Christie Brinkley is an American model, actress and enterpreneur. She gained worldwide fame with her appearances in Sports Illustrated Issues!
So let’s dive into some unknown and facts about her life and career!
- Christie Brinkley was born on February 2, 1954
- She is an American model, actress and entrepreneur
- Her full name is Christie Lee Hudson
- Brinkley gained worldwide fame with her appearances in the late 1970s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues
- Ultimately appearing on an unprecedented three consecutive covers starting in 1979
- She spent twenty-five years as the face of CoverGirl
- She has appeared on over 500 magazine covers
- And has signed contracts with major brands
- Both fashion and non-fashion
- Brinkley went on to work as an actress, illustrator, television personality, photographer, writer, designer
- And activist for human and animal rights and the environment
- Brinkley has been married four times
- Most notably between 1985 and 1994 to musician Billy Joel
- Several of whose music videos she appeared in
- Her fourth marriage, to architect Peter Cook, ended in a much-publicized 2008 divorce
- With a career spanning more than three decades
- Magazines such as Allure and Men’s Health have named Brinkley one of the most attractive women of all time
- Brinkley was born Christie Lee Hudson in Monroe, Michigan on February 2, 1954
- She is the daughter of Marjorie and Herbert Hudson
- Her family moved to Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California
- There her mother Marjorie later met and married television writer Donald Brinkley in Bel Air, Los Angeles
- Donald adopted Christie and her brother Greg Brinkley
- During this time, the family lived in Malibu
- And then the Brentwood neighborhoods of Los Angeles
- Brinkley was educated at Paul Revere Junior High School
- And attended Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles from 9th to 12th grade
- After graduation in 1973, she moved to Paris, to study art
- In 1982, Brinkley had a romantic relationship with Olivier Chandon de Brailles
- Heir to the Moët-Chandon Champagne fortune
- The two met at Studio 54 in New York City at a party promoting a calendar in which Brinkley appeared
- Chandon died a year later in a crash at a private pre-season practice session car race
- In September 2015, it was widely reported that John Mellencamp was in a new relationship with Brinkley
- In August 2016, the couple announced their separation after almost a year of dating
- In 1973, to French artist Jean-François Allaux
- The marriage ended in 1981 without children
- In 1985, to musician Billy Joel (born May 9, 1949)
- The two had met in 1983 on the Island of St Barts, in the Caribbean
- And were married March 23, 1985, on a yacht on the Hudson River
- The second marriage for both
- Guests included singer Paul Simon and members of the band Stray Cats
- The marriage ended in August 1994
- And produced one child, Alexa Ray Joel, born December 29, 1985
- Brinkley and Billy Joel remained friends
- In 1994, to real estate developer Richard Taubman (born 1948)
- Brinkley and Taubman met in 1994 when a mutual friend introduced them
- He proposed to her in May 1994
- Although she and Billy Joel were still married
- She married Taubman on December 22, 1994, in Telluride, Colorado
- Near the area where they were both in a helicopter crash on April 1, 1994
- Brinkley was 40 years old and Taubman 46
- She announced at their wedding that they were expecting a baby boy
- The marriage ended in 1995 with one son, Jack Paris Brinkley Taubman, born June 2, 1995
- In 1996, to architect Peter Halsey Cook (born January 1, 1959)
- Cook and Brinkley first met in 1979 when he was modeling
- Their paths also crossed a few times after that
- They were later reintroduced by a mutual friend, NBC’s Jill Rappaport
- And announced their engagement in August 1996
- They married on September 21, 1996 at a ranch in Bridgehampton, New York
- Brinkley was 42 and Cook 37
- They had nearly 120 guests at their wedding, including Billy Joel
- They had one child, daughter Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook, born July 2, 1998
- She began modeling at 15
- Having been signed to IMG Models
- Top Picks, in 1993 by Rolling Stone for the artistic work Brinkley did on the cover of Billy Joel’s album River of Dreams
- 2001 Merit Award, given by USO-The United Service Organizations Inc.. Brinkley traveled with the USO on goodwill missions to Sarajevo, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Italy entertaining the peacekeeping forces and visiting aircraft carriers and refugee camps
- After participating in Secretary of Defense William Cohen’s Christmas tour to Kosovo, she was given the award in Washington DC for her efforts on behalf of American troops
- Spirit of Achievement Award, at 2003 by “The Women’s Division” of Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University presented Brinkley for her charity work
- Christie Brinkley Scholarship, at February 2007 by The Ross School in East Hampton, Long Island, New York
- This scholarship allow students interested in art or environment sciences get four free years at Ross High School
- Heart Award, special honor from the American Heart Association in the “12th Annual Heart of the Hamptons Gala” for her commitment to helping children live healthier lives
- Brinkley said she was very honored to receive the award from the AHA being convinced that the research from the organization made it possible for her mother to be alive after suffering five strokes
- Humanitarian Award, given by March of Dimes
- This organization is dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality through research, community services, education and advocacy
- Merit Award, by the non-profit USA national organization Mothers Voices which mission is strengthens family communication about sex, sexual health and HIV/AIDS/STD prevention through education and awareness, mobilize parents and caregivers to become their child’s frontline sexual health educator
- Mother of the Year, given by The National Mothers Day committee at a ceremony held in New York City
- Merit Award, given by Make-A-Wish Foundation in New York
- They work granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy
- America’s Mothers and Shakers, named by Redbook Magazine for her involvement in “STAR — Standing for Truth About Radiation”
- HBA’s Positively Beautiful Award, named by HBA Global Expo on behalf of her work with the international charity Smile Train
- Mothers Who Make A Difference Award, given by Love Our Children USA on the 2011 Sixth Annual edition, recognizing and supporting four celebrity moms for balancing motherhood, work and causes
- Broadway Beacon Award for her portrayal of Roxie Hart in the hit musical Chicago (June 4, 2012)
- Honor by the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center for her many years of work to raise awareness about nuclear radiation and the safety of the oceans.(June 16, 2012)
- 2013 Pet Hero Award – Humanitarian of the Year by the Pet Philanthropy Circle for her strong advocate for animals, environment and wildlife
- 2018 FN Style Influencer of the Year along with daughters Alexa and Sailor
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