Sports Illustrated: Christie Brinkley praised for posing aged 63 - BBC News
Model Christie Brinkley appears with her daughters on the latest cover of Sports Illustrated.
Christie Brinkley has proved age is just a number by appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated's annual Swimsuit Issue.

This year's cover sees the 63-year-old posing alongside her two daughters - Sailor Brinkley Cook, and Alexa Ray Joel.

Writing on Instagram, Brinkley said: "Thank you Sports Illustrated for sending the powerful message that good things come in packages of every size and we do not come with an expiration date!"

Christie appears to be literally walking on water in the photo - something she referred to in her Instagram post.

"My kids think I walk on water, so let's not mention the apple box concealed just under the surface," she joked.

Alexa Ray is the only child of Christie Brinkley and singer Billy Joel

Christie shot to fame after appearing in Sports Illustrated in the late 1970s and went on to become well known as an actress and TV personality.

She continued to be a successful model, appearing on the cover of Playboy and Men's Health.

In 1985, she married Uptown Girl singer Billy Joel, who is Alexa's father. The couple divorced eight years later.

Christie has appeared on three previous Sports Illustrated covers

In its editorial, Sports Illustrated said Brinkley was "out to prove that age is nothing more than a number".

Speaking to People, the model said: "When I turned 30, I was like, 'This is the last time I'm posing in a bathing suit!'

"When this issue comes out, I'll be 63. I thought, 'those days are over'. But to get to do it with my girls, I thought, 'one last go!'."

Her daughter Sailor, 18, said appearing in Sports Illustrated "has been my dream since I popped out the womb" in a post on Twitter.

The images received a warm response on social media - although some questioned whether posing at an older age should be considered an achievement.

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