Christie Brinkley's Body-Positive Perspective Behind her 1977 Bikini Photo Needs to Be Required Reading

Julie Sprankles

Christie Brinkley just shared her body-positive perspective on an iconic 1977 bikini cover shoot for Cosmopolitan magazine— and her message is a solid reminder to love yourself. Not tomorrow, not 30 years from now, today. Brinkley wants people to know that worrying about the way you look is “such a waste of time” and, one day, you’ll look back and realize that.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the supermodel, 65, posted the cover of Cosmo’s June 1977 edition. On it? A young Brinkley, wearing a whisper of a swimsuit. In her caption, Brinkley took a few moments to explain a little backstory behind the shoot, writing, “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!”

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Although the seeming picture of confidence, Brinkley pointed out that even then — at the height of her supermodel career — she was plagued by insecurity. “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,” she admitted.

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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

She goes on to reveal that time has changed her perspective on body image, saying, “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.”

While it isn’t possible to literally transplant that sage perspective from one person to the next (wouldn’t that be nice!), Brinkley does feel like forward progress is being made. She said, “I do think shifting the focus to feeling great is a giant step in the right direction.”

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