She’s been strutting her stuff on runways for five decades, but Maye Musk still vividly remembers the biggest challenge she faced in the fashion world—a hurdle that resonates with countless others in the industry. Imagine being told you're not good enough when deep down, you know you’ve got what it takes. That’s exactly what Maye endured.
From Setbacks to Success: Maye’s Journey
“Oh, I think it was when I had a model agent who effectively kicked me out of the business,” Maye, now 71, revealed exclusively to Closer Weekly. She went on to explain, “I had no idea this kind of treatment was common for actors, but I certainly didn’t expect it in modeling. It made me incredibly sad because I kept hearing, ‘You’re not good enough. No one wants to see you. You won’t even get castings. You’ll be unemployed for years.’ And I thought, ‘Well, can I just leave?’ But they’d respond, ‘No, you’re tied to a contract.’”
“That situation left me feeling trapped and unhappy. But when I finally broke free, everything changed dramatically. Within months of leaving, I was all over Times Square and Madison Square Garden—billboards, campaigns, editorials, the works! It turns out people had been trying to book me for years. I should’ve trusted my gut and left sooner. If you’re ever stuck in a bad situation, listen to that inner voice telling you something’s wrong. Get out sooner than I did,” Maye emphasized.
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“I was in my 50s and early 60s at the time! Once I broke free from that contract, I approached the top decision-makers, and suddenly the modeling world opened up for me like never before—it was incredible,” Elon Musk’s mother added. Despite her long-standing career, Maye has noticed some shifts in the industry over the years.
How the Industry Has Changed
“For me, modeling was always a part-time gig. There weren’t many changes for me personally, except that back in the day, I’d do six outfits during a runway show, whereas now I do just one. Nowadays, people take better care of models, which wasn’t always the case. Back then, you were pretty much on your own. Overall, it’s been a lot easier for me,” Maye explained. “And here’s the funniest part—I wasn’t part of the party scene back then because I’m a self-proclaimed nerd, but now I actually get invited to those events. How about that?”
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“Back in the day, if a client suggested we meet in their hotel room, I’d politely decline, suggesting the hotel lobby instead. I’d give excuses like, ‘I’m in a rush, studying for exams, or taking care of my kids,’ depending on where I was in life. It never crossed my mind why I’d need to go to a hotel room when the lobby works just fine,” Maye shared. “Thankfully, I never experienced any trouble, but I’ve read stories about models who weren’t as fortunate.”
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Maye’s Latest Venture
Maye Musk’s latest book, A Woman Makes A Plan: Advice For A Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, And Success, is available now.
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Reporting by Diana Cooper
