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Martha Stewart who has owned a home in Westport, turns 75 on Wednesday. The businesswoman, writer, television personality, and former fashion model was born Aug 3, 1941, in Jersey City, N.J.
Stewart started a catering business in her basement with a friend from her modeling days, Norma Collier.
Stewart released many more books under the Clarkson Potter publishing imprint, including "Martha Stewart's Quick Cook" (1983), "Martha Stewart's Hors D'oeuvres" (1984), "Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts" (1985), "Weddings" (1987), "The Wedding Planner" (1988), "Martha Stewart's Quick Cook Menus" (1988), and "Martha Stewart's Christmas" (1989), among others. During this time, she also wrote dozens of newspaper columns, magazine articles and other pieces on homemaking, and made numerous television appearances on programs such as "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and "Larry King Live."
In 1990, Stewart signed with Time Publishing Ventures to develop a new magazine, Martha Stewart Living, for which Stewart would serve as editor-in-chief.
In 1993, she began a weekly half-hour service program based on her magazine, which was quickly expanded to a full hour, and later to a daily format, with half-hour episodes on weekends. Stewart also became a frequent contributor to CBS's "The Early Show," and starred in several prime time holiday specials on the CBS network.
As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, merchandising, and electronic commerce.
In 2004 there was speculation that the ImClone insider trading incident would effectively end her media empire. She began a comeback campaign in 2005 and her company returned to profitability in 2006. Stewart rejoined the board of directors of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia in 2011 and became chairman of her namesake company again in 2012.
In 2011, Stewart was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
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