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Christie Brinkley Profile |
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Birth Date: February 2, 1954
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Birth Place: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Birth Name: Christie Lee Hudson
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Height: 5'9"
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Biography |
The world of international fashion was changed forever on
February 4, 1954, when Christie Lee Hudson was born in the
land of the rich and famous, Malibu, California. Her father
was a television writer, who worked on shows such as The
Virginian and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. She obviously had an
artistic nature imprinted in her genes. After having
attended a French-American high school, Le Lyce Franais de
Los Angeles, Christie moved to Paris. At the tender age of
18, she enrolled in art school.
After graduation, she worked as an illustrator for three
years. And that's where the fairy tale begins. Like a plot
her father could have written, an American photographer
spotted her on the streets of Paris. Although he convinced
her that she had what it takes to be a model, she was
hesitant to leave her creative job. Still, she gave in and
became part of the famous Ford modeling agency. On catwalks
everywhere, she was an instant hit.
In 1976, she signed a contract with the cosmetics line Cover
Girl that began their 20-year partnership, a feat as yet
unsurpassed in the modeling industry. In 1979, she appeared
on the cover of the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated.
The editors liked her so much that they asked for a repeat
performance the two following years as well -- another
industry first.
Christie has appeared on over 500 magazine covers around the
world. A bona fide superstar, magazines like Vogue,
Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Cosmopolitan and Time, all wrote
articles about her. Her presence on the cover of Life
magazine made it their best-selling issue of all-time. In
addition, she lent her face to such products as Prell
shampoo and Chanel perfume.
In 1981, she and her husband of eight years, Jean-Francois
Allaux, divorced. But Christie hadn't given up on love. In
1985, she married famous piano man Billy Joel and soon they
had a daughter, Alexa Rae. Christie appeared in a number of
the singer's music videos and was the inspiration for his
major hit "Uptown Girl." She even had her artwork featured
on the cover of his River of Dreams album.
Unlike other supermodels, she had no aspirations of becoming
a movie star. However, she did appear as Chevy Chase's
fantasy girl in the blockbuster National Lampoon's Vacation
in 1983; she reprised her role in the 1997 sequel, Vegas
Vacation. In 1992, she joined CNN, where she hosted Living
in the '90s with Christie Brinkley, a short-lived show where
she introduced filmed segments, and two years later, she
appeared as herself in a top-rated episode of Mad About You.
As the '80s faded away, and her All-American looks ceased to
be in great demand, Christie turned her attention elsewhere.
In 1997, she hosted the most profitable infomercial in
America for Total Gym. The following year, she launched her
own perfume, Believe.
A true Renaissance woman, she also wrote a best-selling
fitness book, and is also a gifted photographer. In addition
to having had her work published in periodicals like
Autosprint and American Photographer, she participated in a
number of major boxing events for Don King, as ring
photographer. What's more, she has designed a line of
women's eyewear and holds patents for toys for toddlers.
Since having divorced Billy Joel in 1994, she has been
married twice and has conceived two more children. She is
currently married to architect Peter Cook, and when she's
not busy working, she spends her time supporting causes like
nuclear disarmament and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. |
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Other
Information |
Daughter, with Peter Cook, Sailor Lee Brinkley Cook, was
born. [2 July 1998]
Daughter, with Billy Joel, Alexa Rae, was born. [1 January
1986]
Son, with Richard Taubman, Jack Paris Brinkley, was born. [2
June 1995]
Filed a $42 million defamation suit against the National
Enquirer and jointly sued her former personal assistant Beth
La Face as the contact for the tabloid. [9 September 1997]
Supermodel
Her first SPORTS ILLUSTRATED swimsuit issue cover was in
1979. She also appeared on the cover in 1980 and 1981,
making her the first model to appear on 3 consecutive
covers.
Brinkley was one of three models featured as dolls produced
by Matchbox Toys called "The Real Model Collection".
Has a daughter, Alexa Ray
She played the "red-haired girl" in Billy Joel's "Keepin'
The Faith" music video. She has also appeared as herself in
various other Billy Joel music videos, including "River Of
Dreams", "A Matter Of Trust", and "Leningrad".
She and her then husband-to-be Richard Taubman survived a
helicopter crash in March 1994 near Telluride, Colorado.
Nine months later they married near the spot of the crash.
Was a democratic delegate from New York state at the 2000
Democratic Convention in Los Angeles.
Is a vegetarian.
Daughter of producer-director Don Brinkley and Marge
Brinkley.
Wears size 7 1/2-8 shoe. (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Measurements: 36C-23 1/2-35 1/2 (her model card) (Source:
Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Sister of Greg Brinkley. |
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