Today at 70, supermodel Christie Brinkley continues to enchant her fans, be it through her latest professional project or candid social media selfie. Yet when she was starting off as a model, Brinkley was met with harsh discouraging words claiming she’d be broken by and run out of the industry in no time.
Brinkley has been a mainstay in the modeling world since 1973, when she was discovered by photographer Errol Sawyer while at a post office in Paris. Looking back, Brinkley would assert, “I was basically a surfer girl from California. I never looked like a model,” but this connection still led to another, which led to another, until she landed three consecutive covers of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues. But there was a time when Brinkley was told the whole process would burn out like a dying star.
Christie Brinkley reveals the discouraging warning that she’d be chewed up and spit out early in her career
Brinkley recently sat down with PEOPLE to promote her new clothing line with HSN. During her chat, Brinkley also discussed her views on aging, and in particular the dramatic way it has evolved over the years in the face of the way modeling impacted her body image.
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“They told me by the time you’re 30, you’ll be chewed up and spit out of this business,” she revealed. “But 50 isn’t 50 anymore. Thirty isn’t 30 anymore.”
In complete opposition to these kinds of dire warnings, Brinkley has been at the front lines proving that aging is beautiful. In fact, history is repeating itself in a beautiful way. Her first Sports Illustrated cover debuted in ‘79. 45 years later, Brinkley is 70, and she just posed for Sports Illustrated once again.
Christie Brinkley wants to flip the script on aging for herself and others
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit celebrated its 60th anniversary this year and it did so with powerful covers featuring various icons, including Martha Stewart, Tyra Banks, and none other than Christie Brinkley, who was not, in fact, chewed up and spit out by the industry after all.
“Over the past 60 years we have shattered stereotypes, embraced diversity, and championed inclusivity,” proclaimed Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editor-in-chief MJ Day. “With each passing year, we have challenged ourselves to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. While this year’s issue is a tribute to the recent past, it’s also a reminder of the work we must continue to do. We must remind women to challenge the status quo, to celebrate strength and confidence, and to inspire those around us to embrace their uniqueness and pursue their passions fearlessly.”
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Brinkley had high praise for the gesture as well as the magazine as a whole. “Sports Illustrated has really turned into the most amazing magazine,” she praised. “It’s always been great and amazing, but to be there, this time, having just turned 70…and you know, 70 is one of those birthday milestones, where you look back and you look forward and you really sum everything up and you get all emotional and I felt like, I’m 70 and they’ve asked me to come be on another cover with them…and yes I was covered from my wrist to my ankles.”
She added, But still, they’re inclusive and I know what that means, to start to feel invisible, like you don’t have the same thing happening as you get older…It’s really nice to be included.”
She also had positive words for the others modeling for the magazine. “I think it’s really, really fantastic that Sports Illustrated not only has me, but Martha, who looks so great,” gushed Brinkley. “She has the distinction of being the oldest cover model on Sports Illustrated. I sat right behind Martha and I can vouch that her skin is perfection!”
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