Christy Turlington Burns Raises Awareness By Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger
There are no greater qualities in life than passion for your beliefs and a strong advocacy for a cause that you wholeheartedly support. One woman who fits this bill and who is truly admirable in so many ways is Christy Turlington Burns. With the recent premier of Turlington’s gripping new documentary, ‘No Woman No Cry’ on the Oprah Winfrey Network, comes a diversified leader and a passionate spokesperson.
It all began at the young age of 14 when Christy was discovered while riding a horse in Florida. That marked the beginning of an extremely successful modeling career that spanned the globe and catapulted her as a fashion icon and Supermodel for over 30 years. She graced the covers of popular magazines such as Vogue, Glamour, Elle and her beauty was synonymous with the Calvin Klein brand for many years. George Michael cast Christy in his classic music video, ‘Freedom’. Turlington also represented Maybelline bringing notoriety to ‘Maybe She’s Born With It’.
Turlington’s mom always stressed the importance of education and while this whirlwind life of glamour could have pulled her in a different direction, Christy had a good head on her shoulders and finished high school and received her diploma. She went on to attend New York University in the 90’s. While attending college, Christy’s dad died of lung cancer from years of smoking. This had a profound effect on Turlington and she went on to campaign to educate the public on the dangers of smoking and launched a very emotional commercial that was only the beginning to a lifetime of revealing the importance of significant and life-altering issues. She worked with ex-Vice President Al Gore on tobacco related issues. She even went so far as to launch http://www.smokingisugly.com in 2002 offering resources on smoking cessation and lung cancer awareness.
Turlington is widely recognized for being a staunch supporter of yoga and a healthier way of life. She has branched out to become an entrepreneur of an Ayurvedic skincare line and the author of ‘Living Yoga: Creating a Life Practice (Hyperion 2002). She also launched Nuala, a type of active apparel line. Christy partnered with Puma in the spring of 1999 to create the brand. She labels Nuala as ‘meditation in motion’. The brand has caught on rapidly and become very popular. In 2003, Turlington and Puma launched Mahanuala, a new collection of technical yoga-wear which is a complimentary diffusion line to Nuala.
Her efforts have been greatly recognized in her active participation as a spokesperson for (RED), an initiative to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by producing products in partnership with some of the world’s largest brands such as GAP, whose proceeds help provide anti-retroviral drugs to victims of HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Since 2003, Turlington has been married to one of her strongest supporters, Ed Burns. He is the handsome actor and also father to their two wonderful children, Grace and Finn.
While giving birth to her daughter Grace, Christy experienced a postpartum hemorrhage which could have killed her
if not for the swift efforts and experience of her doctor who quickly stabilized her condition. Once again, Turlington felt a need to share her experience and bring awareness while trying to save those who are not so fortunate. She traveled the world on her own dime to make this new documentary, ‘No Woman No Cry’,describing the perils of women dying in childbirth and preventative measures available. Through her website, http://www.everymothercounts.org, Christy brings to light the statistics of complications of pregnancy and the fact that 90% of the deaths in childbirth are preventable.
She strives to make a difference through her acquired knowledge and encourages her readers and followers to get involved in one of many ways. You can even share your story on her website. Educational toolkits are listed with videos, fact sheets and study guides to help to combat the issue.
During the recent launch of the documentary, Turlington was bestowed with the honor of speaking on her cause in Washington at the White House where she shared the podium with US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Christy Turlington Burns has made a difference in so many lives and continues her immense efforts day after day.
Christy is also attending Columbia University to receive her Master’s Degree in Public Health. She is a one-of-a-kind woman and deserves recognition for everything she does and all that she is.
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