Maye Musk’s Secret to Staying Fit at 76: The “Poor Woman’s Diet” That Helped Shape a Supermodel’s Life
At 76 years old, Maye Musk continues to challenge expectations. The model, author, and nutritionist remains active in the fashion world, maintaining the confidence and energy that have made her one of the most recognizable older models globally.
But behind her elegant appearance and long career is a surprisingly simple approach to health — one that began not from a luxury wellness trend, but from financial necessity.
Maye Musk has credited a flexitarian-style diet as one of the reasons she has remained healthy and fit for decades. The eating style focuses mainly on plant-based foods while allowing moderate amounts of meat or animal products. Today, it is considered a popular lifestyle choice, but for Maye, it started during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
After her divorce, Maye became a single mother raising Elon Musk, Kimbal Musk, and Tosca Musk. During that time, money was limited, and she had to carefully plan every meal for her family.
“When I got divorced, I couldn’t afford to buy meat, fish, or chicken,” Maye recalled in an interview. Instead, she relied on affordable ingredients that could feed the family while still providing nutrition.
One of the meals that became a symbol of those years was bean stew.
Maye prepared meals using beans, vegetables, fruits, and affordable staples that were available to her. While her children eventually grew tired of eating the same type of food repeatedly, she found ways to change the ingredients and keep meals balanced.
“I did vary from it. I used different beans and lots of vegetables,” she explained.
The family also relied heavily on seasonal fruit, whole wheat bread, cereals, and simple foods that provided energy without being expensive. In South Africa at the time, brown bread was more affordable than white bread, which made it a practical choice for the family.
Looking back, Maye believes those financial limitations unintentionally created healthy habits. Instead of processed foods or expensive products, the family ate simple meals based around vegetables, grains, and natural ingredients.
She has joked about moments when her children wanted more expensive treats. Elon, for example, once wanted Coco Pops, but Maye bought Raisin Bran instead because it was more affordable and nutritious. Her philosophy was straightforward: if a food was expensive but offered little nutritional value, it was not worth buying.
Her daughter Tosca also remembers wanting apricot jam, but Maye chose strawberry jam because it cost less. These small childhood moments became family stories that the Musks later laughed about.
Even Kimbal Musk joked that he left home for university partly because he was tired of eating his mother’s bean stew.
But behind the humor was an important lesson. Maye’s approach taught her children adaptability, discipline, and appreciation for what they had. She was not trying to create a perfect lifestyle — she was simply making the best decisions possible under difficult circumstances.
Those habits stayed with her long after her financial situation improved. Maye continued focusing on balanced nutrition, regular activity, and taking care of her health. Her career in modeling, which has continued for more than five decades, has become an example of how aging does not have to mean slowing down.
Today, Maye Musk is celebrated not only as Elon Musk’s mother but as a successful model and wellness advocate in her own right. She has appeared in major fashion campaigns, magazine covers, and international events, proving that confidence and health can continue evolving throughout life.
Her story also reflects a larger message about resilience. The diet that helped her survive difficult years later became part of the foundation that supported her long career and active lifestyle.
What started as a necessity — cooking inexpensive meals because money was tight — eventually became a philosophy: eat simply, choose wisely, and focus on long-term health.
For Maye Musk, staying fit at 76 is not about chasing perfection. It is about decades of practical habits, discipline, and the belief that taking care of yourself is one of the most valuable investments you can make.
