Quick answer: Martha Stewart posing on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover at 81 sparked debate because our culture still struggles to see older women as confident, visible, and celebrated. Nikol Johnson's take is that this is a win worth celebrating, not tearing down. Whether or not it's your personal style, Martha showing up boldly makes more room for every woman to do the same.
Key takeaways
- Martha Stewart, at 81, became the oldest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model — a milestone for age visibility.
- Much of the backlash centered on her "looking too good" and plastic-surgery speculation, which Nikol sees as women being pitted against each other.
- Martha has said publicly that no knife has touched her face, neck, or back, crediting months of prep, diet changes, Pilates, and facials.
- Viral side-by-sides — like a 106-year-old Vogue cover star next to Martha — miss the point entirely.
- Nikol's message: at any age, you're in the driver's seat of your own health, confidence, and choices.
Hey ladies — few magazine covers have started as many arguments as this one. When Sports Illustrated put Martha Stewart on its Swimsuit cover at 81, my private Facebook group lit up, the comments turned into a full-blown debate, and I knew I had to weigh in. Here is exactly where I stand.
Why did Martha Stewart's Sports Illustrated cover spark such a debate?
When Sports Illustrated revealed Martha Stewart as a Swimsuit cover model at 81, reactions ranged from pure celebration to real outrage. In my Beauty Reinvented group, it played out in real time. One member posted model Yasmina Rossi as her beauty goals and framed Martha as nothing but plastic surgery — and the comments got aggressive fast. Another shared a split-screen comparing a 106-year-old Vogue Philippines cover star with Martha, ranking one kind of aging over another. To me, that is exactly where things go wrong: we can admire more than one woman at a time.
Did Martha Stewart have plastic surgery — and does it matter?
The loudest criticism was that Martha looks too good to be real. But she has gone on the record saying no knife has touched her face, neck, or back. She has shared that she does Juvederm about twice a year, skips Botox, and gets facials constantly. She is also a former model who put herself through college posing for the camera — she knows angles and lighting better than almost anyone, and the right light alone can transform a photo. My take? Take her at her word. Speculating about a stranger's body is not beauty advice, and it is not kind. If you are ever considering cosmetic treatments yourself, talk to a licensed professional about what is right for you.
What does it really take to pose for Sports Illustrated at 81?
People forget how physically demanding a shoot like this is. From what Martha has shared, the prep looked something like this:
- Months of preparation, changing her whole routine well ahead of the shoot.
- Diet changes — cutting out alcohol, carbs, and pasta.
- Pilates three to four times a week to build strength and stamina.
- Regular facials and dedicated skin prep.
- Extensive swimsuit fittings, trying on styles until the look was right.
- A roughly 12-hour shoot day on a beach in the Dominican Republic.
That is exhausting at any age — and she did it at 81, staying present and giving the camera energy the whole time.
Why does Nikol say "game on" instead of "it's not fair"?
Here is my frustration. We say we want to be seen. We ask the beauty and fashion world to celebrate women in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s instead of putting us away. Then an 81-year-old lands the cover of the most iconic magazine there is — and some of us respond with "she looks too good" and "she is raising the bar." Good. Raise it. My ladies in their 80s and 90s are doing Pilates, ballroom dancing, and traveling after knee and hip replacements, and they inspire me every day. You are in the driver's seat of your health, your food, and your mindset. This is not about looking like Martha — it is about deciding to show up as fully as you can, on your own terms.
The bottom line
There is really no debate here, ladies. Nobody sets the standard for you — not Martha, not a magazine, not a comment section. Celebrate the women who show up boldly at every age, stop comparing, and go live your own version of it. Game on. If a little confidence-boosting makeup is part of how you show up, explore our makeup, best sellers, and classics made with mature skin in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the oldest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model?
Martha Stewart set the record in 2023, appearing on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover at age 81 — the oldest cover model in the franchise's history at the time. A former model who put herself through college with modeling work, she brought decades of experience with posing, angles, and lighting to the shoot.
Has Martha Stewart said whether she has had plastic surgery?
Martha Stewart has stated on the record that no knife has touched her face, neck, or back. She has said she uses Juvederm roughly twice a year, does not do Botox, and gets frequent facials. Nikol's view is simple: take her at her word rather than endlessly speculating about a stranger's body and choices.
How did Martha Stewart prepare for the Sports Illustrated shoot?
According to the coverage Nikol references, Martha prepared for months. She cut out alcohol, carbs, and pasta, did Pilates three to four times a week, and kept up with regular facials. The shoot itself was a demanding 12-hour day on a beach in the Dominican Republic, on top of extensive swimsuit fittings and styling.
Why was Martha Stewart's swimsuit cover so controversial?
Reactions split between celebrating an 81-year-old woman's confidence and visibility, and critics who questioned retouching or claimed she looked too good for her age. Nikol argues the backlash reveals a contradiction: many people say they want age representation, then criticize a woman the moment she actually shows up and owns it.
What is Nikol Johnson's take on the Martha Stewart debate?
Nikol celebrates the cover as a win for age visibility, regardless of whether Martha is your personal style. Her message is that women should not be pitted against each other or torn down for showing up boldly. At any age, you are in the driver's seat of your own health, confidence, and choices — so make the bar higher.
Why does comparing older women miss the point?
During the debate, viral posts compared very different women — like a 106-year-old Vogue Philippines cover star beside Martha Stewart at 81. Nikol calls these side-by-sides unfair: different cultures, generations, and life paths cannot be ranked against each other. Aging well looks different for everyone, and there is no single right way to do it.
