People Say Christie Brinkley ‘Ruined Her Face’ with ‘Plastic Surgery’ at 71

Christie Brinkley, 71, recently reminisced with her daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, about her iconic role in Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” music video, sparking buzz over her appearance.

As clips from the video played, Christie opened up about how the project came together, describing it as a casual and collaborative effort among friends.

“So, that’s the end of the ‘Uptown Girl’ video when the girl and the guy ride off happily ever after. It really was like a gang of friends,” Christie shared.

“They said, ‘We’ve got to do a music video for Uptown Girl, and we’ve got an idea.’ Then somebody’s like, ‘Oh, yeah. I’ve got to use that little gas station across from CBGB.’ And then somebody else is like, ‘Christie should be the Uptown Girl. Oh, yeah. Would you do it?’ Sure, yeah,” she added.

In response, Alexa chimed in, “Didn’t Dad always call you the ‘Uptown Girl’ too and he was the ‘Downtown Guy?'” to which Christie replied, “Yeah, well, yeah.” She then noted, “So, it was already their joke, their inside joke. So, may as well do the video, right?”

Christie responded, “Well, yeah… The song was done. It was in the studio, and it was kind of like our song. But then we did that, and I almost got kicked out of Screen Actors Guild because I didn’t tell my agent. I was thinking of it like a group of friends all doing this together.”

The conversation turned nostalgic when Alexa asked about the motorcycle used in the video. Christie confirmed it belonged to Billy. Alexa noted her father’s love for motorcycles, saying he always favored a “classic red.” Christie identified the bike used in the video as a Harley-Davidson.

Despite the fond memories, Christie’s recent appearance on social media sparked intense discussion, especially among Instagram and Facebook readers, many of whom commented on her looks.

On Instagram, one person wrote, “I wish Christie would’ve aged naturally.” Another added, “Too much Botox, Christy [sic].” A different commenter shared, “Christie looks great except for that upper lip.”

Another said, “Nooooo Christie, you fell victim and now you look like a blonde version of Priscilla Presley. Age gracefully. You took it way too far. This breaks my heart for you.”

Comments on Facebook were also critical. One person wrote, “She is only 71 but she looks much much older. She ruined her face.”

“That’s some bad plastic surgery,” another said. One Facebooker commented, “Bad facelift, Christy.” “What has she done to her face? Too much filler,” someone remarked.

“Can’t even tell that’s her anymore. I hate plastic surgery so much. Even if she looks OK and is happy it’s just too sad because she’s lost her iconic look,” said another.

As discussions around her current appearance continue, Christie is also stepping into the spotlight with a new memoir titled “Uptown Girl,” set for release on April 29. In it, the model and actress reflects on her decades-long career, personal milestones, and lessons learned in a youth-obsessed industry.

“I was literally told you will be chewed up and spit out by 30,” Christie recalled in a recent interview to promote her book. Instead of backing down, she marked her 30th birthday by climbing a mountain. “I stood at the top, thinking I’ve never felt better in my life,” she said. “And that’s when I decided to kiss the numbers goodbye because I wasn’t going to let them define me.”

Christie’s upcoming memoir promises insight into the life behind the camera, revealing personal stories and what she calls “a few bombshells.”

She shared that some questioned whether there was anything left to uncover about her life. “When I first went to my publisher, they said, ‘Christie, is there anything to write about that we don’t already know?’ And I said, ‘Oh yes, tons!'”

With her appearance frequently in the public eye, questions about cosmetic procedures have followed. Christie addressed the topic directly, clarifying, “I mainly do lasers. I don’t try to get rid of every wrinkle.”

She noted that she has tried fillers and visits her doctor in New York City but emphasized her preference for subtlety. “I don’t want to look ‘done’ or anything. I just did Fraxel because I had skin cancer and that helps get rid of pre-cancerous cells. It’s mainly about health for me now.”

Now in her sixth decade in the industry, Christie applauded the broader definition of beauty that has emerged in recent years. “The most beautiful thing that’s happened in our industry of beauty is the expansion of what we consider beautiful,” she said. “And it includes us ‘seasoned’ gals.”

Still, she acknowledged that age remains a challenge in the modeling world. “You see older women on runways and in magazines but it’s still not enough.”

Christie remains optimistic about changes in the beauty market, particularly efforts to cater to more mature skin.

Reflecting on her return to Cover Girl in 2005 at age 51, she said, “It was specifically [for products] with light reflecting things that get inside the wrinkle and reflect out so it blurs.” She added, “I’m not saying that you can’t have wrinkles — but it’s a little less is more.”

As “Uptown Girl” nears its release date, Christie continues to embrace both her past and present, proving that her story — and her voice — are far from over.