About
Christy Nicole Turlington Burns was born on January 2, 1969, in Walnut Creek, California, and rose to international fame in the late-1980s and early-1990s supermodel boom. Her calm poise, almond-shaped eyes, and effortless runway walk placed her at the center of fashion’s so-called “Trinity” alongside Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista. She fronted Calvin Klein’s Eternity fragrance campaign in 1989—an association that continues decades later—and has graced countless magazine covers, from Vogue to Harper’s Bazaar.
Today, while she still slips into the occasional couture gown for select projects, Turlington is just as likely to be found in running shoes or at a policy round-table. In 2010 she founded Every Mother Counts (EMC), a nonprofit devoted to making pregnancy and childbirth safe, respectful, and equitable worldwide. EMC funds community-led programs, drives policy change, and raises awareness through storytelling—work that has reached millions of women and families.
Before Fame
Turlington spent her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area, the middle of three daughters. Her father, Dwain, flew 747s for Pan Am, and her mother, María Elizabeth, had also worked as a flight attendant. When the family temporarily relocated to Miami for her dad’s training assignment, 14-year-old Christy was spotted by photographer Dennie Cody while horseback riding; he asked if she’d like to try a photo shoot, and weekend modeling gigs quickly followed.
After finishing Monte Vista High School, she moved to New York City at 18 to model full-time. Despite the whirlwind, she kept education on her radar, earning a degree in Comparative Religion and Eastern Philosophy from NYU in 1999 and later studying public health at Columbia. Early catwalk turns for Versace, Calvin Klein, and Chanel cemented her status, while friendships with Naomi and Linda—dubbed “The Trinity” by photographer Steven Meisel—embedded her in pop-culture lore.
Trivia
- Marathon mindset: Turlington has run multiple major marathons—including New York, Chicago, and London—often fundraising through EMC. She says distance running mirrors childbirth: long preparation, intense highs and lows, and a powerful finish.
- Storyteller behind the lens: Her 2010 documentary No Woman, No Cry followed expectant mothers in four countries and sparked the idea for EMC’s multimedia awareness work.
- Early tech tester: Apple tapped her as a launch-day tester for the Apple Watch in 2015, filming her training for a marathon to showcase health applications.
- Smoke-free advocate: After losing her father to lung cancer and quitting cigarettes herself at 26, she campaigns tirelessly against tobacco use.
- Still fashion-forward: In 2024 she appeared in a playful Keds campaign with daughter Grace, proving relevance— and agility—haven’t faded with time.
Family Life
Turlington crossed paths with actor-director Edward “Ed” Burns at a Hamptons gathering in 2000, and the two quickly bonded over their low-key outlook on fame. They wed in June 2003 during her second trimester of pregnancy; Christy jokes she “walked halfway down the aisle” on her own that day.
Their daughter Grace was born on October 23, 2003, and son Finn followed on February 11, 2006. Grace, now 21, is forging her own path on the runway, while 19-year-old Finn keeps a lower profile. The family splits time between Manhattan and Long Island’s Hamptons, savoring coastal escapes when work allows.
Family ties run deep: Christy’s sister Kelly married Ed’s brother Brian, making holidays a true Turlington-Burns gathering. Despite hectic schedules, Christy often shares casual snapshots—sun-drenched beach walks, marathon finishes, or quiet kitchen moments—celebrating what she calls “the most important job I’ll ever have: mom.”
Associated With
Fashion buffs often link Turlington’s name with other ’90s icons. Her camaraderie with Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista defined an era, and the trio’s shared apartment days were revisited in Apple TV+’s 2023 docuseries The Super Models. Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Helena Christensen, and Tatjana Patitz also count as longtime colleagues and friends.
Beyond fashion, her advocacy network ranges from policymakers like Representative Lauren Underwood to allies such as Chelsea Clinton, who joined EMC events in 2023. Long-standing brand partners—including Calvin Klein and Maybelline—support her philanthropic initiatives, reflecting a career where style and substance walk stride for stride.
