Martha Stewart Biography

Martha Stewart

With a partial scholarship and money earned by modeling, Stewart was able to leave her small New Jersey home town behind for the ivy halls of Barnard College. After graduating, she continued to model, worked as a stockbroker, started a catering business, wrote a column for House Beautiful, and worked as a contributing editor to Family Circle. Appearances on morning television programs led to the development of her own syndicated show, Martha Stewart Living (1993–present). Her publications include the books Pies and Tarts (1985) and Gardening (1993) and the magazine Martha Stewart Living (1990–present). In 2003, Stewart was indicted on charges of obstruction of justice and securities fraud, the result of a 2001 sale of ImClone stock. She served five months in a minimum security prison and was released in March 2005. In January 2006, an appeals court denied her appeal and her verdict was upheld.