Imagine a woman who has graced magazine covers for over five decades, built a career as a top model, and earned two master’s degrees—all while raising one of the world’s most influential innovators. Meet Maye Musk, a powerhouse of resilience and ambition. Born on April 19, 1948, she is not just a striking face in the fashion industry but also a registered dietitian with expertise in health and nutrition. With Canadian, South African, and American citizenship, Maye has built an extraordinary career, appearing on the covers of Time, Women’s Day, Vogue, and even the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. And if her last name sounds familiar, that’s because she’s also the mother of Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca Musk—a testament to her influence both in and beyond the spotlight.let's know about her more !
Maye had her first master in nutritian in her 20s. The she published her first book Feel Fantastic in 1996, the book is about to concence her patients to adopt healthy habits and how to eat healthier.
Maye Musk has built a successful career in nutrition, managing her own business through public speaking, consulting, counseling, writing, and media engagements. She has achieved top recognition in her field across three countries: serving as the first Representative of the Consulting Dietitians of Southern Africa, President of the Consulting Dietitians of Canada, and Chair of the Nutrition Entrepreneurs at the Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition in usa.
Other side of her success
Additionally, she received the Outstanding Nutrition Entrepreneur Award in the U.S. In 1997, she became the first dietitian to have her book (Macmillan Canada), featured on cereal boxes.
She said ,After marriage of more than 10years and after her struggle with her husband, 10 years of bad treatment and beating, she finaly decided to divorce.
After her divorce Maye faced financial crises. She worked in more than one work to cover her children needs. She also had health issues after of her 30 kg weight gain.
Maye told us more of her story in abtalks program in the video bellow
modeling and fashion
Maye Musk has enjoyed an impressive modeling career spanning five decades, beginning at 15 in South Africa. After relocating to Canada at 41 and later to the U.S. at 48, her career flourished internationally, with campaigns across the U.S., Europe, and even a cruise ship in the South China Sea.
In her 60s, she reached significant milestones, appearing on four Times Square billboards, becoming the oldest girl in Vanity Fair and Hypebae, starring in Beyoncé’s Haunted music video, and featuring in various international commercials and magazine covers.
She fully embraces aging, considering this stage of her life the most fulfilling, as it allows her to live with confidence, wisdom, and a sense of purpose. She believes that every age brings new opportunities and experiences that contribute to personal growth. However, in her book A Woman Makes a Plan, she candidly shares the struggles she faced throughout her life, from financial hardships and single motherhood to career setbacks and self-doubt. Through her inspiring journey, she demonstrates the power of resilience, adaptability, and determination in overcoming obstacles. Her story serves as a testament to the idea that success and happiness are not limited by age but are instead the result of continuous effort, self-belief, and the ability to embrace change.
Age is just a number
Maye Musk, a renowned supermodel and dietitian, has achieved remarkable success, selling over a million copies of her book A Woman Makes a Plan. Now 71, she enjoys a glamorous life, but her path was far from easy. She became a single mother at 31, faced financial hardships, struggled with body image as a plus-size model, and confronted ageism in the fashion industry. Despite relocating to eight cities across three countries, she built a strong career through perseverance and determination.
In her book, Maye offers valuable insights on career, family, health, and adventure, highlighting that while life is unpredictable, anyone can create the life they want—at any age—by making a plan.
Mother of Genuis and successful kids
Maye Musk’s parenting style might surprise you—she wasn’t the kind of mom who hovered over her kids, scheduled their days, or even checked their homework. In fact, her children became so independent that they learned to forge her signature for schoolwork!
Sounds unconventional, right? But Maye was simply following the hands-off approach her own parents had used. Running her business from home, she unintentionally gave her children a crash course in entrepreneurship.
She fully embraces aging, considering this stage of her life the most fulfilling, as it allows her to live with confidence, wisdom, and a sense of purpose. She believes that every age brings new opportunities and experiences that contribute to personal growth. However, in her book A Woman Makes a Plan, she candidly shares the struggles she faced throughout her life, from financial hardships and single motherhood to career setbacks and self-doubt. Through her inspiring journey, she demonstrates the power of resilience, adaptability, and determination in overcoming obstacles. Her story serves as a testament to the idea that success and happiness are not limited by age but are instead the result of continuous effort, self-belief, and the ability to embrace change.
“When I had my children, we were in a two-bedroom, small apartment overlooking a garage. And then, the next year, I had the second child, we had an apartment with a view, and then by the third child, we could get a two-bedroom house, and you just, you know, as you move on, you start doing better and better”
— Maye Musk
Can you imagine growing up in a household like that? The Musk kids had a childhood straight out of Just William or Huckleberry Finn. Living in Africa, in a different era, with parents focused on their careers, they had the freedom to experiment and take risks. Led by Elon, they built homemade rockets and explosives, rode their dirt bikes so recklessly that Kimbal once crashed into a barbed-wire fence, and even went door to door at night selling overpriced Easter eggs in a not-so-safe neighborhood.
By today’s standards, Maye’s parenting might seem extreme—very little supervision, complete freedom to explore, and no pressure to follow a set path. But here’s the interesting part: despite this unconventional upbringing, or maybe because of it, the Musk siblings developed resilience, independence, and an unbreakable family bond.
What do you think? Would you have thrived in an environment like that, or do you prefer a little more structure?
