Martha Stewart Celebrates 85 With Striking Swimsuit Photo and Reveals Her Approach to Aging

Martha Stewart is showing no signs of slowing down after celebrating another milestone birthday. Just days after turning 85 on August 3, the lifestyle icon returned to Instagram with a poolside photo that quickly attracted attention.

In the August 8 image, Stewart posed in a black one-piece Eres swimsuit while relaxing in a pool. She completed the look with a hat from British heritage brand Barbour and kept her caption characteristically simple, writing that she was enjoying time by the water. The latest photograph comes as Stewart continues to speak candidly about aging, exercise, beauty treatments and the lifestyle habits she credits with helping her stay active well into her 80s.

Martha Stewart Marks 85 With Another Swimsuit Moment

Stewart’s latest photograph arrived less than a week after her 85th birthday and showed her embracing summer in a simple black swimsuit.

The image is hardly unfamiliar territory for the entrepreneur. Stewart has become increasingly comfortable sharing glamorous swimsuit photographs with her social media followers over the past several years.

Her biggest swimsuit moment came in 2023, when she appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue at 81. She became the publication’s oldest cover model, surpassing the previous age record held by Maye Musk.

The achievement added another unexpected chapter to a career already spanning publishing, television, cooking, merchandising and entrepreneurship.

She Prepared Seriously for Sports Illustrated

Stewart has made clear that her celebrated Sports Illustrated appearance didn’t happen without preparation.

Speaking recently with People, she recalled committing herself to exercise for approximately three months before the shoot. Her daughter, Alexis Stewart, encouraged her to make going to the gym part of her daily routine.

Stewart followed the advice.

That dedication reflects her broader philosophy toward staying active. Rather than presenting her appearance as the result of one beauty secret, Stewart has repeatedly pointed toward a combination of exercise, nutrition, genetics and consistent self-care.

Turning 85 Hasn’t Changed Her Outlook

Despite reaching a milestone birthday, Stewart isn’t particularly interested in making age the center of her life.

She told People that she considers 85 simply a number and wasn’t interested in turning the occasion into an enormous celebration.

Her attitude fits with the way she has approached later life publicly. Stewart remains heavily involved with business projects while continuing to cook, garden, travel and pursue new interests.

She also remains physically active, including horseback riding. Her goal appears less about attempting to appear decades younger and more about maintaining the lifestyle she enjoys.

Stewart Credits Healthy Habits and Genetics

When discussing her appearance at 85, Stewart hasn’t claimed there is a single miracle solution.

She credits good genes in part, pointing to her mother’s appearance later in life. But she also emphasizes lifestyle choices.

Stewart has said she eats healthy food, exercises regularly, doesn’t smoke and consumes relatively little alcohol. She also continues horseback riding and maintains an active daily schedule.

Those habits, she believes, contribute to how she feels and looks.

Stewart has also been unusually open about the cosmetic treatments she does use rather than suggesting her appearance comes entirely without professional help.

She Is Candid About Cosmetic Treatments

Stewart has said she visits New York dermatologist Dr. Dan Belkin and occasionally receives fillers and other cosmetic touch-ups.

At the same time, she maintains that she hasn’t undergone plastic surgery.

Her beauty routine also includes skincare, facial exercises and professional facials. Stewart has promoted products from her Elm Biosciences skincare company while discussing treatments and ingredients she incorporates into her routine.

She describes her philosophy as primarily about maintenance rather than dramatic cosmetic transformation.

That distinction has become part of Stewart’s refreshingly straightforward approach to questions about her appearance.

She Still Has Plenty She Wants to Accomplish

Stewart’s ambitions extend well beyond maintaining her appearance.

After decades of success, she told People that becoming richer or more famous isn’t particularly important to her. She instead values being comfortable, maintaining beautiful gardens, supporting her family and being generous with friends.

There is, however, one extravagant item still on her wish list: a large yacht.

More importantly, Stewart says she wants additional free time. That’s apparently difficult to find because she remains a self-described perfectionist who enjoys juggling numerous projects simultaneously.

Martha Stewart Isn’t Interested in Slowing Down

From becoming the oldest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model to sharing poolside photographs at 85, Stewart continues challenging conventional expectations about what later life should look like.

But behind the glamorous images is a relatively consistent philosophy: eat well, stay physically active, take care of yourself and remain interested in the world.

Her ambitions also remain surprisingly simple despite her extraordinary career. Stewart says one of her continuing goals is to keep learning.

At 85, that curiosity may be as important to her public image as any swimsuit photograph.

Featured Image: instagram.com/marthastewart48