Martha Stewart reveals secret prep for Sports Illustrated

She was just working on her fitness.

Eighty-two-year-old Martha Stewart has revealed how she got her body tight and right before she graced the cover of the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue this past May — and why the response from fans was “encouraging.”

“I [only] had two months to get ready,” Stewart admitted during a panel appearance in Las Vegas Monday, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “So let’s just say I’m now an avid pilates fan.”

The CBD entrepreneur was the oldest woman to ever pose for the cover of the legendary swimsuit edition of the magazine, and she said that she felt like people were inspired by the decision.

“The response to it was really encouraging because it made women of all ages feel like, ‘If she can do it, then I can do it too,’ ” Stewart said, explaining that she felt like people were able to relate to the cover due to its authenticity.

While she rocked a white one-piece swimsuit with a sexy V-neck and a shiny orange coverup draped over her shoulders for the cover, there were a few photos in the spread that she wasn’t very fond of, and those were the ones captured of her wearing a plunging red one-piece look by designer Norma Kamali.

“I didn’t like the red bathing suit [photos] so much,” she admitted. “They were just OK. Bare midriff. I can’t do that anymore and no amount of pilates can help me with that.”

Over the past few years, the Martha Stewart Living businesswoman has been lovingly dubbed the “thirst trap queen,” as she often takes to her Instagram page to post sultry pics.

It all started with an iconic photo taken in July 2020 from her pool in East Hampton, Long Island, as she pursed her lips, covered in a shimmering gloss, for the camera wearing nothing but a navy blue one-piece bathing suit.

She followed up with another one late last year, showing off a shiny blowout and large gold earrings as she offered the camera an alluring gaze.

And, in April, she dropped a series of sexy new snaps as she showed off her new haircut and blowout, given to her by friend and celebrity hairstylist John Barrett.

She also revealed that day that she had treated herself to both a manicure and a pedicure.

And, it looked like those photos were dropped at just the right time, as her stunning cover came out just a few weeks after.

While appearing on the “Today” show in May, she revealed some more of her tips and tricks for how she prepared to grace the cover.

“I didn’t starve myself, but I didn’t eat any bread or pasta for a couple of months,” Stewart said at the time.

“I went to pilates every other day and that was great; I’m still going to pilates every other day ’cause it’s so great. And I just, I live a clean life anyway — good diet and good exercise and healthy skin care and all of that stuff,” Stewart explained.

The mogul recently celebrated her birthday on Aug. 3.

In June, she caused controversy after she said that she wasn’t a big fan of the hybrid, work-from-home schedule during an interview with Footwear News.

“You can’t possibly get everything done working three days a week in the office and two days remotely,” Stewart told the outlet at the time.