If you judge Christie Brinkley only by her supermodel looks, you may be in for a rude awakening.
She is a savvy businesswoman whose hard work through the years in modeling, acting, real estate and photography accounts for her success and wealth.
She is best known as a supermodel who graced many magazine covers at the height of her popularity, including three consecutive swimsuit covers for Sports Illustrated from 1979 to 1981. She appears inside the most recent swimsuit issue with her daughters, Alexa Ray and Sailor.
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Brinkley, a vegetarian since the age of 13, is also the owner of the Bellissima prosecco wine, which is vegan and no-carb, and the skincare line Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare.
Brinkley spoke with TheStreet recently at the 6th Annual St. Barth Hamptons Gala, presented by the magazine Social Life and St. Barth Tourism, a benefit for the Bridgehampton Historical Museum.
The interview has been edited for length and context.
Q. How do you spot a good business opportunity?
A. I ask myself a question every single time I contemplate a proposal. If I were to do a commercial for this product, could it be mistaken for a public service announcement for women or people in general? Would it make their lives happier, easier? If I can answer yes to either of those questions, I say, okay, we're on to something.
