TOPS Lexington - January 2020

CHRISTIE BRINKLEY: A Sparkling Example

Christie Brinkley, model, actress and entrepreneur, is known across the globe for her legendary beauty. But her passion for helping others and the planet is what makes her beautiful to us. Her involvement in multiple nonprofit organizations has earned her awards and honors from The American Heart Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation, March of Dimes and many others.

While she has been the face behind some of the world’s top brands, Brinkley launched very own prosecco brand, Bellissima, last year. The 100% organic line offers 3 varieties: a D.O.C. brut, a zero sugar sparkling wine and a sparkling rosé. Creating Bellissima made perfect sense for this health-conscious lifelong vegetarian and environmental rights activist. She advocates that eating organic is better for our bodies and for our planet, and her brand ensures that it’s easy to do.

Photos by Cristopher Breda

At 65-years-young, Brinkley is busier (and more beautiful!) than ever. In addition to Bellissima, this multi-hyphenate also has a skincare line, hair extension line and eyewear line. This past fall, she had a tough break – literally. Just a few days before she was to hit the stage on Dancing with the Stars, Brinkley fell during rehearsal and broke her arm. (Her daughter Sailor was able to step in to replace her for the season.) Despite the injury, Brinkley barely missed a beat, bringing Bellissima to store shelves across the nation.

While she has graced the cover of over 500 magazines in her career, we think Brinkley looks the best on TOPS. Keep reading to learn about her new line, her top health and beauty tips, and her New Year’s resolutions.

TOPS: Tell us about Bellissima.

Christie Brinkley: I have a lot to brag about with Bellissima. I am super proud that I can offer organic, vegan, gluten free, cruelty free, all natural wines, including one that is zero sugar. We are the only zero sugar prosecco on the market. I also have a sparkling rosé that is crisp, and fresh, with just a hint of sweetness and a brut D.O.C which is dry, with a hint of green apples and distant notes of freshly baked bread. All my wines are delicious!

What inspired you to create the line?

I have always been passionate about champagne and prosecco but I always thought that all wines should be made organically. Grapes are always showing up on the “dirty dozen” list of fruits and vegetables with the most chemicals on them. In a world already inundated with chemicals – in everything from frying pans to carpets, in the clothing we wear, on our lawns – we need to try and limit our exposure in every way that we can. In choosing drinks that are organic, you are making a much healthier choice for your body as well as for the planet.

What is your favorite Bellissima cocktail recipe?

I have two that are neck and neck for first place! My Bella Sprizz is for sure one of them. A Bella Sprizz is so delicious! It is mixing Bellissima prosecco with my Bella Sprizz aperitivo, which tastes like the popular Aperol Spritz… only I can offer my Bella Sprizz at half the price. When you make it with my zero sugar sparkling wine, it is less guilty of a pleasure! My other favorite cocktail is one of the endless ways to make frosé using Bellissima. This summer at my home, we were always freezing grapefruit juice into ice cubes and putting them in the blender with the sparkling rosé, chunks of fresh watermelon, sometimes a dash of vegan, organic, sorbet and blending it all to perfection. It is delicious!

Have any resolutions for 2020?

My New Year’s resolution is to make sure I take time from work to relax and squeeze in hopefully a little more travel. And learn a new language! And of course, I want to physically get out and do more work for the environment: plant trees, pick up plastic, do what I can as much as I can to help our planet in crisis. •

TIPS FROM CHRISTIE!

A longtime heath, beauty and fitness guru, Brinkley wrote and illustrated Christie Brinkley’s Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Book in 1983. Her 2015 New York Times Best Selling book Timeless Beauty offers guidance on what to eat, how to apply makeup and what to wear to look and feel fabulous.

We asked Christie to share some of her favorite health, beauty and wellness tips with TOPS readers. Here’s what she had to say:

As with alcohol, moderation and balance are key to a healthy life.

Good nutrition, regular exercise and getting enough sleep are all the foundation to a healthy, beautiful life.

Never underestimate the power of laughter and smiling! I believe it releases powerful hormones that are so good for us. It is the most fun beauty secret I know! A smile will brighten up any face and light up any room.

A happy attitude is both beautiful and youthful, so make sure you take time to relax and enjoy! Literally and figuratively, lift your spirits!

Eat organic when you can. It is better for your body and the earth!