'80s Icon Christie Brinkley Looks 20 Years Younger in Swimsuit

Christie Brinkley is one of the most legendary supermodels of all time. Her career has spanned decades. Brinkley is still looking amazing today, and recently celebrated her 70th birthday. She shared a set of photos on Instagram for the occasion. Brinkley captioned the post, “Looking in the mirror on my 70th Birthday and what do I see, I’m finally happy with the person looking back back at me. I’m no longer critical and demanding now I’m grateful and understanding. I’ve put this body thru it. I’ve broken every bone, in tiny miracles I’m all healed, in my heart and soul I’m home. It’s taken 70 years to get here, in tears and joy I’ve found my happy, so now I’m going to end this poem, before I get too sappy! Happy Birthday Indeed!” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Christie Brinkley stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She Does Things That Build Her Confidence

Brinkley is open about having work done. She talked about why she chose to have it done to People. “When I look in the mirror, I want to feel like I look as good as I feel. And if you can have something done to feel more confident and better about yourself, then you feel like your face matches your spirit—and my spirit is enthusiastic and energetic."

2. She Ignores The Haters

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Brinkley tells People that she doesn’t care what people think about her. Especially when it comes to the people who critique her plastic surgery. "There are always going to be the people who build themselves up by pulling you down. But then there are the women who are supporting women. And if there are little things that I can do that are going to make me feel great, make me look good for my job and that would be selfish of me not to share it.”

3. She Exfoliates Her Skin

Brinkley has amazing skin, and she makes sure to take care of it. She shared her secrets in an interview with Byrdie. “I start every day by exfoliating my face. That’s something I’ve done for the past 40 years. I feel like it’s really contributed to my skin feeling fresh and smooth. Forty years ago, I read an article that said men always look five years younger than women who are their same age. They contributed that to them shaving every day, and the daily exfoliating with shaving their skin makes them look younger. I was like, I’m not going to let them get away with that!”

4. She Eats A Lot Of Produce

Brinkley is open about being a vegetarian. She tells Byrdie that she eats a lot of fruits and vegetables. “My diet is plant-based. I’ve raised my kids on what I call the ‘rainbow diet.’ I want as many colors as possible. These are all the ingredients that do wonderful things to your skin. The deep green, the leafy greens, the purples in the skin of the grapes, which produce all the antioxidants and vitamins you get from a colorful, rich diet like that.”

5. She Eats Healthy

Brinkley makes sure to eat healthy. She tells Byrdie that she avoids certain unhealthy foods. “I would say avoid sugar as much as possible. It causes inflammation...And can cause all kinds of problems... I think avoiding artificial sugar, avoiding white bread, and going for deep, rich, plant-based foods is best.”

Call it the Benjamin Button effect or the Fountain of Youth, but supermodels over 50 show no signs of slowing down and giving up on their infamous physiques and enviable looks. With solid fitness and diet routines (not to mention a healthy dose of discipline and good habits), models like Christie Brinkley, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Helena Christensen are proof that staying fit after 50 is not only possible but absolutely the norm. Here are 10 supermodels that seem to be aging in reverse.

1. Naomi Campbell

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Naomi Campbell, 53, does yoga and Pilates every day, and follows a vegetarian diet. “I just became a vegetarian, and I find it a little hard to figure out what to eat, so I just bring stuff from home,” she says. “I went to this place where they teach you how to take care of your body and clean it inside and out. After that I decided I didn't want to eat pork, chicken, or anything I felt was unhealthy. I never thought I would ever do it. It was just something I decided to do. I don't know how long it's going to last, but I feel lighter and just easier.”

2. Paulina Porizkova

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Paulina Porizkova, 58, admits staying in shape after menopause isn’t easy. “Staying in shape after menopause takes a lot of frickin' work. Especially when you have wonky hips,” she captioned an Instagram video. “I've had to cut down on my Pilates since I came back for the jungle shooting #beyondtheedge because my hips won't cooperate. What I'm doing instead, for now, is some serious PT. I found an amazing personal trainer at my local Crunch, Shelly, who alternates hip PT with strength training. But because I’ve been doing so much traveling, my results are inconsistent. So, yes, there are drawbacks to aging. One has to work a lot harder on things that were taken for granted. On the outside. On the inside, however, all the hard work already done is finally paying off.”

3. Christy Turlington

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Christy Turlington, 54, swears by yoga sessions. “I practice yoga almost every day,” she says. “I kind of schedule my life around it to be honest. I don't want to treat it as something that I have to squeeze in. It’s really important, and so having it be the centerpiece of my day is how I try to approach it.”

4. Iman

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Iman, 67, enjoys plenty of cardio exercises. “I try to work out every day,” she says. “A lot of walking, jogging, treadmill, jump rope. I have one bad knee, which I injured years and years ago, skiing. That's why I don't like running very much. And treadmills are so boring. Jump rope, if you do a good 10 minutes, it's a difficult cardiovascular workout. I started jump rope after I had my baby eight years ago and I could barely do three minutes. And I thought I was fit!”

5. Cindy Crawford

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Cindy Crawford, 57, loves pole dancing classes and anything that gets her outdoors. "Once a week, I try to go on a hike with a friend so I combine exercise and girlfriend time—it's the best multitasking," she says. "I try to get 20 minutes of cardio at least three times a week. Then I do anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour of old school lunges, weights, squats, and bicep curls—it's just stuff that I learned 30 years ago."

6. Christie Brinkley

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Christie Brinkley, 69, loves running. “As far as exercise goes, everyone always asks if I use the Total Gym and yes, I really do,” she says. “But I also might go to a spin class or work with weights. I would say running is my favorite way to sweat, but I’m not really supposed to do that anymore because of injuries… Some days the only thing I can get in is a seven-minute run on the Total Gym. Then while I’m brushing my teeth, I’m doing leg lifts. When I’m drying my hair, I do all kinds of squats.”

7. Helena Christensen

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Helena Christensen, 54, loves to maintain strong muscle. “I do boxing and conditioning three times a week and yoga twice a week,” she says. “They keep my body strong, firm and toned. I started enjoying working out when I began to understand the anatomical aspect of it and learned how to recruit muscle groups. My favorite breakfast is porridge cooked with milk and topped off with banana, brown sugar and a big lump of melting butter in the middle.”

8. Kate Moss

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Kate Moss is just six months shy of 50 and in the best shape of her life. “I reached a point in my life where I wanted more balance,” she says. “I started meditating and changing the way I live. I wanted to be healthier and more grounded. I'm a firm believer in taking a holistic approach to beauty which includes exercise, my diet and, of course, great products. I start the day with 20 minutes of meditation and follow it by practicing yoga poses or Pilates exercises. I enjoy the strength they give my body."

9. Claudia Schiffer

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Claudia Schiffer, 52, loves staying active, especially if that means she gets to enjoy the fresh air. “I love going for long walks in the countryside with my dogs,” she says. “But, recently, I’ve started working out with my girlfriends, doing everything from cardio to yoga or tennis. Every day, we do something new, which makes it fun. I’ve also started doing online workouts and going on the treadmill while watching Gilmore Girls.”

10. Eva Herzigová

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Eva Herzigová, 50, follows a vegetarian diet. “I mean, I’m very active, I have three boys, but with COVID, not moving much for such a long time, you lose your muscle mass,” she says. “I feel like I need to exercise, so we have a dog and I go for a bike ride in the park every morning. I’m not pushing it but already the idea of exercise makes me sweat because I haven’t done it for so long. I’m more an advocate of the philosophy that it’s all about what you eat. Food for me is an element of energy and a source of healing, and vice versa: food can be harmful.”

Grab your Delorian and step back into the electric and vibrant era of the '80s, a time defined by big hair, bold fashion, and groundbreaking pop culture. In this iconic decade, female celebrities weren't just screen sirens and chart-toppers; they became emblems of health and beauty, inspiring millions. From Molly Ringwald's quintessential girl-next-door charm in "The Breakfast Club" to Gloria Estefan's pulsating Miami Sound Machine rhythms, these women dominated the decade. This feature spotlights 15 extraordinary '80s female celebrities, revealing their secrets to maintaining remarkable bodies and radiant health. It's a nostalgic journey through fitness tips, dietary habits, and wellness philosophies that echo the unique spirit of the '80s.

1. Molly Ringwald

Molly Ringwald starred in some of the ‘80s most popular movies, like The Breakfast Club. She shared some of her favorite skincare tips with The Irish Independent. “Now I’m on the hunt for the perfect sunscreen. It’s like the holy grail: finding one that works but doesn’t clog your skin. Right now, I really like this tinted one by Eve Lom. It doesn’t feel masky. I even wear it out at night."

2. Gloria Estefan

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Singer Gloria Estefan is a believer in balance when it comes to diet. She tells Parade, “I’m all about balance. In the 44 years that Emilio and I have been married, we’ve never opened a bottle of wine, just him and I, alone at home at dinner. I love wine, but it’s a social thing for us. So, if we go out and have a nice dinner, we absolutely will indulge. But if I can avoid the calories at home, I do. If I’m out with my family, we’re on vacation and I want to have dessert or eat some pasta, I will. I’m not so hard on myself because life is meant to be lived and enjoyed. I want to avoid any extreme that is going to make me have to cut anything out permanently from my life. So that’s the way I’ve lived.”

3. Michelle Pfeiffer

Actress Michelle Pfeiffer shared her approach to aging in an interview with People. She says that she doesn’t stress out about it. “I certainly see that I’ve changed,” she said. “I just try not to dwell on it. Aging happens to every single one of us. Once you accept that it unburdens you…All I really care about is that I'm able to age gracefully and that I don't ever look like a wax figure of myself.”

4. Heather Locklear

In the ‘80s, Heather Locklear starred in Dynasty. She shared some of her fitness secrets in an interview with Parade. "I do resistance training three times a week. That really helps with defying gravity and keeping things in place. I have light weights to do reps with both my arms and legs. I do cardio a couple times a week on the treadmill, with the music blasting. It's what gets me through."

5. Cindy Crawford

Supermodel Cindy Crawford shared her diet secrets with Allure. She says that she believes in having a small indulgence each day. "At the end of lunch, I always have a small piece of dark chocolate — it tells my body that I'm done with my meal. In my experience, if you're craving something and deny yourself, you wind up eating five other things, and then you eat the thing you're craving anyway.”

6. Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields is an actress and model, best known for modeling for Calvin Klein in 1980. She shared her skincare secrets in an interview with Glamour. “We don't really think of our skin as an organ, but it is the largest organ of the body,” she says. “So as I got older, I started enjoying the ritual or the idea that it's not a chore to take care of your skin…it's a privilege. It doesn't have to be 20 minutes. It can be seven minutes.”

7. Cyndi Lauper

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Cyndi Lauper is responsible for some of the ‘80s most memorable pop songs. She released “Time After Time” and “True Colors” in the decade. Lauper has psoriasis, and has had to change her diet for that reason. She opened up about this to Parade. “I used to eat what I wanted, but as my psoriasis got worse, I knew I couldn’t have spicy or fatty foods, alcohol or gluten that might cause flare-ups. I am trying to quit sugar, too. When I eat salad or something raw, I just feel better.”

8. Elle MacPherson

Elle MacPherson is one of the most successful models of all time. Her skin is amazing, and she makes sure to take care of it. She shared some of her tips with GetTheGloss, and says that hydration is one of her biggest secrets. “I drink three litres of water every day and start each morning with warm water, lemon and ginger, and two capsules of The Skin Elixir with water. I leave the jar of skin caps next to my toothbrush to remind me to take them. I take two teaspoons of The Super Elixir TM ️ greens in water in the morning too. Following this, I’ll spray Ion Skin Support mist each morning to reduce redness and skin damage and then spend 15 minutes in the sun to top up my vitamin D levels.”

9. Christie Brinkley

Christie Brinkley is one of the ‘80s most popular supermodels. She appeared in Billy Joel’s video for “Uptown Girl.” She revealed to New York Magazine that she has started avoiding diets. "I tried some pretty weird diets in the beginning,” Brinkley admits. “Everything from juice fasting to eating one kind of food at a time, to eating a grapefruit first before everything. The only thing that really lasts is a well-balanced diet."

10. Paula Abdul

Paula Abdul rose to prominence in the ‘80s, with hits like “Cold Hearted” and “Opposites Attract.” She shared her secrets for getting through long shows and rehearsals with People. “I do a lot of stretching,” she says. “When I’m with my trainer I’m doing Pilates, I’m doing a lot of back and core work. Even though I’m dancing all day I often do straight cardio just so that I’m conditioning my body. And after each performance I usually get in an ice-cold tub. It’s not fun! It shocks your body, but it helps with inflammation.”

11. Vanessa Williams

Vanessa Williams tells First For Women that she has a strong support system around her that she turns to. “As women, we are a community,” she says. “So don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help, and to look for a mentor. I’ve learned that there are many people who are willing to be teachers to help you along if you ask. On this Earth, we have setbacks, struggles and obstacles, but I think I’m here to learn how to keep moving ahead. You have to be able to say, ‘What is this experience teaching me?’ so you can move through it and move on in your life. Avoiding something or denying it won’t get you anywhere— but if you learn from it, you can find so much freedom on the other side.”

12. Linda Hamilton

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Linda Hamilton starred in the hit film Terminator. She also returned to the franchise, and talked about her process to InStyle. “Mackie Shilstone was my fantastic trainer. He’s a legend and crosses over into every sport. And he understands the body in motion. Peyton Manning has even trained with Shilstone to prepare for the Super Bowl. I got to work with him because Serena Williams was pregnant. It was a wonderful accident of timing. Yes, we lifted and pumped weight and cross-trained; there were Pilates, supplements, and a diet. I didn’t eat carbohydrates for a year and a half. But everything Shilstone did with me was in motion.”

13. Demi Moore

Demi Moore rose to prominence in the ‘80s. She appeared in films like St. Elmo’s Fire and About Last Night… and was a member of the Brat Pack. For Moore, wellness is a priority. “For me, well-being is a choice of living consciously with intention, being mindful and making choices that are memorable and meaningful,” she tells CNN. “It isn’t something I fit into my lifestyle; it’s just how I live my life.”

14. Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone starred in ‘80s films like Cold Steel and Above The Law. She became one of the decade’s sex symbols. Stone revealed in an interview with Vogue that she weight trains to stay in shape. “I do all my 'arm jazz' with these lead weights. Pushing upwards for 15 minutes with a lead weight in your hand makes a lot of difference. I have little arm strap-on weight bracelets too, and I put them on while I'm on my computer or at my desk and just leave them on all day because you'd be amazed how much working out you can do on your computer with a couple of pounds on your arms."

15. Daryl Hannah

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Daryl Hannah is an actress, best known for her role in the ‘80s film Splash. She is a vegetarian, and has started a blog about vegan junk food. “I grew up on junk food, and for me and millions of other Americans, it’s comfort food,” she tells Vegetarian Times. “I wanted to say those cravings can be satisfied with real food, food that grows in the ground or from trees. Treats can be good for you when made with whole, organic fruits and vegetables!”