The multi-talented Christie Brinkley

Model, actress, spokesperson and author Christie Brinkley in 1983.

Source: https://wwd.com/pop-culture/celebrity-news/gallery/

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To me she will always be the girl Billy Joel wrote a song about then chased after in a music video. Christie Brinkley was Joel’s wife in the 1980s, but she was more than that. She was a celebrity in her own right as a model, actor, spokesperson and so much more.

I was sad to hear earlier this week that she has skin cancer, but I believe she will be as resilient now as she has always been throughout her career.

Model career
Christie Brinkley was discovered in 1973, and soon after appeared several times on the cover of “Glamour” magazine. She also signed a 25-year contract with “CoverGirl”, a cosmetics brand. Wikipedia reveals in 1989 she was one of three models, along with Cheryl Tiegs and Beverly Johnson, featured as dolls produced by Matchbox Toys called “The Real Model Collection”.

She appeared on the cover of three straight “Sports Illustrated” swimsuit editions, in 1979, 1980, and 1981, and has appeared in a lot of subsequent editions.

Overall, she has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers including “US”; “Newsweek”; “Rolling Stone”; “Esquire”; “Harper’s Bazaar”; “Cosmopolitan”; “Glamour”: “Life”; and much more.

Brinkley was also a spokesperson for Chanel No. 19; MasterCard; Diet Coke; Anheuser-Busch beer; Got Milk?; Max Factor; Nissan; Noxzema; Revlon; Clairol; Black Velvet Canadian whisky and much more.

On screen
Brinkley’s first acting role was the girl in the red Ferrari in “National Lampoon’s Vacation” in 1983, a role she reprised in “Vegas Vacation” in 1997. She would also appear as herself in 1989 in “The All New Mickey Mouse Club”.

In later years she had guest spots in the TV shows “Mad About You”; “Ugly Betty”; “Parks and Recreation”; “Donny!”; “Nightcap”; “The Goldbergs”; and “The Masked Singer”. She was also in the Adam Sandler movie “Jack and Jill”.

In song
Brinkley married Billy Joel in 1985 and appeared in several of his music videos – “Uptown Girl”; “Keeping the Faith”; “All About Soul”; “River of Dreams”; “A Matter of Trust”; and “Leningrad”.

Billy Joel wrote the song “Christie Lee”, inspired by Brinkley. However, the much more popular song “Uptown Girl” is about her as well. Hence she was in the music video for it.

In print
Christie Brinkley also topped the New York Times’ Best Seller list in 1983 with a book she wrote and illustrated on health and beauty called “Christie Brinkley’s Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Book.”

Parting thoughts
Christie Brinkley was really kind of a renaissance person in the ‘80s and beyond. She was not only a model and spokesperson, but an actor, writer, artist, fashion designer, and much more. With her time on “The Masked Singer” you can add singer as well.

She is someone who can do a lot of different things. Her career shows it.

Christie Brinkley really is multi-talented.

The one thing I really hope she can add to that list is survivor. My thoughts and prayers go out to her.