20 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 2017 20 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2017 20 LONGISLANDPRESS.CO M • SEPTEMBER 201-----------TUTU111
BY ANNIE WILKINSON
That dazzling smile is instantly
recognizable. No wonder: Supermodel
Christie Brinkley has appeared
on some 500 magazine covers
around the world. Today, at age
63, the Malibu-raised surfer girl is
an environmental rights advocate,
humanitarian, TV host, Broadway
star, New York Times best-selling
author, and entrepreneur. The
longtime Long Island resident
spoke with the Long Island Press
about Christie Brinkley Authentic
Skin Care products, Hair2Wear
extensions, Bellissima Prosecco
sparkling wines, and the creativity
and gratitude that sustain her.
Long Island Press: What would
other people be surprised to learn
about you?
CB: Some people say, “You should
stay silent,” or, “Oh, just be pretty—
that’s your job.” I’m an Aquarius.
We believe that one individual
can make a difference. It’s your
responsibility to leave this world a
bit better than you found it. As a
kid I marched against the Vietnam
war, but I support our troops and
the people who stand up for us. I
marched against putting nuclear
weapons on fault lines in California.
I led the Pledge of Allegiance
at the Los Angeles Democratic
convention. I am patriotic. I think
the NFL should support players
who take a knee. They respect the
right that that flag represents. I
do, too. But it’s got to be equal for
everyone.
LIP: You have a long history of
activism. What do you think about
our country today?
CB: I’m really distressed by
everything I see. I think President
Trump is a divider. We have
to be really, really careful to not
allow that to happen. I think the
segment of people that makes
us feel like we’re terribly divided
is much smaller than we’re
led to believe. I could cry about
this, I feel so strongly about it.
I’m really apoplectic that we can
mention nuclear war so casually,
as if this is something we could
recover from—because we can’t.
Nuclear war is not an option.
It’s immoral, it’s unethical, it’s
like a death wish. Nothing good
can come from that. Nothing.
I’m distressed about what this
administration is doing to our
environment. All the initiatives
put in place to protect our health
are being removed. I’m a very
protective mom and even though
my kids are grown, they’re still
my babies. I’ll be damned if I’m
going to let this administration
destroy our children’s rights to
breathe the air. A million children
die every year in China
because of the pollution—but
they’re doing something about it.
COVER STORY
Beyond beautiful
Christie Brinkley spills all about her kids, activism and her wine