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Martha
Stewart
became
an international television and magazine
celebrity through her show "Martha
Stewart Living" and her magazine
by the same name. She is best known for
her recipes, decorating, and entertainment
ideas for the home and also created her
own line of linens, craft supplies, and
decorations. Although she was sent to
prison in 2002 for stock fraud, she continues
to flourish in both her media and product
industries.
Martha
Stewart was born on August 3, 1941 in
Jersey City, New Jersey to Edward Kostyra
and Martha Ruszkowski. As one of six children
in a very strict household, Stewart learned
how to cook, sew, and garden out of necessity
in order to help the family survive on
their modest income. When she was older,
Stewart began modeling which helped her
earn money in high school and eventually
in college. Although she was offered a
full scholarship to New York University,
Stewart chose, instead, to attend Barnard
College in order to study art history.
While she was there she met a young Yale
law student by the name of Andrew Stewart
whom she married in 1961.
Stewart
continued modeling after her graduation
while her husband furthered his career
in law. After the birth of their daughter
in 1965, Stewart left the modeling world
and looked for a career on Wall Street.
Although she had no formal training in
stocks or trading, Stewart managed to
get hired by the stockbrokerage firm Monness,
Williams, and Sidel. Stewart's drive,
energy, and innate business sense earned
her respect and a good salary from the
firm. Although she enjoyed the excitement
of Wall Street for a number of years,
the economic troubles of 1973 made Stewart
reconsider her career and she left her
place as stockbroker.
At
the time of her career change, Martha
Stewart and her family had already moved
to Connecticut to a small farmhouse on
Turkey Hill Road. While contemplating
a new career, Stewart channeled her energy
into renovating, decorating and rebuilding
the old farmhouse. It was during this
time that Stewart also began teaching
cooking classes and catering. Through
word of mouth and hard work, Stewart's
catering business began to grow and she
soon developed a strong reputation throughout
the community.
By
1975 Stewart had established a following
and, along with her partner Norma Collier,
created the catering business called Uncatered
Affair. Although Collier and Stewart did
not always agree (supposedly because of
Stewart's overbearing work habits and
obsessive control), they managed to grow
the business until they parted ways only
a few years later.
Martha
Stewart continued to cater, however, and
established her own business under the
name Martha Stewart Inc. through which
she catered for wealthy and celebrity
clients. At the same time she was also
working at the Market Basket, a small
gourmet food court. While she helped grow
Market Basket into a very successful store,
she also began making a name for her own
small company well beyond the confines
of her small community. As an energetic
self-promoter, Stewart solicited attention
from newspapers by writing articles on
gardening, cooking, and decorating. Some
of these articles were featured in national
newspapers such as House Beautiful and
Good Housekeeping.
The
national attention for her work earned
her a book deal from Crown Publishing.
Working with the freelance writer Elizabeth
Hawes, Stewart was able to put together
a combination decorating-guide and cookbook
that featured Stewart's home. It was published
in 1982 and quickly became a best-seller.
With the success of the book, Stewart
went on book tours and arranged speaking
appearances all over the world.
Her
past in modeling along with her confidence
and business sense gave her even greater
media appeal. With the success of her
fist book, Stewart published additional
titles around the same concepts of decorating,
entertaining, gardening, and cooking.
She started her television career in 1986
when she hosted the public television
special "Holiday Entertaining with
Martha Stewart" during which she
cooked an entire Thanksgiving meal for
her family.
The
show inspired Stewart and she began looking
to television to further her career. In
1987, one year after the television appearance,
Stewart signed a deal with Kmart to become
a lifestyle consultant for the company
by helping to develop and promote an exclusive
line of home products and décor.
Through her name and brand marketing,
Stewart seized the opportunity to brand
herself and her ideas through multiple
channels. She convinced Time Warner to
publish a magazine with her name called
"Martha Stewart Living", followed
by internet and television shows.
It
was during this same time that Martha
Stewart's marriage broke down and she
and her husband divorced in 1989.
Despite
the problems in her personal life, Stewart's
business flourished and she grew it to
include products and other media channels
through her company Martha Stewart Inc.
Throughout the 1990s Stewart continued
to publish books and magazines, and appear
not only on her personal television programs
but also on other national television
and radio shows.
In
2002 Stewart came under scrutiny for questionable
stock management of some of her investments.
After a series of hearings and testimonies,
Stewart was found guilty and sent to prison
for securities fraud in 2004. She spent
five months in jail and five months on
house arrest. Although her company, show,
and publishing deals suffered, Stewart
was determined to rebound with renewed
force.
After
her release, Martha Stewart began rebuilding
parts of her company and continued to
work in and out of the media spotlight
to rebuild her name and her business.
This Martha Stewart biography may
not be reproduced online.
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