Supermodel Christie’s ’s secrets to ageing
The blonde bombshell still looks stunning
When Christie Brinkley arrived for her 65th birthday party in New York in late January, jaws dropped. The supermodel looked nearly identical to when she first burst on to the scene in the 1970s.
“I honestly have had years in my life where I’d be like, ‘Wait a minute, how old am I again?’” Christie confesses, speaking exclusively to Woman’s Day. “I just don’t think about it.”
What her perfect, lineless face – which she credits to good genes, clean living and ultrasound treatments – doesn’t portray are years of hard work and some personal tribulations, including four failed marriages.
Inviting us to her New York penthouse, Christie looks back on her life and tells us what’s to come.
Everyone must tell you how great you look. Do you soak that up?
Let me put it this way: When I started doing the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 1979, I was very concerned about trying to live up to the image they projected of this hot body in a bathing suit. At the time, I became very self-conscious. I’m kind of in the same situation with ageing. Ageing is inevitable. If I’m lucky, I’m going to be running around as an older woman with my hard-earned wrinkles. It’s inevitable.
Are you at your most confident now?
I actually think so. Around 50, you start letting yourself off the hook, and you have a real awareness of priorities and what really matters. Others’ opinions just don’t have power over you any more. The only opinions that really matter to you are those of the people you love.
What are some of your proudest moments as a mum to Alexa Ray (33), Jack, (23) and Sailor (20)?
This goes back to when they were in school, but the thing I heard about each of my kids was that they were leaders in kindness. For example, Jack’s teacher told me that everybody would always choose him first, and Jack would wait and look around the room. If anybody got left out, he was the first person to say, “Do you want to come join our group?” When she told me that, I burst into tears. The following year, I heard a very similar story about Sailor. It was such a proud moment to know that they were putting that kind of kindness into action.
Alexa is now planning her wedding with fiancé Ryan Gleason and you’ve said that her dad, Billy Joel, will likely perform. What songs would you like him to play?
They always do “Baby Grand” because she’s his baby grand and I’m sure he’ll do “Lullaby” because we always used to sing that to her when she was a little girl. I love “Souvenir” too. It’s such a beautiful song.
What relationship advice do you give your kids?
I just tell them to always treat their partner with the kind of respect they would want to be treated with. To always be honest, try to laugh as often as they can and string together as many beautiful moments. And to cherish all the little things.
What is dating like for you now?
Fewer and farther between! But it’s fun. It’s not that easy to meet people. When you’re younger, you assume that because you’re so young, nobody’s married yet. But now you assume that everybody is married, so it’s hard to actually meet people.
Would you ever get married again?
I don’t really see a reason for marriage. Maybe there’s tax, inheritance or hospital advantages, but I always thought of doing it to have kids. And since I’m not having any more kids, why complicate things? I would have a big celebration party, though.
What do you consider the most iconic moment of your career?
I always point to my 2011 stint on Broadway as Roxie Hart in Chicago because it was the
biggest career challenge I ever took on – to act, sing, dance and face a live audience every night. But it was a dream. I never went to a play without sitting there, looking up and thinking, “Gosh, wouldn’t that be fun to do?” Oh, how I love it. And that live vibration in the room, that excitement.
You’ve had your share of hard times. Any words of wisdom for people who are struggling?
Gratitude. No matter how horrible anything can be – and it got really dark there for a while – count your blessings. My blessings would always start with Alexa, Jack, Sailor, health … By the time I got there, I couldn’t feel sorry for myself any more. I knew that I would have to just pick myself up, brush myself off, pull it together, put on a smile and just do it.