Stewart, Martha

Schooling and Early History

Throughout high school, Stewart worked part-time jobs to save for college. This eventually led her to a career in modeling in New York City. Her all-American looks even earned her a spot in an early Lifebuoy soap commercial. Her hard work paid off, and with a partial scholarship, Stewart began attending Barnard College in 1959.

At the age of 19, Stewart met law student Andy Stewart. The two were married, and she left school to work full time as a model to support Andy's last years at Yale. In 1961, she was chosen as one of Glamour magazine's 10 best-dressed girls.

In 1963, she and Andy traveled to Europe, a trip that she credits with expanding her world view of art, architecture, and history. It inspired her to return to Barnard to study those subjects. Her exposure to European cuisine and love of cooking motivated her to test every one of Julia Child's recipes.

After graduating from Barnard, Stewart set her sights in a new direction. She chose Wall Street, passed her brokerage exam, and became a stockbroker. Between 1968 and 1971, a time when women were still working to expand career opportunities, Stewart was commanding a six-figure salary. Although Stewart enjoyed this work, she had not forgotten her love of food, art, and the finer things. She and Andy purchased a run-down farmhouse in Westport, Connecticut, and the experience of rehabilitating that home inspired her to perfect the art of entertaining.

Taking the Publishing World by Storm

Stewart began catering in 1975 and eventually landed her first publishing contract for the book Entertaining. One of the most expensive cookbooks to be published at that time, it made Martha Stewart a household name. She established herself as an authority on catering, cooking, entertaining, and hosted her first PBS special in 1986 called Holiday Entertaining with Martha Stewart.

Although both men and women follow her, not everyone agrees with her signature phrase, “It's a good thing.” She is often criticized for her over-the-top [Page 1407]approach to entertaining, once referred to as “Marie Antoinette, dressed as a milk maid.” Her response to accusations of being out of touch with everyday people was to became a Kmart spokesperson in 1987.

Negative Publicity

Shortly thereafter she experienced a messy public divorce. Stewart launched her first of many magazines, Martha Stewart Living, one of the most profitable starts in magazine history. This led to her syndicated television show in 1993, and in 1995 she bought back her magazine from Time Warner and founded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO). On October 19, 1999, Stewart rang the opening bell on Wall Street as MSLO went public. Naturally, she catered the entire affair to celebrate the valuing of her empire at nearly $2 billion. In 2001, Stewart was named the third most powerful woman in America by the Ladies Home Journal.

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