Maye Musk's Career Timeline: From Pageants To Runways—how Did She Do It?

Let’s be honest: when you hear the name “Musk,” your brain probably short-circuits to rockets or electric cars. But long before Elon was launching Teslas into space, his mom, Maye Musk, was busy launching herself onto runways—and into pageant crowns. This woman’s career timeline reads less like a résumé and more like a wild, decades-long heist where the loot is fabulousness. How did a dietitian from Canada become the world’s oldest supermodel? Grab your coffee, because this story is deliciously unexpected.

Chapter One: The Pageant Princess Who Wasn't a Princess

Maye’s story starts in the 1960s, when she was a teenager in South Africa. Did she dream of being a model? Nope—she was busy studying dietetics. But her mom, bless her heart, entered Maye into a local beauty pageant. Spoiler: she won. And then another. And another. By 1969, Maye was a finalist for Miss South Africa. But here’s the punchline: she wasn’t even trying to be glamorous. She once told a reporter she entered pageants for the scholarship money. Classic overachiever move—win a crown for college cash.

That Miss South Africa finale? She didn’t win the tiara. But she did get a modeling contract. “Fine,” she probably shrugged. “I’ll just do this until my real job starts.” Ha. That “real job” (dietitian) never went away, but the runway kept calling. She finished university, got married, had three kids—Elon, Kimbal, and daughter Tosca—and kept modeling on the side. It was like juggling a baby, a textbook, and a catwalk. And she made it look boringly effortless.

Chapter Two: The 1980s—Divorce, Desks, and Daring Choices

By the 1980s, Maye’s marriage fell apart. But instead of crumbling, she decided to conquer two continents. She packed up her three kids and moved from South Africa to Canada, with no job and a suitcase full of audacity. She had to start over at age 30-something. Her plan? Get a master’s degree in nutrition while modeling to pay the rent. You think your life is chaotic? This woman shared a tiny apartment with her three kids, and she’d dietitian-advise clients while wearing stilettos from the morning shoot.

Here’s a surprising fact: she never stopped studying. While other models were partying, Maye was reading nutrition journals. She became a registered dietitian and opened her own practice. But the fashion world kept pulling her back. She’d do a show in Tokyo, fly home to Toronto for a lecture on vitamins, then show up at a photo shoot with a protein bar in her purse. A true multi-hyphenate before the term was invented. Honestly, it’s exhausting just describing it.

These over 70s models are still tearing up the runway: Prue Leith

Chapter Three: The Runaway Success of the 1990s

The 1990s should have been her “retirement” era—most models are done by 30. Maye was 50. And she was still booking print ads for Revlon and CoverGirl. How? Because she refused to dye her gray hair. In the 90s, gray hair on a model was like a unicorn ordering a latte. But executives loved her natural look. She became the go-to “elegant mom” for catalogs. She even landed a role on a TV show—yes, acting—while still dietitian-ing on the side. Some people can’t even fold laundry without a nap.

But the best plot twist? In 1999, her son Elon sold Zip2 for $307 million. Did she quit her day job? Nope. She told reporters, “I don’t need his money. I have my own career.” You have to love the sass. She was 51, still modeling, still seeing nutrition clients, and now—technically—a millionaire’s mom. But she acted like that was the least interesting thing about her.

Chapter Four: The 2010s—The Silver Surge

Fast forward to 2017. Maye Musk is 69 years old. Most people her age are perfecting their birdwatching hobby. She’s signing a contract with IMG Models—the agency that reps Gisele Bündchen. She becomes the face of Time magazine, covers for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and walks New York Fashion Week. Wait—scratch that. She stole New York Fashion Week. She wore a pink pantsuit and looked like she’d just decided to be iconic for fun.

Elon Musk’s model mom Maye Musk walks runway at fashion week. Stuns

And get this: she still runs her dietitian practice. At 70+, she gives talks on nutrition and posts Instagrams of herself eating chocolate cake. She’s the only person alive who makes aging look like a strategy. Photographers rave about her “ageless bone structure.” I think it’s just her sheer force of will—and maybe a lot of kale.

How Did She Do It? The Secret Sauce

So, how does a pageant queen turned dietitian turned grandmother become a runway icon? Let me give you the formula: practical stubbornness. She never chased fame. She chased usefulness—modeling paid for her kids’ education, dietetics paid the soul bills. She treated her looks like a side hustle, not an identity. Also, she has the superhuman ability to say “yes” to everything. Yes to a pageant. Yes to a science degree. Yes to a modeling contract at 69. Why not?

SHOCKING! 💥 Elon Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, has unexpectedly stunned the

Another secret: she never lied about her age. In an industry obsessed with youth, Maye waved her gray hair like a flag. She proved that you don’t have to be young to be beautiful—you just have to be interesting. And she’s more interesting than a museum full of self-help books. She once posed for a nude skincare ad at age 74. The internet collectively gasped, and she probably thought, “What’s the big deal? I’m just skin.”

Finally, she had the best kind of ignorance: she didn’t know she was supposed to slow down. At 76, she’s still strutting. She released a memoir called A Woman Makes a Plan. The title is very on-brand. She made a plan to be a dietitian. She made a plan to support her kids. She made a plan to model until she’s 100. And honestly, I believe her. If you see a 105-year-old woman walking a runway in a silver cape, don’t be surprised. That’s just Maye Musk, rewriting the rules of getting older—one fierce, fabulous catwalk step at a time.

So, the next time you feel too old for a new career? Too busy for a hobby? Too gray for anything cute? Remember: Maye Musk was in her 60s when she became a supermodel. You’re not late—you’re just early for the best part.