A Timeless Legacy of Self-Belief
By May Ikeora
As December settles in, there is a certain inclination to reflect, to consider where we have been and where we might yet go. In a year marked by uncertainty and shifting perspectives, it feels fitting that the face gazing from the cover of Raising Women Magazine is one known for defying expectations. Maye Musk, the Canadian born, South African raised model and dietitian, proves that there is no expiration date on reinvention. Her life, brimming with surprises and changes of fortune, offers an encouraging message for any reader who has ever felt constrained by someone else’s idea of a timeline.
We are used to the fashion world fixating on youth. We see models scarcely old enough to vote on runways that claim to define what is modern. Yet here stands Maye Musk, in her seventies, delightfully proving that age should never be a limit. She started modelling at fifteen, and decades later, she found herself becoming a cover model for major campaigns, even at a time when most of her peers had long stepped aside. One might think she would have paused or slowed down. Instead, she set new goals and enjoyed achievements that would silence any sceptic. As she said in an interview with The Times UK in July 2020, “Age does not define who you are.” It is a statement that many, especially women, will find both affirming and long overdue.
Maye Musk’s name is often introduced with a certain unavoidable caveat: she is the mother of one of the world’s most recognisable entrepreneurs, Elon Musk. That connection ensures her a place in media conversations, but it would be shortsighted to reduce her to a footnote in another individual’s biography. Before Elon Musk launched rockets and stirred up headlines, Maye was building her own career, raising a family, and making choices that aligned with her personal vision. She is a person who has worn many hats, each one fitting her with remarkable ease.
Before The Beginning
Modelling came early to Maye Musk. She entered the industry as a teenager and enjoyed modest success before her family life took centre stage. When she married Errol Musk, with whom she had three children, she did not imagine that one day she would be known around the globe not only for her offspring, but also for her refusal to exit the spotlight with the passing years. After her marriage ended and she found herself a single mother, she had to work multiple jobs, often juggling responsibilities that would leave many people exhausted. In an interview on CBS This Morning in October 2019, she recalled, “I recall times when I had to work five jobs just to support my family. Looking back, I do not regret it. It taught me that I can handle a lot more than I ever imagined.” This willingness to take on challenge after challenge would serve her well in the decades to come.
THE EARLY YEARS. A Mother and A Struggle
Raising her children, Maye Musk encouraged independence, curiosity, and original thinking. Elon Musk, known today for sending rockets into space and upending the automotive industry, was once simply a boy with an intense curiosity. “When Elon was a baby, he was so curious,” she told Vanity Fair in May 2020, “He would sit and look at things, just absorbing the world around him. He has always been that way.” She gave her children space to find their own interests, to pursue unusual dreams without fear. “People always ask me how I raised such successful children. I did not treat them like babies. I gave them independence and encouraged their interests,” she explained in a CBS This Morning interview in October 2019.
This approach might seem simple, yet it was not always applauded. In a world that likes to present neat formulas for what makes a good parent, Maye Musk’s approach drew questions and sometimes criticism. She was never the type to conform to the expectations of others. There were those who suggested she was merely riding the coattails of her son’s fame, a notion that she has gently dismissed. After all, she was modelling long before most people had heard the name Musk. The suggestion that her success was a byproduct of her children’s achievements rather than her own talent and hard work can be considered a mild controversy. Some have questioned why she is so frequently in the spotlight, but for those who know her story, the reason is clear: she has earned it through decades of dedication and consistent effort.
As a Dietician
As a Dietician Another controversy that occasionally emerges is around her role as a dietitian. Maye Musk holds two Master of Science degrees in dietetics and nutritional science, and she has worked as a nutrition expert for years. Yet the nutrition field is one rife with ever shifting guidelines, fashionable diets, and conflicting advice. Musk’s recommendations, grounded in scientific knowledge and personal experience, have occasionally drawn criticism from those who believe that her approach is too traditional or not aligned with the latest fads.She does not seem particularly rattled by such critiques. Instead, she remains focused on what she knows works. “I have spent my life studying nutrition and I truly enjoy feeding not only my body but my mind with the best possible ingredients,” she told The Cut in April 2018.
“When Elon was a baby, he was so curious, …He would sit and look at things, just absorbing the world around him. He has always been that way… People always ask me how I raised such successful children. I did not treat them like babies. I gave them independence and encouraged their interests,”
Of course, not everything in her world has been smooth. Her personal life has included romantic missteps and hardships. She has spoken openly about being in an abusive marriage, a subject that some find difficult to confront. “I have made some mistakes, especially when it came to marriage. But that is life, you learn and carry on,” she reflected in her memoir. (Source: A Woman Makes a Plan, 2019). Here again is a reminder of what makes her appealing. She does not present herself as flawless. She acknowledges the bumps in the road. This honesty resonates, particularly with female readers who can appreciate a public figure willing to tell an authentic story.
Reinvention and Embracing Age
As we turn our thoughts toward the close of the year, Maye Musk’s life offers a reminder that conventional narratives about ageing and relevance are overdue for revision. When she became a CoverGirl at sixty nine, it challenged assumptions about who belongs on a beauty campaign. “At 69, I became a CoverGirl, it changed how older women saw their future in fashion,” she told Time in November 2017. Not that she needed permission to feel worthy, but that particular accolade reassured others that possibilities do not vanish with the arrival of a certain birthday.
Her modelling career in recent years has included runway appearances in high profile shows, appearances in major magazines, and even stints in music videos. She appeared in one of Beyoncé’s videos in 2013, confidently striding through scenes as though it were the most natural place in the world for a woman in her sixties. This surprised some who still think fashion and entertainment are domains reserved for twenty somethings. For Maye Musk, it was just another new experience in a life filled with them.
She addresses the subject of ageing and its associated perceptions in her memoir. “Do not fear aging. It is a time to know what you are good at and focus on what you love,” she wrote. (Source: A Woman Makes a Plan, 2019). This perspective is a breath of fresh air for anyone who has ever felt that their best days are behind them simply because of a calendar date. She suggests that a later stage of life can be freeing. After all, by the time one reaches their sixties or seventies, there is a certain confidence gained from many years of trial and error. Maye Musk exemplifies that confidence, embracing her silver hair and using her experiences as strength.
“Do not fear aging. It is a time to know what you are good at and focus on what you love,”
Nutrition and Purpose: Beyond Beauty
Over the decades, Maye Musk’s work ethic has never faltered. She moved from country to country, built a career as a respected nutrition consultant, and continued modelling in an industry that might have preferred to discard older faces. Her focus on health, both physical and mental, has been a guiding principle. She emphasizes maintaining a balanced diet, staying active, and dressing in ways that make one feel good about oneself. Through social media and interviews, she shares practical tips that can easily slip into a woman’s daily routine, encouraging them to care for themselves without apology.
As we consider Maye Musk today, there is something quietly inspiring about the way she has approached the journey. She is not loud and brash. She does not insist that everyone follow her example. Instead, she tells her story, puts in the work, and allows others to draw their own conclusions. When asked how she managed to raise children who have made their mark on different industries, she once said to Vanity Fair in May 2020, “I always told my children to do good things. Just do good things.” This simplicity sums up a worldview that relies less on grand slogans and more on small actions repeated consistently over time.
There is also an element of playfulness in Maye Musk’s approach. She is known to quip about the absurdities of life. She does not flinch when confronted with questions about ageing or relevance. Instead, she might smile and point out that she is booked for another cover shoot or that she has a new project in the works. She recognises that much of what we consider impossible is simply something we have not attempted. By living her life in this manner, she shows that there is great freedom in ignoring stale rules.
Lessons from Maye
This December, many of us are evaluating where we stand. Some might be thinking they are too old to start a new career or too stuck to initiate a lifestyle change. As the end of year approaches, we can look at Maye Musk’s life and consider it a reminder that we can find new beginnings in unexpected places. She did not crumble under hardships, nor did she shrink from fresh opportunities. She embodies the notion that we can set our own pace, claim our own narrative, and dress up in whatever sparkly outfit suits our mood. She shows that time can bring wisdom, that personal choices carry weight, and that leaning into change can be thrilling rather than frightening.
Above all, Maye Musk’s story suggests that we need not fit ourselves into anyone else’s idea of what is possible. She offers a lively example of what can happen when one keeps an open mind and a sense of humour. For many readers who have spent too long feeling invisible, here is a figure who became more visible with each passing year. There is a grandeur in that. It is not about stubbornness or a desperate desire for attention. It is about reminding the world, and ourselves, that we decide how relevant we are. Maye Musk, a model who began in her teens and soared later in life, stands before us to prove that we can always find a new stage if we are willing to look.
5 Inspiring Life Lessons from Maye Musk to Empower Your Journey!
1. “Life may not turn out the way you expect, but you can always make a new plan.”
2. “Live dangerously carefully.”
3. “You can love what you’re doing, but if it’s not working out, change your direction.”
4. “If things get really tough, take small steps and keep moving forward.”
5. “I had to teach my kids to work hard, be independent, and not to blame others for their problems.” What’s your favourite?
A Woman Makes A Plan: A Brief Review
Maye Musk’s memoir, A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success (published in 2019), has been widely praised for its candid insights and pragmatic guidance. Drawing from her decades-long career as a model, a nutritionist, and a mother of three high-achieving children including entrepreneur Elon Musk. Maye shares personal stories of overcoming financial hardship, leaving an abusive marriage, and re-establishing herself in new careers and countries.
ritics note that the book’s strength lies in its straightforward, no nonsense approach to empowerment. The New York Times commended Maye’s focus on perseverance and adaptability, rather than offering unrealistic or overly inspirational platitudes. Vogue praised her willingness to discuss ageing and beauty in honest terms, highlighting how her journey challenges ageist norms in fashion and beyond.
Readers on Goodreads often comment that her tone feels like advice from a wise friend—warm, yet rooted in hard-earned lessons. Ultimately, A Woman Makes a Plan resonates as a guide that encourages readers to embrace life’s uncertainties and maintain a spirit of curiosity and self-reliance.
