

Since Stewart posted her first thirst trap in 2020, her fans have eagerly taken any skincare, beauty, and even life advice the confident star has to offer. She has since revealed that her glowing skin is thanks to her years-long dedication to Mario Badescu products and facials, she drinks green juice every morning, and as for her number one thirst trap-taking tip? It’s simple: “You have to look good. You have to feel good and be in the moment,” she said on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2021. “None of my pictures are faked.”

And that, we believe. Shop Stewart’s must-have skincare products for camera-ready skin below, and after checking out, join us in revisiting such an iconic shoot.

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