Christie Brinkley is one of the most recognizable Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models from their annual issue even after her first appearance in 1975. The photoshoot brought her plenty of fame and fortune in the coming decades, but it also brought her unexpected stress when it came to body image.
The 70-year-old supermodel explained to the Today show on Tuesday, May 28 that she was her “harshest critic” because she felt she needed to “live up to what [other people] would think” about her appearance after that iconic moment in her career. That ’70s booking led her to never feel “comfortable on the beach in a bathing suit again.” Brinkley explained that the magazine set her up for success, but she felt she could never compete.
“Sports Illustrated makes you look so good,” she pointed out. “They put you in the best bathing suit. They put you in the best light. You take your very best angle.” It took her a long time to combat those demons in her head, even though her stunning looks and sweet personality have made her a fan favorite for years. However, she’s turned things around in this season of life.
“When I turned 70, I was like, ‘It’s my life,” she explained, revealing that she doesn’t feel the pressure any longer — and Brinkley is still in demand. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit called upon her to pose for the magazine’s 60th anniversary cover with other famous faces, including Martha Stewart, Tyra Banks, and Chrissy Teigen.
Earlier this month, she shared with People that being in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit family was still a dream come true. “If someone came up to young permed sunburned me during my first photo shoot with the iconic magazine and whispered, ‘They will still be inviting you to be in the picture at 70,’ I would have laughed at them and called them crazy,” Brinkley gushed. “But now I know that no one wants to become invisible because of our age, (or ethnicity, size, gender, or anything for that matter!).”
In addition to Brinkley’s 1975 photoshoot, she’s had eight covers in total, and also appeared on the magazine in three consecutive years, 1979-1981 — only she and Elle Macpherson can brag about that feat.
Before you go, click here to see celebrity women over 50 whose bikini photos are blowing our minds.
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