The Unapologetic Rise of Martha Stewart
As each year passes, domestic standards may slip for many, but fascination with Martha Stewart only intensifies. The former billionaire, convicted felon, fancy fowl enthusiast and unexpected companion to Snoop Dogg continues to captivate audiences with her unique blend of traditional homemaking and modern empire-building.
Stewart, widely recognised as the original domestic goddess, has recently made headlines by declaring herself "the original fucking tradwife" during an appearance on the Lipstick on the Rim podcast. She elaborated further in a New York Times interview marking the reissue of her seminal 1982 cookbook, Entertaining, stating: "And I was just as pretty as those girls, and more organised."
Beyond the Tradwife Label
While Stewart's claim contains elements of truth - she indeed combined homemaking, business development and self-promotion decades before the tradwife phenomenon emerged - her delivery remains characteristically lacking in tact or self-effacement. This bold assertion perfectly encapsulates her brand: unapologetically confident and entirely herself.
Much is said about women caring less as they age, but Stewart embodies this DGAF energy with unparalleled commitment. Her concerns focus on specific domains: selecting the perfect hydrangea colour for a brunch tablescape, ensuring the welfare of her rare geese, and relentlessly teaching practical skills like preparing pomegranate seeds. Yet she demonstrates remarkable indifference towards offending others or appearing humble and relatable.
The Stewart Method: Biting Pets and Dumping Hannibal
From her partnership with a marijuana producer to her thirst trap Instagram photos by the pool, and even the ambitious menu suggestions in Entertaining (including an "omelette supper for thirty"), Stewart remains true to her hard-nosed, opinionated and exacting nature.
The notion of Stewart submitting to a husband tradwife-style seems particularly improbable - she's currently single and once famously dumped Anthony Hopkins because his Hannibal Lecter character disturbed her. Her approach to pet ownership equally reflects her distinctive worldview: she once told the Washington Post that when acquiring a new cat or dog, her first action is to bite it "hard" to establish dominance.
While her 4-4.30am wake-up routine to read the entire New York Times might deter some from emulating her lifestyle completely, many find inspiration in her unwavering self-assurance. Beyond her cookbooks and CBD gummies, if Stewart could bottle that WWMD (What Would Martha Do) audacity, it would undoubtedly become her most sought-after product yet.
