Elon Musk's mother has been revealed as one of the faces of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2022 cover.
Maye Musk has been a model for 50 years, but the mother and activist never could have dreamt of starring on the front page of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in a one-piece at 74 years old.
Musk has since opened up about her excitement at taking over the 2022 cover alongside fellow model Yumi Nu, singer Ciara and model turned businesswoman Kim Kardashian.
Despite her shocked 'first reaction' as to why anyone would 'have a 74-year-old on their cover, especially in a swimsuit,' Musk spoke of how significant she thinks the move is.
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She told PEOPLE: "I do think it's going to make women feel more comfortable in their seventies when they swim, as well as women in their twenties and thirties.
"When women go to the beach, we're kind of shy about our bodies, but men will walk around, looking terrible, and they don't care. I think we have to not care that much!"
While initially slightly daunted upon going to Belize for the swimsuit shoot with photographer Yu Tsai, Musk explained how 'very comfortable' she was made to feel in her Maygel Coronel one-piece swimming costume.
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She said: "Everybody was polite, kind, considerate, caring.
"[...] Once you've done your first shot, you're fine with all the others because they give you so much confidence about looking good in a swimsuit."
Musk has previously reflected on her body image in her 2019 memoir A Woman Makes A Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success.
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Reflecting on the biography, she said: "I went through different stages of my life where I was rejected, insulted, disappointed and it just takes away your confidence.
"Then you just have to get over it. So here, I'm 74, I'm the happiest I've ever been, and I don't care, and nobody's insulting me because — you don't want to insult a grandmother. The point is, people are really good to me at this stage, but why should it take so long?"
Musk explained how one of the ways in which she's grown to have a more positive relationship with her body is by surrounding herself with more positive people.
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"If we're mixing with people that are cruel to us, and do things that are mean, and we accept that, well, then you're going to suffer like I did. But instead, you need to move to people who are kind," she said.
Editor in Chief of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, MJ Day, reflected on how Musk 'continues to work every day to inspire those around her'.
"We all deserve the chance to evolve. So in this issue, we encourage readers to see these models as we see them: multifaceted, multitalented—and sexy while they're at it. The world may label them one way, but we want to focus our lens on all the ways they see themselves and how they own who they are.
"No matter your age, whether you're a new mom, partner, sister, entertainer, athlete, entrepreneur, advocate, student, mentor, role model, leader or dreamer—or all of the above—we want to celebrate these women, their evolution and the many dimensions of who they are."
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Topics: Elon Musk, Sport, Fashion
