Photos That Prove 70-Year-Old Maye Musk Is a Fashion Icon

By Tabitha Britt Updated: May 23, 2018

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motivation

With or without makeup, there’s no denying Maye Musk is absolutely radiant. Last month, the IMG model and mother of three (including inventor-entrepreneur Elon Musk) celebrated her 70th birthday — though she could pass for years younger — and her decades-long modeling career has never been more vibrant. Aside from strutting her stuff on the pages of various fashion magazines, Musk has appeared in major ad campaigns (for the likes of Target and Virgin Airlines), walked the runway (most recently, Dolce & Gabbana’s runway), and even made a cameo in Beyoncé’s music video for her song “Haunted.” Clearly, Musk isn’t letting her age stop her from living her best life.

Maye Musk model

(Photo Credit: Splash News)

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Even though Musk has more than 50 years of modeling experience — and last year made history when she became CoverGirl’s oldest spokesmodel at 69 — she’s more than just a pretty face. Musk works as a dietician and nutritionist, can speak more than four different languages, and has earned two master’s degrees. Talk about the ultimate role model!

“I think that’s one thing that’s kept me working in this industry for so long, my interest in self-representation. It’s a big part of my role as a dietitian, too — helping people feel happy, healthy and confident exactly as they are. And recently, I’ve become so much more engaged in social media, particularly Instagram, which is yet another way I can show people the many different sides of myself,” Musk said in a statement.

Who is Maye Musk?

If you haven’t heard about Musk’s modeling career, then you may know her as the mother of Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur and inventor, founder of the electric car-maker Tesla, and creator of Space X, one of the world’s largest private makers of space rockets. In fact, all three of Musk’s children are highly-accomplished: While Elon has his hands tied with launching rockets, his younger brother, Kimbal Musk, spends his time pondering how we can make food more sustainable, and his sister, Tosca, is a South African filmmaker who recently launched a female-focused streaming platform called PassionFlix.

Even though Musk successfully raised three brilliant children, she doesn’t let being a mother define her. Her own mother worked until the age of 96, so it’s no surprise Maye Musk is following in her mother’s footsteps. “I’m just getting started,” Musk joked in a recent interview with The Economist. Scroll down to see some of our favorite photos of Maye Musk. Age 70 never looked so stylish!

Maye Musk at Farfetch and William Vintage

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Maye Musk Celebrating the Gianni Versace Archive Hosted by Elizabeth Stewart and William Banks-Blaney, 2017

Dozens of stars showed up to honor Gianni Versace at the Gianni Versace Archive hosted by Farfetch and William Vintage on October 5, 2017. The collection is rumored to be one of the largest assembled yet, featuring more than 500 pieces from the late '70s. Don't you just love her bold, dark lipstick and velvet pant-suit? Tres chic!
Maye Musk and Her Son Elon Musk at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, 2017

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Maye Musk and Her Son Elon Musk at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, 2017

If one thing's for sure, Maye Musk raised three extremely talented children. Here she is posing proudly beside her son Elon Musk at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2017.

"I hope he [Elon Musk] learned his work ethic from me," Maye Musk said in an interview with the Huffington Post. "Also budgeting, as we lived in a rent-controlled apartment in Toronto with a very limited food budget. We could not afford to dine out. I had a client with a butcher. Once a month he would give me a beef roast. I would cut it up in[to] four pieces, freeze three and cook one so we could have meat once a week. When Elon was at Wharton, I used my savings to fly to Philadelphia for Thanksgiving dinner. We splurged at Boston Chicken."
Maye Musk CoverGirl

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Maye Musk Becomes a CoverGirl Model at Age 69, 2017

At age 69, Maye Musk became CoverGirl's oldest spokesmodel. How's that for motivation?

"I think it's so exciting that they thought about how age is not a problem and the comments I get are so positive," Musk said in an interview with W Magazine. "Young girls will stop me in the street and say 'Thank you, we can all carry on forever!'"
Maye Musk at the Jason Wu Fashion Show

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Maye Musk at the Jason Wu Fashion Show, 2018

Maye Musk sat in the front row at the Jason Wu fashion show during New York Fashion Week in February 2018. We're in love with her winter white peacoat and black velvet one-piece. What an elegant look!

When it comes to shopping, Musk suggests keeping your wardrobe to a minimum.

"My best piece of style advice is to keep your wardrobe small and love everything in it," said in an interview with Harper's Bazaar. "My favorite pieces are my J Brand cropped kick flares, James Perse T-shirts, Alexander McQueen sneakers, Rosie Assoulin and Sally LaPointe evening gowns, and beautiful heels — I’ve got quite a few Louboutins."
Maye Musk New York Fashion Week

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Maye Musk at the Jonathan Simkhai Fashion Show, 2018

Musk has graced the covers of more than a few glossy magazines, including Vogue. Here she is looking bold and beautiful at the Jonathan Simkhai fashion show during New York Fashion Week in February 2018.

"I want to become a role model for women and men who fear aging," the silver-haired cover girl said in an interview with Instyle. "I want to work toward being accepted as somebody special rather than being ignored."
Maye Musk at the DKMS Love Gala, 2018

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Maye Musk at the DKMS Love Gala, 2018

Maye Musk wore a bright yellow gown with poufy sleeves to the DKMS Love Gala in May 2018.

“I've never feared aging and my mom didn't either,” Musk said in an interview with Forbes. “She died at 98 and stopped working at 96. My mom never worried about losing her confidence and I suppose that's helped me a lot because I feel the same.”