Christy Turlington Remembered the Unfair Moment That Made Her Take a Break From Modeling

Being a model, in many ways, is all about appearances. And though the standards of beauty and what models should look like have undeniably (and thankfully) changed over the years, the modeling industry is, and will always be, a tough business to be in. In Apple TV+‘s new series, The Super Models, the four biggest models of the ’90s (Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista) are peeling back what it really felt like.

In one of the episodes, Turlington opened up about a pivotal moment in her career that led to her taking a step back from modeling. “In 1996, I remember being in Paris for the couture and I gained a little bit of weight because I’d quit smoking, and I got released from a show,” the supermodel remembered, per Daily Mail.

More from SheKnows

• Brie Larson's New Show Lessons in Chemistry Is Based on a Best-Selling Book - Here's How To Get It for 50% Off

Instead of beating herself up over the weight gain, Turlington hit a pause on her modeling career instead. “I remember feeling like, ‘Well, I’m not gonna let this make me feel bad,'” she said. “I just made a decision for myself which is probably one of the best decisions I’ve made.”

After stepping back from modeling, Turlington, whose daughter just made her Milan Fashion Week debut, enrolled in New York University. Three years later, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Comparative Religion and Eastern Philosophy. For Turlington, those were the “most important years of my life.”

Click here to read the full article.

“I was really able to make the investment in myself and who my future self was gonna be,” she added. “I just found so much inspiration to do so many other things. It was such an incredible four years.” After graduating, a newfound Turlington was ready to take the modeling industry yet again.

Watch ‘The Super Models’ on Apple TV+

Price: $6.99/month

Buy Now

As many of Turlington’s fans could tell you, this isn’t the first time the model has been open about not letting beauty standards define her over the years. Earlier this year, for example, she told Marie Claire that her “beauty icons” are “women who have stayed away from augmentation of themselves” and have a natural quality about them.

“I love seeing a real face,” she explained. “A face of someone who’s lived life. I would say my beauty icons are people like Jane Birkin (the British actress who was the muse for Hermès’ Birkin bag). They have the kind of faces I like to see, and we don’t get to see as many of those in the world anymore.”

Before you go, click here to see kids who are following in their supermodel moms’ footsteps.

Best of SheKnows

• All the Best Photos of Kate Middleton's Hair Over Her Years as a Royal

• All the Little-Known Details About Chris Martin & Dakota Johnson’s Very Private Relationship

• All the Celebrities Who Got Engaged in 2023

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter.
For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.