Christine Lee Hudson, also known by her stage name Christie Brinkley, is a well-known American model, actress, and entrepreneur. She rose to fame as the spokesperson for the popular American cosmetics brand ‘CoverGirl’ for an impressive 25 years.
She holds the record for the longest tenure as a brand ambassador for any cosmetic company and was also the first model to grace the cover of the ‘Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’ Issue three years in a row.
Early Life
Christine Lee Hudson was born on February 2, 1954, in Monroe, Michigan to Marjorie and Herbert Hudson. After her mother’s marriage to television writer Donald Brinkley in Los Angeles, her last name was changed to Brinkley.
After relocating to town, her mother encountered the author. Brinkley also studied at both Paul Revere College and the Lycée Français de Los Angeles before embarking on a trip to Paris to pursue an arts program following her graduation.
Christie Brinkley’s Career
Shortly after being photographed by American photographer Errol Sawyer, Christie Brinkley caught the attention of elite model management John Casablancas in Paris. Her glittering and glamorous writing style was a major factor in her discovery.
During her time in California, Brinkley connected with two well-known fashion photographers, Patrick Demarchelier and Mike Reinhardt, and was also introduced to Eileen Ford, one of the co-founders of Ford Models. She also met with Nina Blanchard, a colleague of Ford’s, and secured three major advertising campaigns.
Brinkley gained recognition as a model after being featured on the cover of ‘Glamour,’ a popular women’s magazine, multiple times. She received a remarkable offer from the American cosmetics company ‘CoverGirl’ for a 25-year-long modeling contract. Following the expiration of this contract, she was once again recruited to endorse their anti-aging skincare products.
In three consecutive years, Brinkley became the first female model to grace the cover of ‘The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.’ Her appearances in the issues of 1979, 1980, and 1981 were followed by her induction into the ’40th Anniversary Issue’s Hall of Fame’ and her inclusion in ’50th Anniversary The Legends’ specials.
In addition, she has been featured in popular magazines such as ‘US’, ‘Rolling Stone’, ‘Vogue’, and ‘Harper’s Bazaar’ and has served as a spokesperson for notable companies including ‘MasterCard’, ‘Diet Coke’, ‘Anheuser-Busch’, ‘Nissan’, ‘Revlon’, ‘Yardley of London’, and ‘Black Velvet’.
Following her successful career as a model, Christie Brinkley also ventured into the entertainment industry. She made appearances in both ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ and its sequel, ‘Vegas Vacation’, playing the role of ‘The Girl in the Red Ferrari’.
She took on the role of ‘Roxie Hart’ in the popular production of ‘Chicago’ and later returned to Broadway to reprise the role. In addition, she appeared on TV shows ‘Mad About You’, ‘Celebrity Weddings InStyle’ (as a host), ‘Today Show’, ‘Jack and Jill’, and ‘Parks and Recreation’.
Through her company CB Inc., Christie Brinkley operates a network of businesses including beauty products, eyewear, sparkling wine, real estate, and hair extensions. Her ventures have amassed a value of more than US$250 million.
Personal Life
Throughout her lifetime, Christie Brinkley has been married a total of four times. Her initial marriage was in 1973 with Jean-François Allaux, but the couple ultimately divorced in 1981.
Following this, she wed musician Billy Joel in 1985 and even made appearances at his concerts. Together, they have a daughter named Alexa Ray Joel. However, their marriage also ended in divorce in 1994.
In 1994, Christie Brinkley tied the knot with Richard Taubman, but their marriage ended in divorce within a year. They share a son named Jack Paris Brinkley.
Christie’s next marriage was to architect Peter Halsey Cook in September 1996, and they have a daughter named Sailor Brinkley-Cook. After twelve years of marriage, Brinkley and Cook divorced in 2008.
Net Worth
Christie Brinkley, an American model, entrepreneur, and actress, possesses a fortune of $100 million. Throughout her career, which has lasted for 30 years, she has graced the covers of 500 magazines and collaborated with numerous prominent companies. Additionally, she gained recognition for her marriage to Billy Joel, which lasted from 1985 to 1994.
