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Whether you think Martha Stewart deserves more, less or no jail time (more than 43% of respondents in a recent USA Today poll thought she should spend more time in jail), diva of domestic grace is using her time behind bars to boost her PR value sky high.

By going to jail early, sending out heartfelt web letters asking people to donate money to American Cancer Society charity instead of mailing her money and gifts, and even offering to assist underprivileged women start businesses, Stewart is walking a very public "road to redemption."

While we can't really blame Stewart for making best of a bad situation, we have to wonder what kind of legacy this will create for up-and-coming entrepreneurs and business leaders, not to mention American public as a whole.

Stewart's story already had enough rags-to-riches romance to make her a top role model. Add to that her new seemingly humble persona and her place as a societal icon is all but guaranteed. But is what she's modeling good or bad or America?

Let's break down exactly what she's demonstrating, then you can decide for yourself:

<><> Arrogance is Acceptable as Long as You're Successful <><> Stewart is guilty of sin common among most celebrity leaders: hubris. She no doubt began believing everything her PR department put out. She's been labeled "power mad," "mean spirited," and "cruel" in press, but media-happy public was willing to accept her and buy her products as long as she was a wealthy public figure.

LESSON: It's perfectly acceptable to buy products from a power-mad, mean spirited, cruel leader as long as she's popular and media likes her.

<><> You Can Recover from Any Fall With a Show of Humbleness <><> Stewart is making a very public show of humble pie, but let's take a deeper look at motivations behind her actions. First, she volunteered to enter prison even when she didn't have to. Sounds humble, but why did she really do it? She says it's so she could "be back to work before spring planting season" (USA Today, September 15, 2004).

She also offered to help underprivileged women start their own businesses. But this was in fact really a means for her "she could shorten her time in jail by offering to serve part or all of her sentence," as reported in July 19 issue of USA Today.