Martha Stewart turned heads on her 85th birthday when she shared a glamorous photograph that had fans declaring she was “the moment.” The lifestyle mogul posted the steamy Instagram Stories snapshot on August 3, offering a glimpse into how she chose to celebrate reaching this milestone.
In the image, Stewart sat in a black spaghetti-strap swimsuit in a newly installed hot tub at her property in Maine. She styled her signature blonde bob into a voluminous flipped style, with soft curls swept away from her face as she gazed confidently into the camera. Showing off her glowing complexion and natural makeup, she looked effortlessly chic against the backdrop of the jetted spa, which overlooks a sprawling outdoor pool surrounded by picturesque forest views.
“I am going to use this amazing hot tub every single day I am in Maine,” Stewart wrote alongside the photo, adding “Invigorating restorative Therapeutic relaxing.” The post immediately sparked enthusiasm among her followers, with fans flooding the comment section with praise. “Damn serving face too,” one admirer wrote, while another simply declared: “She is the moment.” Others affectionately labeled her an “icon,” “queen,” and “goddess,” with one commenter joking about her striking cheekbones, writing: “The cheekbones that launched a thousand ships. Helen of Troy eat your heart out.”
The hot tub marked the completion of a major renovation project Stewart had been anticipating throughout the year. Back in April, she had posted on Instagram about her mountaintop summer house’s “big pool project,” expressing hope that construction would be finished by summer at her 12-bedroom Skylands estate in Seal Harbor. The new amenity clearly lived up to her expectations.
While Stewart kept the celebration itself relatively low-key, she did receive well-wishes from an impressive array of celebrities. Marquee Brands, which owns her lifestyle brand, produced a video collage featuring birthday greetings from stars including NBC Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, chef Gordon Ramsay, and Kris Jenner, all hailing her as an icon and legend.
At 85, Stewart continues to defy conventional expectations about aging. She has become an unlikely beauty and fashion icon in recent years, regularly wowing fans with glamorous looks and age-defying selfies. Her appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in 2023 at age 81 cemented her status as a trendsetter unwilling to be defined by her years.
When discussing her approach to aging, Stewart has consistently shown she doesn’t dwell on the subject. Speaking to AARP Magazine in 2023, she said: “Aging isn’t something I think about. How old I am, slowing down, retiring—I just don’t dwell on that.” She added that she views the process differently than most. “People talk about aging successfully, but I think of it as living gracefully and living to the absolute fullest,” she explained.
Stewart credits much of her youthful appearance to a dedicated skincare routine rather than invasive procedures. In January, while promoting her skincare line, Elm Biosciences, she addressed persistent speculation directly. “Everybody insists that I’ve had plastic surgery and I have not ever had plastic surgery,” she told People. “I’m the most honest person on earth—but if they won’t take my word for it, I don’t know.” She did reveal one exception: a repair after an accident involving one of her French bulldogs required stitches, but she clarified that was medical care, not elective surgery.
The lifestyle entrepreneur’s reinvention throughout her career has been remarkable. From a Wall Street stockbroker to catering entrepreneur to television icon and businesswoman, Stewart has built an empire spanning publishing, broadcasting, and merchandising. Earlier this year, she even served as a correspondent for the 2026 Winter Olympics alongside her longtime friend Snoop Dogg.
Stewart has also maintained her sense of humor about romantic prospects. Speaking to People in March, she outlined her ideal partner—someone who is smart, funny, and has nice teeth and a smile—before laughing and adding that wealth would certainly help. “Rich helps. Very rich helps even more. Plane and yacht would be very nice,” she said. “I love yachts.”
At an age when many would be content to retire, Stewart shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to evolve as a cultural icon while proving that 85 is just another chapter in an extraordinary life.