Maye Musk

Maye Musk – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Learn about Maye Musk: Canadian model, dietitian, author, and mother of Elon Musk. From early life in Canada and South Africa to modeling success, nutrition practice, and motivational wisdom—explore her journey, insights, and legacy.

Introduction

Maye Musk (née Haldeman; born April 19, 1948) is a Canadian-South African model, registered dietitian, and author whose decades-long career bridges fashion, health, and personal reinvention.

Although widely known as the mother of Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca Musk, she is a formidable figure in her own right—pioneering in modeling at older ages, promoting healthy living, and sharing life lessons in her memoir A Woman Makes a Plan.

In this article, we trace her life, career, personality, key quotes, and what we can learn from her resilience and philosophy.

Early Life, Family & Education

Maye Haldeman was born on April 19, 1948, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, alongside her twin sister Kaye.

Her parents were adventurous: her father, Joshua Norman Haldeman, was an electrical engineer, chiropractor, and amateur archaeologist; her mother Winnifred Fletcher had a creative bent.

She pursued education in the health sciences, studying dietetics and nutrition.

Career & Achievements

Modeling Over Time

Maye Musk began modeling in her youth and has sustained a modeling career for over five decades. Vogue, Time (a health issue cover), Women’s Day, and in major campaigns (Revlon, Target, etc.).

Notably, in 2017, at age 69, she became one of the oldest spokesmodels for CoverGirl—marking a milestone of age representation in fashion. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue up to that time.

Her modeling has often included breaking conventions—posing nude for artistic/editorial covers, modeling with a faux pregnant belly, and embracing her age and natural appearance.

Nutrition, Health & Authorship

Parallel to her modeling, Maye has built a career as a dietitian and health consultant.

In 2019, she published her memoir A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success, combining stories from her life with reflections on planning, resilience, and self-care.

Earlier, she published Feel Fantastic: Maye Musk’s Good Health Clinic in 1996.

She also holds multiple citizenships (Canada, South Africa, United States) and has used her platform to advocate for nutrition, healthy aging, and confidence at any age.

Personality, Philosophy & Influence

Maye Musk is known for her resilience, self-belief, and willingness to challenge norms about beauty, age, and capability. Her life story is marked by financial strain, single parenthood, and the need to reinvent herself repeatedly.

She often speaks candidly about aging, beauty standards, and the importance of creating one’s own plan rather than relying purely on chance.

Her influence is felt in how fashion and media slowly broaden their representations of older women, and how health, confidence, and aging are embraced more openly through her example.

Memorable Quotes by Maye Musk

Here are a selection of her more quoted lines, drawn from her book A Woman Makes a Plan, interviews, and public statements:

“If at the moment you feel as though you don’t have any talents, go to a time in the past when you felt confident about some aspect of your life. … Be excited about it, and you’ll be more interesting and more intelligent.”

“At twenty-one you are no longer an orphan. … The harder you work, the easier it is for luck to find you.”

“No matter how big or small the opportunity, someone else will always answer the question for you of ‘why not?’ But think about what’s going to make you happy.”

“My advice is to be kind to others, listen to others, and be upbeat. Don’t start talking about your miserable life. Show confidence, respect, interest in others, and smile; that will make you fascinating.”

“I don’t care why a client books me, as long as they book me.”

“I just think a big smile and feeling confident makes you beautiful.”

“For most of my adult life, I always had this pain in my gut … because I had to survive … I needed the roof over our head and food for us to eat…”

These quotes reflect her themes of self-reliance, perseverance, self-representation, and the belief that beauty and value are not limited by age or circumstance.

Lessons from Maye Musk’s Life

1. Never let age define your potential. Maye’s career resurgence in later years demonstrates that opportunities can come at any stage.

2. Make your own plan. Rather than waiting for opportunities, she emphasizes designing your pathway—hence the title of her memoir.

3. Resilience in adversity. Financial struggles, breakups, and balancing career and motherhood did not deter her from rebuilding.

4. Confidence is internal. Many of her quotes stress confidence, kindness, and self-representation over external validation.

5. Value health and integrity. Her dual commitment to modeling and nutrition shows that health and appearance can coexist in sustainable ways.

Conclusion

Maye Musk is much more than a famous surname’s connection. She is a trailblazer in modeling, health, and life philosophy—someone who continues to reinvent, stand for authenticity, and inspire others to “make a plan.”