Sports Illustrated Swimsuit recently unveiled its four new cover stars for 2023, with the magazine aiming to celebrate those who “live in a world where they feel no limitations, internally or externally.”
Gracing the cover is actor Megan Fox, model Brooks Nader, and business and lifestyle legend Martha Stewart – who has made history as Sports Illustrated’s oldest cover star at 81.
Stunning fans with the glam photo shoot – which took place in the Dominican Republic – Martha posed in a white one-piece by Monday Swimwear, with a Torso Creations orange cover-up draped on top.
Announcing the news on Instagram, Martha wrote ‘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.’
In a chat with the magazine, she said: ‘I’m going to be the oldest person I think ever on a cover of Sports Illustrated. And I don’t think about age very much, but I thought that this is kind of historic.
‘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.’
Martha first rose to fame back in the 1980s after releasing a string of successful cookbooks. Now, she’s an author to over 99 books, and has added everything from magazines, restaurants, podcasts and TV programs to her ever-growing empire.
‘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.’
"The whole ageing thing is so boring"
Talking of her accomplishments, Martha told the Los Angeles Times, ‘All of us should think about good living, successful living – and not about aging. The whole aging thing is so boring.’
The photoshoot is being welcomed by many as a shift in the right direction when it comes to representation in media. Too often, women are pushed aside once certain life milestones are reached.
One Twitter user wrote, ‘Thank you for doing this and showing everyone that you don’t have to be an 18-year-old model to be beautiful inside and out.’ Another added, ‘Inspired by you, yet again, in such an unexpected way!’
Another noted, ‘Watching the reaction to Martha Stewart on the cover of SI is a reminder of how entrenched ageism is. Society really feels women should fade away starting from middle-age. F*ck that! Let’s take up all the space.’
Still, in the same way as calling mothers brave for donning a bikini, praising Martha for simply showing up in the same way as her fellow cover stars is also a reflection of the ageism that we face. It’s time to stop placing limitations on women’s beauty, once and for all.