Christie Brinkley and Daughters Grace ‘Sports Illustrated’ Swimsuit Issue
It's been nearly thirteen years since Christie Brinkley last appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, but she's back — and she's brought her two daughters, Alexa Ray Joel and Sailor Brinkley Cook, with her.
The iconic model may be 63 years old, but a new photo of the three proves Brinkley is still very much Swimsuit Issue-ready. As SI.com notes, Brinkley appeared in the magazine eight times between 1975-2004, which includes a record three consecutive SI Swimsuit covers in 1979, 1980 and 1981 (see those below). She was the first SI Swimsuit model to grace the cover even twice in a row.
"I couldn't even believe my ears when I got the call that MJ [Day, editor of the Swimsuit Issue] wanted to shoot my daughters and me. I was thrilled," Brinkley told Sports Illustrated in a behind-the-scenes video from the photo shoot.
Sailor, Brinkley's 18-year-old with ex-husband Peter Cook, called the experience "really fun," while her half sister Alexa deemed it "definitely entertaining — a little bit of a reality TV moment."
"We all have our own style. And Sailor is kind of the young new little, perfect little, sporty little model," Alexa, Brinkley's 31-year-old daughter with Billy Joel (Brinkley starred in his 1983 "Uptown Girl" video, though the song has been rumored to be about Joel's ex Elle McPherson). "My mom is almost — I tease her that she's ADD, in terms of how much energy she has. She literally can't stop moving. And I'm still new at this and I was just trying to maintain my focus."
Christie told People magazine about the experience and being asked to return to the magazine, "My first thought was, 'At my age? No way!'"
Brinkley has appeared in the magazine a total of eight times, the last being back in 2004.
"When I turned 30, I was like, 'This is the last time I’m posing in a bathing suit!' When this issue comes out, I’ll be 63. I thought, 'Those days are over.' But to get to do it with my girls, I thought, 'One last go!'"
Check out photos and behind-the-scenes video of Brinkley posing for the 2017 Swimsuit Issue with daughters Alexa Ray and Sailor below.
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