Martha Stewart, the 84-year-old media personality and businesswoman, has shared a series of throwback photos as she prepares to celebrate her 85th birthday on August 3. The images, posted to her Instagram account, offer a glimpse into her past at her Westport, Connecticut residence.
One photograph, taken in 1976, shows Stewart in denim overalls and a striped shirt, leaning against a wooden wagon in her backyard. The caption described the snapshot as "ultimate summer inspiration" and noted its connection to her "farmstead property," which served as the backdrop for her early ideas and ventures, including her expansive gardens and her first book, "Entertaining."
Another throwback image, also from August 1976, features Stewart with geese on the property. She recalled raising the geese, along with chickens and turkeys, from eggs, stating that this experience instilled in her a love for "sustainable, organic, and carefully raised poultry and eggs."
Stewart, born in New Jersey in August 1941, began her career as a stockbroker in the late 1960s. Her entry into publishing was influenced by her then-husband, Andrew Stewart, who was president of the publishing house Harry N. Abrams Inc. Her first book, "Entertaining," was published in 1982. Throughout the 1980s, she released several more books, including "Martha Stewart's Quick Cook" (1983) and "Martha Stewart's Secrets for Entertaining" (1988).
The 1990s saw the launch of her 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, Stewart established her media brand, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc.
Stewart previously served five months in prison starting in October 2004, following a conviction in March 2004 for conspiracy, obstruction, and lying to federal investigators in connection with an insider trading scandal. She was released in March 2005.
In recent years, Stewart has addressed speculation about plastic surgery, asserting in interviews that she has never undergone cosmetic procedures. She recounted an incident where a dog bite required 16 stitches to her lip, describing the procedure as a "repair" rather than plastic surgery. While she stated she dislikes Botox, she has occasionally used certain fillers for minor lines.
Stewart also commented on aging, telling The Martha Stewart podcast in 2024 that while she doesn't dwell on age, she strives not to look her age and works hard to maintain her appearance.