Martha Stewart Young Modeling: What Most People Get Wrong

If you close your eyes and think of Martha Stewart, you probably see a linen-clad icon standing in a pristine kitchen, perhaps holding a perfectly braised turkey or a handcrafted wreath. Or maybe you see her laughing with Snoop Dogg. But before the empire, the prison stint, and the legendary comeback, there was a different Martha. This Martha wasn’t teaching the world how to fold a fitted sheet; she was posing for Chanel and Unilever to pay for her tuition at Barnard College.

Honestly, the photos are jarring. Not because they’re bad—they are stunning—but because they reveal a side of the domestic mogul that feels almost like a secret history.

Why Martha Stewart Young Modeling Still Matters

It’s easy to dismiss a celebrity’s early modeling career as a "lucky break" or a footnote. With Martha, it was a business strategy. Born Martha Kostyra in Jersey City, she was the second of six children. Money wasn't exactly flowing. By age 10, she was already babysitting for New York Yankees legends like Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. She had hustle in her DNA.

By the time she hit 15, she landed her first real "big" gig: a television commercial for Unilever.

The $50-an-Hour Hustle

Let’s talk numbers. In the early 1960s, Martha was pulling in roughly $50 per hour. To put that in perspective, that’s over $500 in today’s money. For a college student in the '60s, that wasn't just pocket change; it was a small fortune.

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While her peers were taking entry-level office jobs or working in libraries, Martha was commuting from her dorm at Barnard to high-fashion sets. She was smart about it, too. She didn’t just want to be a pretty face; she wanted to be financially independent. She ended up majoring in history and architectural history, but the modeling paid the bills.

She worked with massive brands that are still household names:

• Chanel (She even did a stint where she was dressed by Coco Chanel’s team)
• Clairol
• Breck
• Lifebuoy Soap
• Tareyton Cigarettes (The famous "I'd rather fight than switch" campaign)

The Reality of the 1960s Sets

It wasn't all glamour. People think modeling in the 1960s was like a scene out of Mad Men, but Martha has been vocal about the DIY nature of the job. Back then, you didn't always have a "glam squad" of twenty people.

"During my modeling days, we didn't have a team of stylists for photo shoots. I had to do my hair myself," Martha once shared.

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You can see that precision in her early photos. Her hair is always impeccably coiffed, her makeup sharp. It was a training ground for the perfectionism that would later define Martha Stewart Living. She was learning how to present a product—and herself—as an aspirational ideal.

Breaking the "All-American" Mold

One of the most interesting things about martha stewart young modeling is how she viewed herself. Even though she looked like the quintessential girl next door, she felt out of place in the "sexy" culture of the era.

She once told People that she struggled with the idea of being provocative. She didn't participate in the "sleeping around" culture that was rampant in the industry at the time. She was focused. She was there to work, get paid, and go back to her studies. In 1961, Glamour even named her one of the "Ten Best-Dressed College Girls." This wasn't just a hobby; it was a profession.

The Pivot to Wall Street

By 1965, the modeling era was basically over. She had married Andrew Stewart in 1961 (wearing a dress she and her mother made, naturally) and gave birth to her daughter, Alexis, in '65.

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She didn't just fade away into suburban life. She took that same modeling discipline and applied it to Wall Street. She became an institutional stockbroker, proving that her time in front of the camera hadn't dulled her brain—it had sharpened her ability to sell an image and a dream.

Why We Are Still Obsessed

In 2023, Martha broke the internet by appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue at age 81. People were shocked, but if you look at her early 60s portfolio, you see it’s the same woman.

The grit is the same.
The posture is the same.
The "don't mess with me" eyes are exactly the same.

What most people get wrong about Martha’s modeling is thinking it was just about beauty. It was about the start of a brand. She learned lighting, she learned composition, and most importantly, she learned the value of her own image.

Actionable Insights for the "Martha" Hustle

If you're looking at Martha’s early career for inspiration, here’s how to apply that "early Martha" energy to your own life:

• Diversify Your Income Early: Martha didn't wait for a "career" to start making money. Use your natural talents to fund your education or your side projects.
• Learn the "Backstage" Skills: Don't just show up and do the job. Martha learned how to do her own hair, makeup, and styling. Understanding the mechanics of your industry makes you indispensable.
• Control Your Narrative: Martha never let being a "model" define her. She used it as a stepping stone to Wall Street, then catering, then a media empire.
• Quality Over Everything: Even in her early 20s, she was associating herself with high-end brands like Chanel. Be picky about who you align your name with.

The next time you see a vintage photo of Martha Stewart in a swimsuit or a Chanel suit, remember: she wasn't just posing. She was building.