Christie Brinkley Shares Body-Positive Message with 1977 Bikini Pic That 'Caused a Stir'

Katie Intner
Christie Brinkley Shares Body-Positive Message with 1977 Bikini Pic That 'Caused a Stir'

Christie Brinkley has graced the covers of many magazines, but she’s starting off 2020 by taking a trip down memory lane and looking back at some of her legendary editorial shoots.

The swimsuit model, 65, shared a photo of her June 1977 Cosmopolitan magazine cover on Instagram, and revealed the backstory behind the bikini-clad image.

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In 1977 this bathing suit caused a stir! At the time all the bikinis were low slung on the hip.This high leg cut made the hip a new erogenous zone. I couldn’t figure out how to put it on as just one string holds it all together! Francesco Scavullo shot all the covers for #cosmopolitan back then . He had a big umbrella with a string that ran from the middle of the umbrella which contained a light to the tip of your nose . You were in perfect light at the end of that string. They did not have retouching back then so they really perfected the make up and every strand of hair. I remember I was worried that I looked fat. I’m so glad that today our industry appreciates all shapes and sizes so we can just focus on being healthy. Not cookie cutter. Still there is something in some young girls that often makes them feel they just don’t measure up . I was one of them. I look back at these and think that worry was such a waste of time. If only the perspective we gain with age that alleviates the worries, could be passed on and absorbed by the younger generation ...but I do think shifting the focus to feeling great is a giant step in the right direction. Just thinking out loud as I sift thru a few photos . Wishing everyone a great day ( and decade! ) #1977 #kamali #swimsuit #cover #christiebrinkley #cosmo #confidence #bodyimage

A post shared by Christie Brinkley (@christiebrinkley) on Jan 13, 2020 at 10:17am PST

“In 1977 this bathing suit caused a stir! At the time all the bikinis were low slung on the hip,” Brinkley wrote. “This high leg cut leg made the hip a new erogenous zone.”

Brinkley, who was 23 at the time, wore a Norma Kamali iridescent purple halter bikini top with a sweetheart-style neckline and a connecting high-cut ruched bottom.

“I couldn’t figure out how to put it on as just one string holds it all together!” she added about the suit.

She goes on to point out that there was no “retouching back then,” so she had some insecurities about the photo.

RELATED: Decades of Sexy: Proof 63-Year-Old Christie Brinkley Isn’t Aging A Bit

“I remember [I] was worried that I looked fat,” she said. “I’m so glad that today our industry appreciates all shapes and sizes so we can just focus on being healthy. Not cookie cutter. Still there is something in some young girls that often makes them feel they just don’t measure up. I was one of them.”

She continued: “I look back at these and think that worry was such a waste of time. If only the perspective we gain with age that elevates the worries could be absorbed by the younger generation but I do think shifting the focus to feeling great is a great step in the right direction. Just thinking out loud as I sift thru a few photos.”

The mother of three has opened up about self love, and has publicly encouraged her daughters, Alexa Ray Joel, 34, and Sailor Brinkley Cook, 21, to love their bodies.

Christie Brinkley/Instagram
Christie Brinkley/Instagram

In 2017, Brinkley and her two daughters posed together for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue and at the time, Sailor opened up about her own struggles with body image.

RELATED: Christie Brinkley’s Girls Alexa and Sailor Reveal They’ve Conquered Bullies and Body Shamers (and Still Love Carbs!)

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I've had issues with my body image since before I can even remember. I grew up not loving how I looked and felt held back because of it. I don't know why I always felt that way, sure I had baby fat and definitely went through a plethora of awkward phases, but I had a family that loved me i had friends who made me laugh etc. But for some reason I still looked in the mirror and always somehow found something to pick on. I went from being "too fat" to "too thin" to "too muscular" and I never felt satisfied. My body and I have been through it all. But recently I have been liberated. I am healthy, i treat myself well, and for that i'm happy. I've looked in the mirror and been able to LOVE the things about my body that beauty norms deem 'undesirable'. I now have grown to know that my body is worthy of so many great things. I don't need to be a size 0 to believe in myself. My body carries me each and every day, it loves the people i love, it holds what makes me healthy and strong, it bends it shakes it runs and it CHANGES. That is okay and that is beautiful. I could not be more grateful to the beautiful and strong @mj_day for including me in this years Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 😭😩❤ This is more than a magazine to me and always has been. As a growing young woman SI showed me all bodies are different and all bodies are worthy of celebrating. Thank you thank you @si_swimsuit for celebrating my beautiful mama, my beautiful sister, I, and ALL WOMEN!! How lucky am i?! 😩😍😍 i think I'm dreaming. 😭😩😩 thank you!!!!!!! ❤ (Also, thank you @hayleythorpeholla and @v_beast and everyone at @dogpound for changing my life 😭❤) More to come!!!!!!!!

A post shared by Sailor (@sailorbrinkleycook) on Feb 6, 2017 at 7:25pm PST

“I’ve had issues with my body image since before I can even remember,” Brinkley Cook wrote on Instagram. “I grew up not loving how I looked and felt held back because of it … I don’t need to be a size 0 to believe in myself. My body carries me each and every day, it loves the people I love, it holds what makes me healthy and strong, it bends it shakes it runs and it CHANGES. That is okay and that is beautiful…As a growing young woman SI showed me all bodies are different and all bodies are worthy of celebrating. Thank you thank you @si_swimsuit for celebrating my beautiful mama, my beautiful sister, I, and ALL WOMEN!!”

Alexa Ray also opened up on Instagram, posting photos of the SI Swim shoot.

“Let’s STOP degrading and START celebrating ourselves and others, from both the inside AND out. 👑🕊🦋There’s far too much degradation, competition, insecurity, and unhealthy standards associated with women and their bodies- particularly on social-media … We are all perfect, just as we are. Please know that. Thank you @si_swimsuit for showcasing all heights, shapes, and sizes. For within our distinctions, our quirks, and our self-perceived ‘flaws’… therein lies the beauty.”

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~'Twas a most humbling and rewarding honor to be a part of your February issue.🌹👑🖤 Thank you @si_swimsuit & @mj_day for making me feel so at home. This was a lesson in learning to let go, take the plunge, and embrace myself from both the inside AND out- which is something I struggle with each and every day. My purpose is to now pass along this lesson of unconditional self-love and self-respect to every woman who's willing to listen. Once again, from the bottom of my heart... Thank You.~

A post shared by Alexa Ray Joel🌹 (@alexarayjoel) on Feb 6, 2017 at 9:56pm PST

In a second post she added, “This was a lesson in learning to let go, take the plunge, and embrace myself from both the inside AND out- which is something I struggle with each and every day. My purpose is to now pass along this lesson of unconditional self-love and self-respect to every woman who’s willing to listen.”