Christy Turlington Quit Modelling To Do What?

One of the original supermodels of the 90's has revealed why she turned her back on her glamorous career. And it turns out it was for her love of books.

Christy Turlington Burns enrolled to study Comparative Religion and Eastern Philosophy in New York in 1994, leaving the industry with no regrets. In an interview with Humanity magazine, close friend Iman discussed the model's choice with her.

She said, "I thought about it for a long time, and I guess I really haven't fully given modelling up, but in my mind I did, because I went back to school and moved on in my life."

The moment she knew she'd made the right choice? "I remember somebody telling me that they were in a location van and they saw me walk by with my backpack, and they were like, 'Oh, poor thing.' And I'm thinking - 'Poor thing? I'm getting my education, you fools.'"

"But I remember thinking about it. I think I had finally quite smoking and had gained some weight, and I was in Paris for the couture shows and I remember that moment when I thought, 'You know what, I'm doing something healthy for myself, and they're judging me and I don't want to subject myself to it anymore.' And it's such an empowering feeling when you can make that choice."

Leaving the runway for the library seems to be a thing among today's generation of Supers, with Karlie Kloss hanging up her Victoria Secret's wings for some study time. So who's next to join the book brigade? Watch this space...

By Jessie Roseblade