Christie Brinkley is beaming with joy after turning 70!
The supermodel reflected on reaching the milestone on Feb. 2 by writing a short poem that explains why she's "finally happy."
"Looking in the mirror on my 70th Birthday and what do I see? I'm finally happy with the person looking back back at me. I'm no longer critical and demanding, now I'm grateful and understanding," the poem began.
Brinkley shared the poem in an Instagram post that included three selfies of herself smiling from ear to ear, wearing a white Alo sports bra and black ankle-length leggings that showed off her famous supermodel figure.
"I've put this body thru it," the poem continues. "I've broken every bone. In tiny miracles, I'm all healed. In my heart and soul, I'm home. It's taken 70 years to get here. In tears and joy I've found my happy. So now I'm going to end this poem before I get too sappy! Happy Birthday Indeed!"
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit icon and entrepreneur celebrated her birthday by taking a trip to Turks & Caicos. She chronicled the getaway in a series of Instagram posts, including photos of herself riding a boat, jumping into the water, and relaxing on a beach.
Christie Brinkley smiles while out on a tropical getaway.Christie Brinkley/Instagram
Another post included photos from a surprise birthday party that her kids, Jack Brinkley-Cook and Sailor Brinkley-Cook, planned. "We dined and danced under the stars. It was some enchanted evening," shared Brinkley.
While speaking to PEOPLE in January, Brinkley shared that she was looking forward to a new year of life "with a lot of reverence and emotion."
"I think 70 is very similar to 50, in that it's a time when you look both back and forward," she told PEOPLE. Brinkley noted that the "steady march" to 70 has carried a certain weight.
Christie Brinkley jumps in the water while on vacation.Christie Brinkley/Instagram
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"The big 7-0 is another one of those [ages] that's up there in giant block numbers that loom over. At 62, you start thinking, 'Well, I'm almost 70.' It cast a shadow all over that whole decade down," Brinkley said. The milestone has made her look at each day with gratitude.
"I want to keep on charging ahead and having lots of dreams and chasing them and following them and living them," she told PEOPLE.
