Naomi Campbell. Cindy Crawford. Claudia Schiffer. Each of these names is considered to be one of the greatest supermodels of their time, and they’re aging quite well, to be honest. Another name to add to that list, one that’s walked the same runways, been on the same magazine covers, and is aging quite as well, is Christie Brinkley, who turned 70 earlier this year. With a catalog that rivals only the Campbells and Crawfords of the world, Brinkley has shown us that she can stay on top of her health, just as well as she can stay on top of the runway.
Christie Brinkley: A Supermodel’s Longevity Guide to 70
1. She ditched meat at 13
Speaking to The Cut in 2018, Brinkley mentioned that while her eating habits have changed over the years, the one constant was how she hasn’t eaten any red meat or fowl since she stopped eating meat.
Quitting red meat may not be what propelled Brinkley to the runway, but it gave her health a great boost throughout the years. Research has suggested that an increase in the consumption of processed and unprocessed red meat may increase the risk of mortality by 13% and 9%. This increase is likely a result of the increased risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.
With that, quitting red meat may help to combat inflammation, improve your gut health, reduce cholesterol levels, and even protect the surrounding environment – 10-15% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture.
2. She eats the rainbow
“I developed this theory when I became a mom…I decided I just wanted to give my kids an array of colors, and I raised them all vegetarians.” – Christie Brinkley
When we talk of eating the rainbow, we refer to the colors of fruits and vegetables, thanks to their high volume of phytonutrients – chemical compounds that give fruits and vegetables their color as well as their health benefits.
3. She finds a way to always workout
Being a mother, actress, author, and legendary model can definitely take up large amounts of your time, but that doesn’t stop Brinkley from staying active.
The mother of three revealed that when it comes to staying fit, she gets creative. Whether it’s lunges while blow-drying her hair, or going up and down on her toes while brushing her teeth, Brinkley doesn’t miss an opportunity to work out.
4. She’s a swimmer
Taking to Instagram, Brinkley posted a cheeky video of herself in her swimming pool as she took part in the I Did Not Make The Cut For The Olympics trend. Despite the silliness of the video, Brinkley’s movements in the pool proved that she’s accustomed to spending some time in the water, which is clear by how great she looks in a bathing suit.
Swimming is a great full-body workout, it’s also low-impact and a great stress-reliever.
5. Fraxel treatments and injectables
“I want to accept certain wrinkles. That’s the way I’m approaching aging.” – Christie Brinkley
For Brinkley, wrinkles aren’t that big of a concern, as she wants a little life to show on her face. Now while she’s not a fan of injectables, having Botoxed her forehead in the past and not getting the best results, Brinkley does get injectables to smooth out the lines around her mouth (laugh lines).
Aside from injectables, Brinkley also gets Fraxel treatments twice a year to help with previous sun damage. A skin resurfacing treatment, Fraxel works to improve skin tone and texture in aged, scarred and sun damaged skin.
6. She prioritizes sun protection
Having dealt with sun damage, Brinkley understands the importance of sun protection, having slathered on sunblock religiously, kept her shirt on and wore a wide-brimmed hat on a past trip.
If you’re looking for a good sunscreen, ensure that it’s a broad spectrum with an SPF of at least 50 and free of oxybenzone or octinoxate.
7. She goes for regular skin check-ups
Earlier this year, Christie Brinkley revealed that she had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer that President Joe Biden was also diagnosed with. Thankfully, the cancer was caught early and Brinkley underwent surgery to remove the cancer from the side of her face.
As a result of her diagnosis, Brinkley is committed to regular checkups, adding,
“The thing about health scares is it’s hard to prioritize, to say ‘let me put this in its place’ but health is really at the top of the list.”
With that, it is advisable to go see a dermatologist for a skin screening at least every three years. You may have to go more often if you live in sunny areas, are over 40, have red or blond hair, fair skin, freckles, and blue or light-colored eyes.
Want to know more?
Christie Brinkley is the first and only supermodel to appear on the front of three consecutive issues of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. However, she’s not the only proving that you can wear a swimsuit at any age.
At 69, Gayle King proves that your age should not dictate whether you wear a swimsuit. Here’s how the broadcast journalist stays swimsuit-cover ready.
References
Blaustein-Rejto, D. and Gambino, C. (2023). Livestock Don’t Contribute 14.5% of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions. [online] The Breakthrough Institute. Available at: https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/livestock-dont-contribute-14-5-of-global-greenhouse-gas-emissions Accessed 15 Aug. 2024].
Evans, O. (2023). Christie Brinkley, 69, Shares All Her Secrets To A Healthy And Happy Life. [online] Women’s Health. Available at: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a44030206/christie-brinkley-diet-beauty-workout-routine/ [Accessed 15 Aug. 2024].
Fields, J. (2024). Christie Brinkley Talks ‘Accepting Certain Wrinkles’ and Gracefully Clapping Back at Online Haters (Exclusive). [online] People. Available at: https://people.com/christie-brinkley-talks-accepting-wrinkles-clapping-back-at-online-haters-exclusive-8549028 [Accessed 15 Aug. 2024].
Spellings, S. and Brinkley, C. (2018). Christie Brinkley Thinks Life Is Too Short to Ignore Cheese. [online] The Cut. Available at: https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/christie-brinkley-anti-aging-diet-and-workout-routine.html [Accessed 15 Aug. 2024].
Zheng, Y., Li, Y., Satija, A., Pan, A., Sotos-Prieto, M., Rimm, E., Willett, W.C. and Hu, F.B. (2019). Association of changes in red meat consumption with total and cause specific mortality among US women and men: two prospective cohort studies. BMJ, p.l2110. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l2110.
https://www.scripps.org/news_items/4762-when-should-i-get-a-skin-cancer-screening
