You’ve probably seen the photos. A strike of silver hair, high-cheekboned elegance, and that "I’ve seen it all" gaze that makes 20-something influencers look like they’re playing dress-up. Maye Musk modeling photos are everywhere lately—from high-fashion billboards in Times Square to the glossy, sun-drenched pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.
But there is a massive misconception about her.
Most people assume she’s a "socialite" who started modeling because of her billionaire son, Elon. Honestly? That couldn't be further from the truth. Maye was a working model before Elon was even a thought, and her current "supermodel" status is actually the result of a fifty-year grind that started in 1960s South Africa.
The Viral SI Cover and the "Oldest Model" Myth
When Maye Musk landed the 2022 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover at age 74, the internet basically broke. She was photographed in Belize by Yu Tsai, wearing a vibrant, ruffled Maygel Coronel suit and a structural Bahia Maria piece.
It was a moment.
People kept calling her the "oldest" to ever do it. While she did hold that record for a minute (until Martha Stewart stepped in a year later), the age isn't the point. What makes those Maye Musk modeling photos work is that she isn't trying to look "young for her age." She looks like a woman who is 74 and thinks that’s a pretty great thing to be.
She’s often said that men walk around the beach looking terrible and they don’t care. Her logic? Women shouldn't care either. That confidence is what sells the clothes.
Not just a pretty face (literally)
Maye is actually a doctor. Well, a PhD and a registered dietitian with two Master’s degrees. For decades, modeling was just her side hustle.
In her 30s, she moved to Durban as a single mother. She was so broke she fed her kids bean soup and peanut butter sandwiches. She’d do modeling gigs for "mother of the bride" catalog shoots in the morning and see nutrition patients in the afternoon. She didn't even tell her patients she modeled.
Then she turned 60.
Why She Stopped Dyeing Her Hair
For years, Maye kept her hair blonde. Modeling agencies told her she’d be done by 18, then 25, then 30. By her late 50s, she was tired of the maintenance. She decided to let it go silver.
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Her agency at the time? They hated it. They didn't call her for six months.
But then, a funny thing happened. An art director saw her walking down the street with that natural white hair and booked her for a Time magazine cover about longevity. Suddenly, the "look" was in high demand.
The industry realized there was a massive, wealthy demographic of older women who didn't want to see 16-year-olds in their face cream ads. They wanted to see Maye.
The Big Breaks: Beyoncé, CoverGirl, and Dior
If you want to see the range in Maye Musk modeling photos, you have to look at the 2010s. This is when she went from "working model" to "icon."
- 2013: She appeared in Beyoncé’s "Haunted" music video. It was moody, gothic, and edgy.
- 2017: At age 69, she became the oldest CoverGirl ambassador in history. This wasn't just a one-off photo; it was a global campaign that changed the brand's trajectory.
- Recent Years: She’s now a Dior Beauty Ambassador and a massive star in China, where she represents five major brands.
The transition from the "pretty girl" photos of her 20s to the "interesting woman" photos of her 70s is wild to look at. In the 60s, she had to be perfect. Now, she just has to be present.
The "Model-Mother" Dynamic
It’s impossible to talk about her photos without mentioning the Musk name. It definitely helps with the "billboard in Times Square" visibility. But if you look at her early test shots from the 60s—the ones with the bougainvillea-lined streets of Pretoria in the background—you see the same bone structure and intensity.
She has modeled for Clinique, Revlon, Target, and Virgin America. She even did a nude cover for New York Magazine (with a fake pregnant belly) to discuss the trend of older mothers. She’s a chameleon.
What most people miss
Maye handles her own social media for the most part, or works closely with her manager. She understood early on that Instagram was the new portfolio. While other models her age were retiring, she was posting behind-the-scenes clips and high-fashion edits.
She basically hacked the algorithm by being the only person in her lane.
How to Apply "The Maye Musk Method"
If you’re looking at her career and wondering how she stayed relevant for six decades, it’s not just "good genes." It’s a strategy.
- Ditch the camouflage. She stopped hiding her age and started using it as a USP (Unique Selling Proposition).
- Diversify your skills. She never relied solely on modeling. Her nutrition business kept her grounded when the phone stopped ringing.
- Invest in "Interesting" over "Pretty." In her words, anyone can be pretty. Being interesting is what keeps you booked.
- Master the pivot. When the agencies wouldn't call, she changed her look. When the world went digital, she went to Instagram.
The reality is that Maye Musk modeling photos represent a shift in how we view aging. It’s no longer about "fading away" at 65. It’s about a "surprise factor"—showing up early, staying curious, and realizing that sometimes, the best work of your life happens after your 70th birthday.
Go look at her James Perse campaign or her Vogue editorials. You’ll see a woman who isn't just posing for a camera; she’s running a business. And business is booming.