Christy Turlington: Award-winning Fashion Model
Christy Turlington has been walking the runway since she was an early teen. Signed to Ford Modeling Agency in 1985 and featured in George Michael’s 1990 hit Freedom music video are just two highlights in her impressive portfolio of runway experience.
She has modeled in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Maybelline and has written a book on how yoga has helped keep her focused and grounded.
Christy Turlington’s Biography
Christy Turlington first gained international renown as an internationally-acclaimed model during the 1980s and 1990s, but she is also renowned as a businesswoman, author, director, maternal health advocate, marathoner, and yogi. Throughout her decades-long modeling career she has taken on roles from bombshell sultry bombshell to free-spirited beach babe; with high cheekbones that set her apart and Salvadorian roots that make her popular with fashion designers and magazine covers alike.
Christy Tiegs was one of the original supermodels who laid the groundwork for today’s crop of models such as Cara Delevingne and Joan Smalls. Through long-term contracts with brands like Maybelline and Calvin Klein, she became an iconic face. Aside from modeling, Christy also became well-known philanthropically; she founded Every Mother Counts which raises awareness about global child and maternal mortality.
Turlington began her modeling career when she was only 14 years old. While horseback riding in Miami, a photographer snapped some photographs that were sent to a modeling agency which eventually signed her as their client.
In 1986, she appeared in her inaugural photo shoot and her high cheekbones and wide smile captured the attention of fashion designer Calvin Klein, who chose her as his face for his Eternity fragrance campaign. Since then she has graced over 300 magazine covers worldwide while her iconic status as a “supermodel” has led to endorsement deals with major fashion companies.
One of her longest and most successful campaigns was with Maybelline, for which she became its face in 1992. Since then, she has appeared in campaigns from top fashion houses such as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Jacobs Donna Karan Prada Valentino Louis Vuitton; as well as two music videos: Duran Duran Notorious and George Michael Freedom! ’90.
In 1988, she discovered yoga and has since made it an essential part of her spiritual wellness and physical health regimen. Through it she established Nuala clothing with Puma for practicing yoga; hosted retreats globally; is an expert speaker; produced the documentary No Woman No Cry (2010) which exposes shockingly low standards of pregnancy care across Tanzania, Bangladesh, and Guatemala, and received positive reviews at international festivals before screening it at United Nations headquarters in 2011.
Christy Turlington’s Modeling Career
Christy Turlington Burns, an award-winning fashion model and humanitarian, experienced profound change upon becoming a mother in 2003. She transitioned her focus toward maternal health issues by founding Every Mother Counts (EMC). EMC works towards ending preventable maternal deaths worldwide by equipping women with resources needed to give birth safely – something Turlington Burns was inspired to do after experiencing difficulty during Grace’s delivery prompted her to tackle this cause head-on.
As she realized firsthand how essential medical care and treatment during pregnancy and childbirth was for all women, she pledged her efforts toward supporting women and their families – including founding EMC.
She has been recognized by some of the most esteemed organizations, such as the United Nations and Clinton Global Initiative for her philanthropy. Additionally, she founded EMC Foundation and sits on its board.
As co-author, she also co-wrote the best-selling book No Woman, No Cry: What It Takes to Make a Difference for Mothers Worldwide in 2006 (film version released in 2010 and received worldwide acclaim), as well as its film adaptation released in 2010 with worldwide acclaim – serving as a catalyst for her advocacy work and ultimately inspiring EMC.
EMC’s current projects focus on developing countries with high rates of maternal mortality, including Guatemala, Bangladesh, and India. EMC works extensively with women-led organizations within these nations to facilitate safe pregnancy and delivery care that meets international standards.
EMC’s global reach aside, EMC is also making strides within the United States where 20% of women of reproductive age lack health insurance. Recently they released the film series Giving Birth in America which examines some of the obstacles women encounter when seeking quality prenatal and postnatal care services.
Christy Turlington Burns balances running her organization with raising Grace and Finn – two daughters that help keep her aware of women’s issues while instilling in them an appreciation of all women. She strives to instill these ideals within both Grace and Finn as part of a balanced education about women’s issues.
Christy Turlington’s Personal Life
Christy Turlington Burns has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle magazines among many others, as well as appearing in films like Pret-a-Porter and Catwalk. Additionally, she founded two lifestyle brands – Sundari (yoga-inspired skincare) and Nuala (yoga apparel company) as well as wrote two books. Additionally, she serves as a maternal health advocate, marathon runner, yogi, and ethicist.
Christy first embarked on her work in maternal health following her own experience of childbirth complications in 2003. Following this event, she founded Every Mother Counts as a nonprofit dedicated to reducing preventable deaths associated with pregnancy and childbirth globally. Recently interviewed by Fast Company, Christy shared some guiding principles for running her organization.
Christy has written for numerous publications beyond Every Mother Counts, such as Marie Claire Magazine, the Huffington Post, BlogHer, and MomsRising. Additionally, she guest corresponded for NBC’s Today Show as a guest correspondent. Additionally, Christy published two yoga-based books with Hyperion Publishing Company called Living Yoga: Establishing a Life Practice and The Inner Journey: Finding Inner Peace with Simon & Schuster in 2002 and 2008 respectively.
Christy Burns is an accomplished marathon and triathlon runner who has also taught classes at YogaWorks studio in New York City. Together with filmmaker Edward Burns, she currently resides there with their three children.
Christy hasn’t forgotten her roots either despite living an eventful and exciting lifestyle in Hollywood. Recently she appeared in Dallas Brennan Rexer’s film which will debut this weekend at Tribeca Film Festival.
The film highlights the difficulties women experience when trying to secure the prenatal care they require during gestation, an issue close to Christy’s heart and one she hopes will encourage people to act upon. She has long used her career as a tool for global change; generations of girls and women look up to her for guidance – her legacy will live on long after she ceases modeling!
Humanitarian
Christy Turlington Burns, commonly referred to simply as Christy, is an award-winning model and humanitarian. With more than three decades of modeling experience under her belt and ongoing charitable commitments such as starting Every Mother Counts as its founding director – an initiative dedicated to improving maternal health globally – her modeling career spans three decades while she continues her charitable activities alongside promoting maternal wellbeing worldwide.
Christy began investigating global maternal deaths after experiencing complications during the natural birth of her daughter Grace in 2003. She learned that more than 500,000 women die annually during childbirth; 90% of which can be prevented. After discovering this statistic, Christy made it her mission to ensure all women had access to quality maternity care.
Christy founded Every Mother Counts as part of her mission in 2010 to increase awareness and raise funds for maternal health programs in Uganda, Malawi, Indonesia, and Haiti as well as educate and mobilize new audiences to take action. Additionally, she has long advocated for paid family leave in the US.
Christy has successfully combined activism and fashion by creating three fashion lines, an ayurvedic skincare range, and active women’s apparel brand. Additionally, she has contributed writing to various publications like Marie Claire and Yoga Journal as well as appearing as a guest correspondent on NBC’s Today Show.
Christy has graced numerous magazine covers and modeled for over one hundred advertising campaigns throughout her career. Additionally, she participated in high-profile events such as the 2011 New York City Marathon where she raised funds for Every Mother Counts.
After returning from retirement in 2008, Christy has continued working with various organizations on maternal mortality issues and has expanded her filmmaking endeavors as well. No Woman, No Cry premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2010 and received numerous awards and critical acclaim; Christy also stars in Every Mile and Every Mother Counts short films; she was honored as Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2014 while founding Turly Pictures LLC.
