74-Year-Old Maye Mask is the Latest ‘Sport’s Illustrated’ Cover Star

Maye Musk is one of Sports Illustrated’s most recent 2022 cover models, and she hopes her big debut will make other women feel more comfortable in their skin.

“My first reaction was, I could never dream up something like that because why would anyone have a 74-year-old on their cover, especially in a swimsuit,” Musk tells People of her initial reaction to being on the cover alongside stars like Kim Kardashian and Ciara. “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.”

Adding that women should have a more carefree attitude about their bodies, she says, “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.” Musk, on the other hand, feels confident and strong in a swimsuit, which she says is thanks to the Sports Illustrated team. “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.”

“At 74, Maye continues to work every day to inspire those around her,” says MJ Day, Editor in Chief of SI Swimsuit. “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.”