Christie Brinkley was born Christie Lee Hudson on February 2, 1954, in Monroe, Michigan, USA. Raised in Los Angeles, California, she attended Palisades High School before studying art in Paris, France.

Christie’s modeling career took off when she was discovered in a post office in Paris by American photographer Errol Sawyer.

She gained fame in the late 1970s and 1980s, most notably as the face of CoverGirl, a role she held for an unprecedented 25 years. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue three consecutive times from 1979 to 1981, cementing her status as a top model.