Dan's Papers - August 15, 2008

It's hard to say where she's been seen more - in the media for her recent divorce, or as a spokeswoman rallying for numerous Hamptons charities close to her heart. And what this says about this supermodel and mom is that there is a genuine, optimistic nature behind that famous smile.

"My life right now is about enjoying time each day with my kids, and about always looking for the bright side and being grateful for what I have," said Brinkley, who lives in Sag Harbor.

Despite her heartbreaks in love, including her much-publicized recent divorce from architect Peter Cook, Brinkley has remained active in the public eye for the causes she believes in, from heart disease prevention, to helping children with disabilities, to helping animals, to stopping global warming, to opposing a nuclear plant in her neighborhood.

"One of the things that helps me the most is giving back," she said. "This opportunity is my most cherished possession, and I do it for things I care about, like health and helping children. As a mother of three, I feel for any parents going through problems with their kids."

On June 21, just days before her divorce trial began, Brinkley kept her promise to appear at the annual "Have A Heart Gala" for the American Heart Association, and she spoke with the media under a tent in Water Mill, with her daughter Alexa Ray Joel by her side. Dodging questions about her impending divorce, Brinkley, 54, appeared ever the poised, warm and smiling symbol of strong and successful woman. She talked about how her own mother was affected by heart disease, how she promotes health and fitness, and how she wants to help educate women about the importance of exercise and diet.

Her daughter, Alexa, told the crowd, "My mom has always been there for me, my brother Jack and my sister Sailor, and I want to be there for her right now."

And after her divorce was finalized, when many people thought she would be hiding from the press, Brinkley was once again out in public, as a spokeswoman for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, which held a "Wild, Wild West Carnival" in Water Mill on August 2. Looking radiant in a white summer dress, cowgirl hat, boots and glimmering silver jewelry, Brinkley was no stranger to the horse crowd, having been a passionate rider most of her life. About 20 years ago, during her marriage to Billy Joel, Brinkley was a regular at the Deep Hollow Ranch in Montauk, where she took riding lessons and also rode in the horse shows there. She and Joel attended many of these events during their marriage.

At the Einstein event, Brinkley was helping to raise money for the college's Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC), which is seeking a cure for autism and other developmental disorders, and which services 8,000 kids.

"This is my sixth year doing this for Einstein College, and today I wore my 'hoedown dress,'" laughed Brinkley. She added that she still has a horse, and that she may take up riding again in Montauk.

"But right now, I have been getting into a new way of relaxing, by taking up surfing, with my son Jack," she explained. "I have decided to slow my life down and get away from the crowds, so we have taken up surfing in Montauk, as well as kayaking in the coves and inlets all around here." She said they also tried the new rage of stand-up paddling on the surfboard.

"When I was 13, I was a surfer girl in Malibu, California," she said. "I used to play the Beach Boys songs over and over on my phonograph. Now I've dusted off my surfboard, and I am hitting the waves out in the Hamptons."

Brinkley is also active with her own design company. "I have several designs that are about to come out that I can't say right now, but one of them is a new line of bedding, which is earth-friendly and organic, while still being stylish," she said. "I have been into the green movement for a long time, and I try and incorporate as much green living into my life as possible. I drive hybrid cars, I installed water limits on all my showers, I let my lawn go natural, and I use only soy candles at night."

Besides launching her own bedding line, Brinkley has also been promoting the TOTAL GYM, and attributing her great body to its constant use. She has been a supermodel far longer than most other models, still posing for magazines in her 50s.

Originally named Christie Lee Hudson, she was first discovered at a local post office in Paris by Errol Sawyer, an African-American photographer from New York City. The son of playwright Robert Earl Sawyer, he discovered Brinkley in 1973, and subsequently introduced her to John Casablancas of Elite Model Management. Casablancas hesitated at first, thinking Brinkley's look was "too American." But based on his confidence in Sawyer's taste, he sent her on several test shoots, and soon she was catapulted into the big-time. In 1976, Brinkley signed a contract with Cover Girl Cosmetics, which was renewed for 20 years. A few years after the contract was terminated, they signed her again in 2005 to advertise mature skin products. Throughout her long and lucrative career, Brinkley has graced the covers of numerous women's and fashion magazines, including three consecutive issues of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues.

In addition to modeling, she has designed clothing patterns for Simplicity Patterns, and appeared on several TV shows, from the "Today Show," in a four-part set of beauty tips, to her own series, "Living in the '90s With Christie Brinkley," a daily half-hour show that aired in 1992 on CNN. Brinkley also played the "Red Ferrari Girl" in the 1983 movie, National Lampoon's Vacation.

She has been married four times - to artist Jean-Francois Allaux (1973-1981), musician Billy Joel (1985-1994), real estate developer Richard Taubman (1994-1995) and architect Peter Cook (1996-2006).

In the Hamptons, Brinkley is visibly active in local environmental groups, including Standing For Truth About Radiation (STAR), an anti-nuclear group that tried to close down the Millstone Nuclear Plant in Connecticut. She is also a member of the Committee to Save Sag Harbor, which is trying to preserve the character of that village from future development.

"My daughter Alexa and I want to keep our hometown from being lost to big box stores," said Brinkley. "I am proud to say Alexa will be singing at a benefit for this group on August 30 at Collette's Antique Barn in Bridgehampton. We love living in this special place."