Maye Musk

Early Life and Family

Maye Musk was born Maye Haldeman on April 19, 1948, in Regina, Saskatchewan, as a twin and one of five children. Her parents, Winnifred Josephine Fletcher and Joshua Norman Haldeman, were adventurous spirits who moved the family to Pretoria, South Africa, in 1950 when Maye was two years old. Joshua, a chiropractor and amateur archaeologist, led the family on expeditions into the Kalahari Desert in search of a fabled lost city, experiences that shaped Maye's childhood. Her father was also politically active, having run for the Canadian Parliament for the Social Credit Party and headed the Canadian branch of the Technocracy movement, instilling in her a strong work ethic from a young age.

As a child, Maye began working at about eight years old, helping her parents with their monthly bulletins and newsletters. By age twelve, she and her twin sister Kaye worked as receptionists for their father's practice before and after school. This early exposure to entrepreneurship and responsibility laid a foundation for her future endeavours. The family's adventurous and self-reliant lifestyle, which included her parents giving talks about their travels, taught her the value of hard work and public engagement from an early age.

Education and Professional Dietetics

Maye Musk pursued higher education in the field of nutrition, earning a master's degree in dietetics from the University of the Orange Free State, now the University of the Free State, in South Africa. She completed her major in Afrikaans, one of the four languages she speaks. After moving to Canada in 1989, she furthered her credentials by earning a second master's degree in nutritional science from the University of Toronto. Her dedication to her profession is underscored by the fact she is the only dietitian known to have written the registration exams three times, once in Afrikaans and twice during the transition to metric measurements.

She has maintained an active practice as a registered dietitian for decades, giving presentations worldwide on nutrition and healthy ageing. In 2023, her contributions to the field were recognized with an honorary doctorate in dietetics from the University of the Free State. Her expertise is also documented in her early book, Feel Fantastic, Maye Musk's Good Health Clinic, published in 1996, which outlined healthy habits and lifestyle changes for maintaining health over time. The book enumerated specific habits and changes aimed at promoting healthy ageing.

Modelling Career and Public Image

Maye Musk's modelling career began in her youth when she was a finalist in the 1969 Miss South Africa pageant. After moving to Canada, she continued modelling, building a career that has spanned over five decades and defied age-related stereotypes in the industry. Her portfolio includes appearing on boxes of Special K cereal, in Revlon advertisements, and in a music video for Beyoncé. She made headlines for appearing on the cover of Time magazine's health issue and on the cover of New York magazine in 2011, the latter featuring a fake pregnant belly.

She has consistently broken barriers for older models. In 2012, she graced the cover of Elle Canada. At age 69, she became the oldest spokesmodel for CoverGirl in 2017, a move described as historic. In 2022, at age 74, she became the oldest model to appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, featuring on its cover. Her public image extends to significant popularity in China, where since at least 2023 she has attained star status, appearing on billboards and magazine covers and representing several major Chinese brands. Her image in China carries an element of successful parenting, attracting a significant number of mothers among her followers.

Personal Life and Family

Maye Musk married South African engineer Errol Musk in 1970, whom she had met in high school. The couple had three children, Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca, before divorcing in 1979. As a single mother, she faced financial challenges, which she has spoken about openly. Kimbal later joined his brother. After Elon moved to Canada in 1989, Maye followed six months later with her daughter Tosca to start a new life.

She has maintained a close relationship with her children, who have all become successful entrepreneurs. In a 2026 interview, she mentioned she still occasionally had to mediate fights between her sons Elon and Kimbal even after they became startup founders. She has also shared anecdotes about family life, noting that her son Kimbal began cooking for the family at age twelve because he loved it and she did not. In September 2026, it was reported that she sometimes stays in her son Elon's garage at his Starbase facility in Texas, which she described as a luxury.

Authorship and Public Speaking

Maye Musk is the author of several books that blend memoir with advice. Her 2019 book, A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success, details her life experiences and philosophies on resilience. She has also written Feel Fantastic in 1996, focusing on health and nutrition. In 2026, she released a new book titled Timeless: The Art of Reinvention, which promotes the idea of thriving at any age. The book's launch was accompanied by keynote speaking engagements where she shared stories and lessons from her life, drawing on her experiences as a model, dietitian, and mother.

As a public speaker, she travels globally, delivering talks on topics ranging from nutrition and healthy ageing to career reinvention and personal resilience. Her presentations often draw from her unique journey, positioning her as an inspirational figure for audiences. She has said her greatest achievement was having three great kids and surviving, a sentiment that informs much of her public message. Her speaking engagements are part of her broader work to share the lessons behind her new book and her life story.

Political Views and Controversies

Upon becoming an American citizen, Maye Musk initially registered as a Democrat. She later changed her party affiliation to Republican, stating that unnamed Democrats had spoken poorly of her son Elon and calling the Democratic Party malicious and dishonest. In October 2024, she posted on the social media platform X recommending that Republican voters should vote multiple times under false names in the 2024 presidential election, falsely claiming Democrats were doing so using undocumented immigrants. After being cautioned by lawyers that the post constituted a criminal act and could lead to prosecution for conspiracy, she told readers to ignore the post.

Her proximity to political power through her son has raised questions. A March 2025 New York Times article noted that her closeness to former President Donald Trump, via Elon Musk, had led to concerns in the United States that she could be a potential security risk. The FBI typically scrutinizes the foreign contacts of presidential advisers and their family members for security clearances, though no such clearances are known to exist for Maye Musk. The same article stated there was no evidence she has sought to influence US government policy, according to the public record.

Questions about Maye Musk

What is Maye Musk's educational background?

Maye Musk holds two master's degrees. She earned her first in dietetics from the University of the Free State in South Africa, completing her studies in Afrikaans. After moving to Canada, she earned a second master's degree in nutritional science from the University of Toronto. In 2023, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in dietetics from the University of the Free State in recognition of her professional contributions.

What books has Maye Musk written?

Maye Musk is the author of several books. Her first was Feel Fantastic, Maye Musk's Good Health Clinic in 1996, a guide to healthy habits. She published a memoir and advice book, A Woman Makes a Plan, in 2019. Her most recent book, announced for 2026, is titled Timeless: The Art of Reinvention, which focuses on thriving and adapting at any age.

What is Maye Musk's relationship with her son Elon Musk?

Maye Musk is the mother of Elon Musk and raised him along with his siblings Kimbal and Tosca in South Africa. As a single parent, she faced financial struggles. She has a close relationship with her children and has appeared publicly with Elon, including on Saturday Night Live in 2021. In interviews, she has shared that she still mediates occasional disputes between her adult sons.

What was Maye Musk's early family life like?

Her family moved from Canada to Pretoria, South Africa in 1950. In 1952, her parents flew the family around the world in a prop plane. For over 10 years, the family spent time roaming the Kalahari Desert searching for its fabled Lost City. Her father, Joshua Haldeman, was a political activist who ran for the Canadian Parliament.

When did Maye Musk move back to Canada?

Maye Musk moved back to Canada in 1989. This was six months after her son Elon decided to move there after graduating high school. She moved to Canada with her daughter Tosca. She had previously lived in South Africa for many years.

What are some highlights of Maye Musk's modelling career?

Her modelling career continued in Canada and the United States. She appeared on the cover of Elle Canada in 2012. In September 2017, she became CoverGirl's oldest spokesmodel at age 69. In 2022, at age 74, she was the oldest Sports Illustrated swimsuit model to date.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-18.