This Is The Secret To Supermodel Christy Turlington's Influential Status

After getting discovered at a tender age of 14, Christy Turlington was catapulted into the glitzy world of fashion at a time where the industry was at its prime. She found herself globetrotting, walking down the runways for elite designers like Yves Saint Laurent, rubbing shoulders with notable designers like the fashion kaiser Karl Lagerfeld himself and the late Gianni Versace, faced Calvin Klein's coveted "Eternity" fragrance campaign, and considers supermodels Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista as friends (the media dubbed the supermodel trio as "The Trinity", the creme de la creme of models of the time. What's a girl squad again?).

Related article: In Photos: Supermodel Christy Turlington’s Most Iconic Moments

Her big smile that she flashes ever so often at glamorous events quickly became Turlington's trademark. At the same time, her big heart too was getting noticed. She was an activist for many causes including one for anti-smoking since her dad's tragic departure due to lung cancer, and was once PETA's anti-fur campaign girl since she loved animals. It wasn't until the birth of her first child in 2003 where she faced complications during her labour (which could have left her literally bleeding to death) that she developed a deep affinity towards maternal care.

Related article: Why Christy Turlington Burns No Longer Feels Like A Supermodel

Not for nothing, her celebrity status was used as a platform to raise awareness for what she truly felt for. She founded Every Mother Counts in 2010, a non profit organisation that focuses on maternal care, and has gotten more and more active in the cause, finding herself directing documentaries that focus on her passion, pursued a Master's degree in Public Health from Columbia University, and held advisor positions in high places such as Harvard School of Public Health Board of Dean’s Advisors and on the advisory Board of New York University's Nursing School to name a few.

Related article: Christy Turlington’s Stance On Aging Is So Refreshing

Inspired by Christy's acts of generosity where she's used her celebrity status for the greater good, BAZAAR has collected momentous occasions in the supermodel's life that has made her the big-hearted influencer that she truly is in the gallery above.

By Syed Zulfadhli

Amidst her whirlwind career, appearing on countless high profile fashion shows, Turlington clinched Calvin Klein's "Eternity" campaign (a coveted spot for models) in 1989. She was made the campaign girl again recently in 2014.

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Following the harrowing childbirth experience, Turlington Burns got professionally involved with CARE, an international humanitarian organization. She also became an advocate of Maternal Health.

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Turlington Burns slowed her modelling career down to pursue her passion. She continued her studies at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Public Health.

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Turlington Burns' foray into film saw her directing a 60-minute documentary called No Woman, No Cry. The documentary revolved around pregnant women in Tanzania, Bangladesh, Guatemala, and the US. It premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival, and earned her a nomination for the Do Something With Style Award from the VH1 Do Something Awards.

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Turlington is an animal lover and owns a couple of dogs. In 1993, she posed nude for PETA for an anti-fur campaign.

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Christy Turlington was just having fun riding on horses in Miami, until she was unexpectedly spotted by a photographer. A lucrative modelling career lay ahead of her. She was only 14 years old at the time.

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Turlington began practicing yoga in the early 80's. She released a book called "Living Yoga: A Life Practice" in 2002. She maintains her toned figure by subscibing to Jivamukti yoga which she practices three mornings a week.

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Turlington met her actor/film producer/writer/director husband Ed Burns in 2000 at a party in the Hamptons. The got engaged later that year, but split in 2002. The gorgeous couple reunited not long after, and got hitched in 2003.

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Turlington Burns welcomed her first child, Grace Burns in October 2003. She faced life-threatening complications during her labour. After discovering that over 500, 000 women die each year from childbirth, Turlington Burns made it her life mission to raise awareness on the matter.

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She also became an ambassador of Product (RED) whose cause is to raise funds and awareness to eliminate AIDS and HIV in Africa.

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As Turlington Burns' passion for maternal care grew, she founded Every Mother Counts (a non profit organization) in 2010 dedicated to making pregnancy and child birth safer. The organisation supports maternal care programs in Haiti, Uganda, Malawi, Indonesia and the US.

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By now, Turlington Burns had contributed tremendously to society following her passion. With those and her celebrity status under her belt, Turlington Burns has held positions on the Harvard Medical School Global Health Council as an advisor to the Harvard School of Public Health Board of Dean’s Advisors and on the advisory Board of New York University's Nursing School.

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As a running enthusiast, Turlington Burns has ran four marathons in her life. In 2015, Turlington Burns keeps an Apple watch close to her for training purposes before the watch’s public launch.

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Besides yoga, Turlington Burns is an active runner and marathon participant. Marrying her activities, passion and newfound directional talent, together, she directed the documentary film Every Mile, Every Mother. The production explored Every Mother Counts’ participation in long distance running to highlight challenges women face in receiving quality maternal care.

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At the height of her modelling career, Turlington was part of the elite threesome of highly sought after supermodels in the 90's. Dubbed "The Trinity", the trio consisted of Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi Campbell who are still ever green till this day.

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As a supportive woman, Turlington Burns wrote new gen supermodel Karlie Kloss a recommendation letter when she heard that Kloss was interested in admitting herself to NYU to further her studies.

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It's hard to believe that Turlington was once a smoker. She quit following her father's death due to lung cancer in 1997, and became an anti-smoking activist ever since.

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