EMMANUELLE HAUGUEL/SI

Christie Brinkley first covered the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1979 (then set a record by landing the covers for the next two years). For decades thereafter, she toured the world posing in one exotic location after another, before hanging up her barely-there bikinis in 2004. But now, at the age of 63, she’s returning to the SI Swim family, proving her agelessness once again. And this time, she’s brought along two very special guests.

Brinkley is joined by her daughters, Alexa Ray Joel, 31, and Sailor Brinkley Cook, 18, in the magazine, on newsstands Feb. 15, and she says their encouragement was key to getting her back in her bikinis.