42 years after she first appeared in Sports Illustrated’s famous swimsuit edition, model Christie Brinkley is back gracing the cover for the ninth time at the age of 63. In a first for SI, she’s featured in the issue alongside her two daughters, Sailor and Alexa. The photo that has left her fans wondering how exactly she can walk on water.
Brinkley first appeared in SI back in 1975 and was chosen as the cover model for three consecutive years from 1979-81. Her last appearance in the issue was in 2004. With this shot, Brinkley is now the oldest woman ever to appear in the swimsuit issue, breaking the record set last year by 56-year-old Nicola Griffin.
“This is a real full circle moment for me,” Brinkley told SI. “I can get very emotional about this. How many years ago, I was that insecure girl hoping that I would be good enough for the magazine. So to see my daughters now having the same thoughts I had, and to be able to see them actually be there on the job, was definitely a big moment.”
Photos of Brinkley’s shoot have made the rounds on Twitter this morning. A few eagle-eyed fans pointed out that she’s not exactly standing on her daughters’ legs when she’s posing with them.
Christie Brinkley is back in a bikini (and she’s brought two very special guests)! https://t.co/ODeeuhXCms pic.twitter.com/8v2v1Wwfy3
– Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 7, 2017
is Christie Brinkley…………..Jesus Christ pic.twitter.com/f5Bghy40UB
– LW (@lindseyweber) February 7, 2017
Are we just ignoring the fact that apparently Christie Brinkley now literally walks on water? pic.twitter.com/3RkwgOkb02
– McNeil (@Reflog_18) February 7, 2017