Christie Brinkley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christie Brinkley
Brinkley at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival
Born	Christie Lee Hudson (1954-02-02) February 2, 1954 (age 71) Monroe, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Model actress entrepreneur
Years active	1973–present
Height	5 ft 9+1⁄2 in (177 cm)
Spouse(s)	Jean-François Allaux ​ ​ (m. 1975; div. 1981)​ Billy Joel ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 1994)​ Richard Taubman ​ ​ (m. 1994; div. 1995)​ Peter Cook ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 2008)​
Children	3, including Alexa Ray Joel and Sailor Brinkley Cook

Christie Lee Brinkley (born February 2, 1954) is an American model, actress, and entrepreneur. She is famous for appearing on three Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers in a row in 1979, 1980, and 1981.

For 25 years, she was the face of the makeup brand CoverGirl. Brinkley has been on more than 500 magazine covers. Besides modeling, she has worked as an actress, illustrator, author, and designer. She is also an activist who supports human and animal rights and protects the environment.

Brinkley has been married four times, including to the famous musician Billy Joel. She appeared in several of his music videos. Magazines like Allure and Men's Health have called her one of the most attractive women of all time.

Early Life

Christie Lee Hudson was born in Monroe, Michigan, on February 2, 1954. Her parents were Marjorie and Herbert Hudson. Her family later moved to Canoga Park, California.

Her mother married television writer Donald Brinkley, who adopted Christie and her brother, Greg. The family lived in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Malibu and Brentwood. After graduating from high school in 1972, Brinkley moved to Paris to study art.

Career

How Her Career Started

In 1973, American photographer Errol Sawyer discovered Brinkley in a post office in Paris. He took her first modeling photos and introduced her to the Elite Model Management agency.

Brinkley later said, "I was basically a surfer girl from California. I never looked like a model." After meeting with fashion photographers, she returned to California. Soon after, she was booked for three national advertising campaigns.

Rise to Fame

Brinkley quickly appeared on the cover of Glamour magazine many times. She signed a 25-year contract with CoverGirl cosmetics, which was one of the longest modeling contracts ever. In 2005, CoverGirl signed her again for ads aimed at women with mature skin.

She was the first model to be on three straight Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers (1979, 1980, and 1981). She also appeared in the magazine's special issues for many years. In 2005, she was added to the Sports Illustrated 40th Anniversary Issue's Hall of Fame.

Brinkley has been on over 500 magazine covers, including Vogue, Rolling Stone, and Harper's Bazaar. She has worked with major brands like Chanel, Diet Coke, MasterCard, and Revlon. She has been photographed in more than 30 countries on six continents.

Acting and TV Roles

Brinkley in 2000

Brinkley's first acting role was in the 1983 movie National Lampoon's Vacation. She played the "The girl in the red Ferrari" next to actor Chevy Chase. She played the same role again in the 1997 movie Vegas Vacation. She later made fun of this role in TV commercials and in a 2019 episode of the show The Goldbergs.

She has appeared on many TV shows, including NBC's Mad About You. She also had a recurring role as Gayle Gergich on Parks and Recreation. Brinkley has appeared in music videos for her former husband Billy Joel, such as "Uptown Girl" and "River of Dreams".

In 2011, Brinkley made her stage debut as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on Broadway. She also performed the role in London and on a national tour.

In 2019, Brinkley was set to compete on Dancing with the Stars. However, she injured her arm and needed surgery. Her daughter, Sailor, took her place on the show. In 2022, she competed on The Masked Singer as the "Lemur".

Business Ventures

Since 1997, Brinkley has appeared in TV infomercials for Total Gym fitness equipment with Chuck Norris. She also has her own businesses, including:

• Christie Brinkley Authentic Skin Care, a line of beauty products.
• Hair2Wear, a line of hair extensions.
• Bellissima Prosecco, a brand of organic sparkling wine.
• Christie Brinkley Eyewear, a line of glasses.

In 2019, her net worth was estimated at $80 million, mostly from owning real estate in the Hamptons.

Other Projects

In 1983, Brinkley wrote and illustrated Christie Brinkley's Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Book, which became a bestseller. She also designed the album cover for Billy Joel's 1993 album River of Dreams. Rolling Stone magazine named it the "Best album cover of the year".

Personal Life

Brinkley has been married four times. Her first marriage was to French artist Jean-François Allaux from 1975 to 1981.

Her second marriage was to musician Billy Joel in 1985. They have one daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, who is also a musician. Brinkley and Joel divorced in 1994 but have remained close friends.

In 1994, Brinkley was in a helicopter crash, which caused her to have hip pain for many years. She had a full hip replacement in 2021. That same year, she married real estate developer Richard Taubman. They have a son, Jack Paris Brinkley. They divorced in 1995.

Brinkley's fourth marriage was to architect Peter Halsey Cook in 1996. They have one daughter, Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook, who is also a model. Brinkley and Cook divorced in 2008.

Interests and Activism

Brinkley throws an autographed football to the audience during a USO show in Bosnia and Herzegovina (December 22, 1999)

Brinkley lives in Sag Harbor, New York, on Long Island. She is a fan of the New York Islanders ice hockey team. She also enjoys cutting, a sport where a rider on horseback separates cattle from a herd.

She has supported the Democratic Party of the United States and has been involved in anti-nuclear activities. Brinkley is also a strong supporter of animal rights and works with PETA. She became a vegetarian at age 13 and encouraged her family to do the same.

In April 2025, Brinkley published her memoir, Uptown Girl.

Awards and Recognition

Brinkley has received many awards for her work in modeling, business, and charity. Some of her honors include:

• Best Album Cover of the Year (1993) from Rolling Stone for her art on Billy Joel's River of Dreams album.
• Merit Award (2001) from the USO for entertaining American troops in Bosnia, Kosovo, and other countries.
• Heart Award from the American Heart Association for her work helping children live healthier lives.
• Humanitarian Award from the March of Dimes for her efforts to improve the health of babies.
• Broadway Beacon Award (2012) for her role as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago.
• Pet Hero Award (2013) for her work protecting animals and the environment.

Filmography

Images for kids

• 

  December 1999, during a Christmas visit to the USO

See also

In Spanish: Christie Brinkley para niños