“Sports Illustrated” is ostensibly a magazine that covers sports, athletes and related topics. But really, it’s perhaps most famous for the special edition issues that feature hot models and celebrities wearing the most daring swimsuits and bikinis that come out once every year. Granted, they’ve been taking steps towards revamping that reputation by including a wider variety of women to pose for their swimsuit editions, like mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey or plus-size model Ashley Graham. But there are some faces (and bodies) from “SI” that simply stays with the mind, like model/actress christie brinkley who graced three covers of the magazine back in 1979 to 1981.
Now she’s back along with two of her (grown-up and equally hot) daughters for her fourth cover; and just as the product where you wouldn’t believe it’s not butter, looking at Brinkley’s photo you won’t believe she’s 63 years old either.
‘No expiration.'
“Sports Illustrated” readers, or simply those who wait for the swimsuit editions, got wind of the news Monday, February 6, when Christie Brinkley posted the prospective magazine cover photo of her with daughters Alexa Ray Joel (31, from ex-husband Billy Joel) and Sailor brinkley cook (18, from other ex-hubby Peter Cook) on Instagram.
It depicted the trio in black swimwear, with Brinkley’s one-piece sporting a fishnet design, all standing on the shore in half-knee-deep water.
Or at least Alexa and Sailor were; one could easily mistake Christie’s visible feet as a “standing on water” Photoshop job, were it not for the lady herself explaining on the caption that it was achieved by her standing on a submerged box, which may explain why she’s holding Sailor’s hand for balance.
The caption also included some thanks to “Sports Illustrated” from Christie in having her on board once more, as she feels the cover will be “sending the powerful message that good things come in packages of every size and we do not come with an expiration date!" Brinkley’s daughters also got in on the positive messages thing regarding accepting one’s self, with Brinkley Cook mentioning “awkward phases” in her life when she was picked on, and Ray Joel who remarked about her not so flat tummy and the cellulite on her thighs but not being bothered by these enough to shun being seen in a swimsuit.
‘Full circle.'
Brinkley sees her new swimsuit cover for “Sports Illustrated” as a culmination of sorts in her life, looking back to 1979 when she felt insecure about her first outing as a cover model. She also once pledged herself to stop posing for photos in swimsuits at the age of 30. Ultimately, however, the thought of making it a family moment with her daughters got Christie to reconsider saying, "I thought, 'Those days are over.’ But to get to do it with my girls, I thought, 'One last go!'"
