'I grew up not loving how I looked': Christie Brinkley's daughters Sailor and Alexa plead for women to accept their bodies after starring in SI

By Chelsea White For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:20 EST, 7 February 2017 | Updated: 15:18 EST, 7 February 2017

Posed up in bikinis next to their famous mom, these two young women could not have look more beautiful.

But both of Christie Brinkley's daughters Sailor and Alexa Ray Joel have revealed it has been a long road to feel beautiful in their own skin.

On the back of their feature in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue released Monday, the daughters of the famous model have each shared their positive body image stories.

Body celebration: Both of Christie Brinkley's daughters Sailor and Alexa Ray Joel have revealed it has been a long road to feel beautiful in their own skin and their Sports Illustrated feature with their mom marks them accepting themselves

Body celebration: Both of Christie Brinkley's daughters Sailor and Alexa Ray Joel have revealed it has been a long road to feel beautiful in their own skin and their Sports Illustrated feature with their mom marks them accepting themselves

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The supermodel is 63 years old but in these latest shots for 2017's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, she gives her daughters a run for their money. Posing up a storm in a sexy black one-piece she looks right at home.

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Sailor, 18, is a professional model but revealed she struggled for some time to see her body as beautiful.

Reposting the picture of herself, her half-sister and mom in SI, she said on Instagram: 'I've had issues with my body image since before I can even remember. I grew up not loving how I looked and felt held back because of it. 

'I don't know why I always felt that way, sure I had baby fat and definitely went through a plethora of awkward phases, but I had a family that loved me i had friends who made me laugh etc. But for some reason I still looked in the mirror and always somehow found something to pick on.'

While she and her body 'have been through it all' the teen said she recently realized she was perfect just the way she was.

A journey: Sailor, 18, is a professional model but revealed she struggled for some time to realize she did not need to be a size zero 

A journey: Sailor, 18, is a professional model but revealed she struggled for some time to realize she did not need to be a size zero 

@I have been liberated': The teen shared while she and her body 'have been through it all' the teen said she recently realized she was perfect just the way she was

@I have been liberated': The teen shared while she and her body 'have been through it all' the teen said she recently realized she was perfect just the way she was

'I've looked in the mirror and been able to LOVE the things about my body that beauty norms deem ''undesirable''. I now have grown to know that my body is worthy of so many great things. I don't need to be a size 0 to believe in myself. 

'My body carries me each and every day, it loves the people I love, it holds what makes me healthy and strong, it bends it shakes it runs and it CHANGES. That is okay and that is beautiful.'

Alexa, 31, confessed she also struggled with how she looked but now says ever women needs to celebrate their bodies.

'Let's STOP degrading and START celebrating ourselves and others': Alexa said women need to support each other and value their bodies

'Let's STOP degrading and START celebrating ourselves and others': Alexa said women need to support each other and value their bodies

Final step: Posing for the magazine helped the daughter of Billy Joel further realize her beauty

Final step: Posing for the magazine helped the daughter of Billy Joel further realize her beauty

'Let's STOP degrading and START celebrating ourselves and others, from both the inside AND out,' she wrote on Instagram. 'There's far too much degradation, competition, insecurity, and unhealthy standards associated with women and their bodies - particularly on social-media.

'We are all perfect, just as we are. Please know that. Thank you @si_swimsuit for showcasing all heights, shapes, and sizes. For within our distinctions, our quirks, and our self-perceived ''flaws''… therein lies the beauty.'

Posing for the magazine helped the daughter of Billy Joel further realize her beauty.

Important message: the 31-year-old said while she is not a model she is beautiful, and everyone should feel that about themselves 

Important message: the 31-year-old said while she is not a model she is beautiful, and everyone should feel that about themselves 

'This was a lesson in learning to let go, take the plunge, and embrace myself from both the inside AND out- which is something I struggle with each and every day. My purpose is to now pass along this lesson of unconditional self-love and self-respect to every woman who's willing to listen.'

Christie, 63, also thanked the magazine to celebrating all body types and ages: 'Thank you Sports Illustrated for sending the powerful message that good things come in packages of every size and we do not come with an expiration date!' 

While she is now excited to star in the magazine, the model - who first covered the magazine back in 1979 - told People that she had to think twice before agreeing to do the shoot.

Icon: Christie had her first cover in 1979, followed up by a second in 1980 (R)
Icon: Christie had her first cover in 1979, followed up by a second in 1980 (R)

Icon: Christie had her first cover in 1979, followed up by a second in 1980 (R)

'My first thought was, 'At my age? No way!' When I turned 30, I was like, 'This is the last time I'm posing in a bathing suit! When this issue comes out, I'll be 63. I thought, 'Those days are over.' But to get to do it with my girls, I thought, 'One last go!''

In the magazine, the moth daughter team both pose together - with Chrissie 'walking on water '- and separately.

The shoot was done in Turks and Caicos. The March issue of Sports Illustrated hits newsstands February 15.

Third time in a row: Then in 1981 she posed again for the publication and thought that would be her last time until this month's edition

Third time in a row: Then in 1981 she posed again for the publication and thought that would be her last time until this month's edition

 

 

 

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