Martha Stewart -"The Goddess of Domesticity"

Martha Stewart was born Martha Helen Kostyra on August 3, 1941. She was the second of the six children of Martha and Edward Kostyra, who were Polish immigrants settled in America.

Her mother was a school teacher and her father was a pharmaceutical salesman. When Martha was three years old, her family moved from a small apartment to a house in Nutley, New Jersey, near New York City. The new house in Nutley had a garden where, under the tutelage of her father (who was an avid gardener), Martha Stewart had her first lessons in gardening. She also learnt the basics of cooking, sewing and baking from her mother who encouraged the children to help around the house.

These skills, which she learnt as a child, were to play an important role in her future career as a lifestyle expert. Martha Stewart was a born entrepreneur. As a child, she earned her pocket money by organizing birthday parties for children in the neighborhood.

Her family always encouraged initiative and all the children were expected to earn their own money and save for college. Martha Stewart, who was an excellent student, graduated in the top ten of her high school class. She was also an avid reader and a regular at the local public library. When she was in grade three she won a contest at the library for reading the maximum number of books...