Christie Brinkley Celebrates Turning 69, Reflects on Her Status as a ‘Timeless Beauty’

The 10-time SI Swimsuit model honored her journey with a special message on Instagram.

Christie Brinkley.NBC/Getty Images

Christie Brinkley got her start in the modeling industry at the age of 19 while studying art in Paris. A photographer she had met in a post office introduced her to an agency and she was off and running. She made her first (of 10) appearances in the SI Swimsuit Issue in 1975 and signed a landmark contract with Cover Girl in 1976. Since then, she’s appeared on hundreds of magazine covers, including the SI Swimsuit Issue in 1979, ’80 and ’81. Long ago, Brinkley secured her status as a “timeless beauty.” In fact, it’s what she named her 2015 lifestyle book.

In recognition of her 69th birthday yesterday, Brinkley reflected on the moniker in an Instagram post, in which she shared a collection of her magazine covers through the years. People, American Woman, Good Housekeeping and Ladies’ Home Journal were just a few of the publications she included in her photo dump, all of which called out her age on the cover.

“Christie at 40, 45, 50, 55, 60…I present the evidence here with these smattering of covers all proclaiming my age!” she wrote in her caption.

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A post shared by Christie Brinkley (@christiebrinkley)

Brinkley then shared that she chose to put her age on the cover of her book, Timeless Beauty, because “we have more control these days over those numbers than they have over us!”

Brinkley went on to state that she wrote about the science of exercise and nutrition in her book in order to help readers understand how our bodies and minds function.

“I have always contended that we’re the generation that has taken advantage of all that knowledge and we have reshaped those numbers so they don’t represent what they used to!” she wrote.

The mom of three stated that she has no shame regarding her age,and encouraged her followers to “proclaim your age [and] celebrate the years.”

“Im 69 and I feel GRATEFUL!” she said. “And I’ve learned that gratitude, health and love are the keys to happiness!”

She ended her post with an emphatic “Make those numbers your b----! You got this! We got this! 👍🏼😘❤️.”

Friends and fans were quick to wish the icon a happy birthday in the comments section, while also thanking her for her transparency.

“Happy birthday to the kindest, sweetest, incredibly dynamic, and brilliant @christiebrinkley !!!! Sending you all the love on this big day. May it be full of celebrations and perhaps some 🍾🥂🍾🥂,” wrote Pamela Wiznitzer.

“Dear Christie, you continue to inspire. Because of you l proudly proclaim my age. EIGHTY. Happy, happy birthday, dear one,” added a follower.

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