Martha Stewart, the 84-year-old media mogul and television personality, shared rare throwback photos from her Westport, Connecticut, property in preparation for the Fourth of July holiday and her upcoming 85th birthday on August 3. One image, dated 1976, shows Stewart in denim overalls and a striped shirt, leaning against a wooden wagon in her backyard. The caption for the photo described the grounds as the setting for many of her early ideas and ventures, including her gardens and first book, "Entertaining."
Stewart also shared a picture from days prior, wearing a similar outfit and standing near geese on the same property. She recalled raising the geese from eggs at "Turkey Hill," stating that the experience infused her with a love for sustainable and organic poultry. She mentioned that she still keeps geese from five different countries at her Bedford, New York, property.
Born in August 1941 in New Jersey, Stewart began her career as a stockbroker in the late 1960s. She entered the publishing world after her ex-husband, Andrew Stewart, became president of NYC publisher Harry N. Abrams Inc. Her first book, "Entertaining," was published in 1982 and ghostwritten by Elizabeth Hawes. Throughout the 1980s, she released several more books, including "Martha Stewart's Quick Cook" (1983) and "Martha Stewart's Secrets for Entertaining" (1988). Her divorce from Andrew was finalized in 1990, and the couple had one daughter, Alexis, born in 1965.
In 1990, Stewart launched the magazine "Martha Stewart Living," which ceased print publication in 2022 but continues online. A television show of the same name, based on the magazine, began in 1993 and ran until 2004. She also hosted "The Martha Stewart Show" from 2005 to 2012. In 1997, she established her media brand, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.
Stewart was found guilty in March 2004 of conspiracy, obstruction, and lying to federal investigators in connection with an insider trading scandal. She served five months in prison, beginning in October 2004, and was released in March 2005. Reflecting on the experience in a 2021 interview, she stated, "I knew I was strong going in and I was certainly stronger coming out."
Earlier in 2024, Stewart addressed persistent rumors about plastic surgery, which she has denied. She told People magazine that she has "not ever had plastic surgery" and emphasized her honesty. She recounted an incident years ago where a dog split her lip, requiring 16 stitches, which she described as a repair rather than plastic surgery. Stewart also mentioned occasionally using "certain fillers" for minor lines, while expressing a dislike for Botox.