The former beauty queen-turned-model boasts a million Instagram followers, is promoting her book A Woman Makes a Plan, and rubs shoulders with Nicky Hilton and Real Housewife Meredith Marks
New York Fashion Week has had no shortage of A-list stars in its front rows this season, but it was Elon Musk’s mother Maye who really stole the spotlight.
At 74 years old, not only is Maye the mother of one of the world’s richest men, she’s also a successful supermodel influencer with a million followers on Instagram alone. It’s no wonder the world’s fashion elite have fallen in love with Maye, who has become a regular on the fashion week circuit.
Maye Musk and Elon Musk attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” exhibition in May 2022, in New York City, US. Photo: AP
So which looks did she rock at this year’s NYFW – and just how did she become such a fashion darling?
Turning heads at New York Fashion Week …
Maye Musk is 74 years old and still going strong. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
Last week, Musk impressed everyone when she attended the The Blonds’ show during New York Fashion Week.
Maye Musk attends The Blonds’ show wearing one of the brand’s creations during New York Fashion Week, in New York City, US, on February 15. Photo: Reuters
The former beauty queen-turned-model, who was a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant in the 1960s, wore a silver-and-electric blue jumpsuit as she sat alongside drag queens Jamie CD and Linux, and Sex and the City creator Candace Bushnell.
Maye Musk looks stunning in this Prabal Gurung dress. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
Just a few days prior, Musk also rocked a multicoloured Prabal Gurung number to the designer’s star-studded NYFW show, where she sat alongside Kimora Lee Simmons, Nicky Hilton and Rachel Zoe.
Maye Musk looks fabulous attending New York Fashion Week events this year. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
Maye Musk poses with designers Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren of their eponymous brand, Viktor & Rolf. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
Before heading out to a Viktor & Rolf dinner for NYFW, Musk posted a stunning picture of herself in a Merguert Tolegen number.
At the Badgley Mischka NYFW event, she wore a black open-back gown from the brand as she dazzled on the red carpet.
Maye Musk sat next to Real Housewives star Meredith Marks at Badgley Mischka’s NYFW event. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
During the show, she sat front and centre alongside the likes of musician Arlissa and Real Housewives star Meredith Marks.
Maye Musk wears a leopard print coat by Golden Goose. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
She also looked like a million bucks earlier this month at a Golden Goose fashion show in Soho, wearing a leopard print coat from the brand’s Golden Collection.
… and during her recent book tour
Maye Musk is promoting her book A Woman Makes a Plan. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
Last month, Musk wore a range of stylish designs as she travelled around promoting her book, A Woman Makes a Plan.
Maye Musk wore a Brunello Cucinelli ensemble in Milan, Italy. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
For her Milan stop, Musk looked elegant in a Brunello Cucinelli ensemble as she posed in the picturesque city.
Maye Musk seems to be a fan of Brunello Cucinelli. Here she wears a brown suit and blouse by the brand, Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
During interviews with the Italian press, she also chose to wear Brunello Cucinelli – this time a brown suit with matching silk blouse.
Maye Musk poses for her radio interview, looking elegant in a black Dior coat. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
And for her radio interviews, she looked radiant in a black Dior coat.
Maye Musk is able to own a rock star look too. Photo: @mayemusk/Instagram
She’s not afraid to mix it up either. She looked like a rock star in this Philipp Plein lightning bolt number.
A long history with the fashion industry life
As the mother of one of the richest men in the world, it not surprising that Musk is kitted out in designer gear by stylists, but it’s her love for modelling at age 74 that really stands out today.
Musk first started modelling when she was 15 and was a finalist in the 1969 Miss South Africa beauty pageant, but she only started accepting modelling work again in recent years because she wanted to do so at her own pace, without having to answer to agents, as per Business Insider.
These days, the Musk matriarch is one of the most sought out models in the industry, appearing on the cover of multiple magazines, including Vogue and Sports Illustrated, and in brand advertisements and music videos.
It’s no wonder the glamorous grandmother is living her best in her later years, looking better than ever.
Elon Musk and Maye Musk arrive at the In America: An Anthology of Fashion themed Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, US, in May 2022. Photo: Reuters
“I was famous until Elon became famous,” Musk jokingly told The New York Times once.
The spotlight is certainly back on you, Mrs Musk …
