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Carol Alt Reflects on Modeling Journey Inspired by Christie Brinkley
Carol Alt, a prominent figure in the world of modeling, initially faced uncertainty when it came to donning a G-string for the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. She candidly shared her thoughts during an interview with Fox News Digital.
Alt recounted a pivotal moment in her career, stating, “There was a moment when [SI Swimsuit editor] Jule [Campbell] brought out a G-string. I looked at that G-string, and I was like, ‘There’s no way my dad’s going to let me do that! There’s no way. My father would kill me.'”
Fortunately, Campbell was understanding and considerate of models’ comfort levels. Alt noted, “She didn’t push me – Jule never pushed anybody to do anything they were uncomfortable with. She brought out some other bathing suits that were a little more demure that I felt more comfortable with.”
Christie Brinkley’s Influence on Alt’s Choices
A defining moment for Alt came when she witnessed another model, Christie Brinkley, confidently wearing a similar G-string in an issue of the magazine. Alt recounted, “The magazine came out and I saw Ms. Christie Brinkley wearing that G-string [during] a sunset, sitting on the beach. It was such a spectacular picture… Credit is due. Christie wore that bathing suit and it looked so beautiful. And the art, it was so artistic… I thought, ‘What am I doing? I should be celebrating the woman’s body.’ And it changed my mind on many things in my business.”
A Documentary Sheds Light on Jule Campbell
Alt, now 64, features prominently in a new documentary titled “Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue.” The film, directed by Campbell’s daughter-in-law, Jill Campbell, explores how the magazine’s founding editor propelled a struggling publication into a multifaceted media empire. It gives viewers insight into the formative experiences of some of the fashion industry’s most influential supermodels.
Jule Campbell, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 96, played an instrumental role in Alt’s development as a model. “I came with my frilly white shirt up to here,” Alt recalled with a chuckle. “[SI Swimsuit] did give me a little bit more spice, I have to say, in my career. But it was because I saw how beautiful it was. She never pushed me. Jule never pushed me, never, ever. I think in the end, I started pushing her, truthfully.”
Alt’s Early Career and Breakthrough
Alt made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut in 1981 while on location in Florida. Just a year later, she landed the coveted cover after an impactful photo shoot with John G. Zimmerman in Kenya. Reflecting on her initial meeting with Campbell, Alt admitted, “I was scared to death to meet Jule. My agency wanted me to do Sports Illustrated. They sent me over to see Jule Campbell. And in her office, there’s all these pictures and all these covers… She took one look at me, and she said, ‘You look like Christie Brinkley, so I can’t really take you on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit,’ which was kind of a disappointment.”
Campbell did recognize Alt’s potential, offering her the opportunity to participate in an Alaskan shoot instead. Alt remarked, “I was like, ‘Well, that’s cool too. I’ve never been to Alaska.’ That’s how I met Jule… In the beginning, she thought I looked too much like Christie Brinkley. And in the end, I ended up looking like me, and she ended up using me. And in my second year, I got the cover, so that was pretty quick. And it was all thanks to Jule. She championed me.”
Jule Campbell’s Unforgettable Legacy
Jule Campbell joined Sports Illustrated during the early stages of the fashion industry transition that came with the Twiggy era, as noted by The New York Times. Her first cover, which debuted in January 1965, featured 18-year-old Sue Peterson donning a nude body stocking and a white fishnet jumpsuit. This bold move led to widespread criticism and backlash from conservative audiences.
Jill Campbell shared insights into her mother-in-law’s challenges, stating, “It’s really interesting from the lens of 2025 that she would receive death threats and criticism. Some people did not like seeing women in bathing suits in a sports magazine. And they would call it a male sports magazine. But during that time, there were so many women that enjoyed this magazine for the bathing suits. Even now, people comment on the gorgeous bathing suits and pictures.”
Despite facing adversity, Jill remarked that Jule remained steadfast in her mission. “She dealt with it because she didn’t feel like she was doing anything wrong. She didn’t feel like she was objectifying women. She was creating art. She was creating fashion. There were women in bathing suits in every other magazine that was on the market. There were beauty pageants. So why was she getting the wrath of this?”
A Safe Space for Models
Throughout her career, Alt experienced the darker side of modeling where inappropriate behavior was all too common. However, under Campbell’s guidance, the atmosphere at Sports Illustrated Swimsuit sets was notably different. Alt emphasized, “It was everywhere. Whether you were going for a fitting and some guy tried to grope you, or you were on a shoot and some guy tried to break into your room. There was always an inappropriate something happening. But I always felt it was the way that you handled it and extracted yourself from the situation that made that a horrifying situation or just an anecdote in your life.”
Alt fondly remembered Campbell’s protective instincts towards her models. “One of the things Jule did to protect the girls was to step right in front of the photographer and pretend she was adjusting something, styling something, or moving a bathing suit. She would jump right in front… And it wasn’t really to edit something or style something. It was because maybe something got a little risqué or a bathing suit moved, and she went in there and protected us. And I think on some level, all of us knew that. That’s why we loved Jule so much.”
Embracing a Bold Legacy
Alt has embraced her modeling journey, including the G-string shoot that became a defining point in her career. Today, she reflects on how that bold decision led to immense opportunities, paving the way for her future as an author and entrepreneur. Recently, at the age of 62, she walked the runway for the SI Swimsuit Runway Show during Miami Swim Week.
She expressed pride in her lasting legacy, stating, “I had people coming up to me and asking me if I was Carol Alt, not if I was that girl on the cover of a magazine. Sports Illustrated was one of the building blocks of my career. And I’m still here 47 years later.”
