Celebrity

Sailor Brinkley Cook is named a Rookie model for the 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, marking the first second generation model in the coveted magazine.

• Sep 28, 2017

AceShowbiz - Like mother, like daughter! Christie Brinkley's daughter Sailor Brinkley Cook will follow in the footsteps of her model mother as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model. The 19-year-old blonde is named a Rookie model for the 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, and how she learns the news will make you want to grab some tissues.

Christie, a veteran SI, comes with the idea to break the news by a surprise visit to her fake interview for Fashion Week. "She thinks she's coming here today to do an interview for Fashion Week but she is in for the biggest surprise," the 63-year-old says, before the scene of her sneaking behind her daughter is shown.

"I've come here to give you some really exciting news. You're going to be a Rookie for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit!" she tells shocked Sailor, who later breaks into tears while hugging her mother. Further suprising her, Sailor gets a one-piece swimsuit bearing the name "Sailor."

"The mother-daughter thing is like, you're on your own now," Christie told her daughter. "You're out of my sandy footprints and you're on your own."

With that, Sailor marks the first second generation model. She previously was featured in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photo spread with Christie and sister Alexa Ray Joel. Meanwhile, Christie appeared in the magazine eight times between 1975-2004 and is best known for her record three consecutive SI Swimsuit covers in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Sailor takes to her Instagram account to express her feeling and enthusiasm for her new gig. Sharing a slew of photos of her posing sexily in the skimpy swimsuit, she captions the snaps, "I've spent the majority of my life fighting against myself and my body," noting that she doesn't have "D boobs or a big butt" as well as "miles long" legs.

"I'm here for any one who's wanted to give up on themselves but chose to keep going. My biggest hope is that i can positively represent anyone who identifies with these things…," she continues. "Thank you to every single person who supports me i am SO beyond lucky."

I've spent the majority of my life fighting against myself and my body. I dont have double D boobs or a big butt. My legs arent miles long and when i sit my stomach has little rolls. I dont wear makeup. I feel most myself in sweatpants and nikes. I love to run and box and play sports and sweat. I'm never going to be as tall as a supermodel (unless i have a crazy growth spurt, that would be fun lol) I'm also never going to be short and petite or dainty and uber feminine. There are a lot of things i've been told i should be in my life. Theres also a lot of things i've been told i shouldn't be in my life. But i've come to realize (and i know this sounds cheesy but arent all cheesy sayings super true?).. that the only thing I can be is the best version of myself. Whatever that might be. I'm here for ANY one who has ever cried in front of the mirror and thought what they saw wasn't good enough. I'm here for any one struggling to love themselves. I'm here for the tomboy girls who have ever been told to act more "lady like". I'm here for the women with small breasts who think they can't feel sexy because of mainstream beauty ideals. I'm here for any one currently fighting or that have gotten past an eating disorder. I understand. I'm here for any one who's wanted to give up on themselves but chose to keep going. My biggest hope is that i can positively represent anyone who identifies with these things... on the pages of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED!!! 💪🏽 Thank you @mj_day and @si_swimsuit for giving me this opportunity and believing in me as an individual. I love you guys with my full whole heart!! Thank you mama @christiebrinkley for passing down your legacy, you open these doors for me but i promise to be gracious, grateful, kind and work twice as hard to keep those incredible doors open. Thank you to every single person who supports me i am SO beyond lucky. THANK U THANK U THANK U!!!!!! @ospedales IM A ROOKIE!!!!!!!! ♥️♥️♥️ Gotta go to class now and try not to bounce off the walls 🤦🏼‍♀️ lol ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ (Also while i have your attention please go to the link in my bio and donate to hurricane relief!)

A post shared by Sailor Brinkley Cook (@sailorbrinkleycook) on Sep 27, 2017 at 10:21am PDT

"She's funny. She's driven. She's smart. She's beautiful. She's interesting. And most of all, she has a voice and isn't afraid to use it," Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editor MJ Day says of Sailor, whom she dubs "the millenial girl next door." She goes on saying, "Sailor translates so well off the printed page--she takes beautiful pictures but that's only one of the countless things she's good at. Much like her mom, she embodies everything it means to be an SI Swimsuit model, but she's doing it in a way that is very much her own."