Christy Turlington Burns

Christy Turlington Burns is the founder and president of Every Mother Counts (EMC), an organization that has invested more than $27 million in programs focused on making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. Turlington Burns began her work in maternal health after experiencing a childbirth related complication—an experience that would later inspire her to direct and produce the documentary film No Woman, No Cry. Before founding EMC, Turlington Burns received international acclaim as a model; she is a best-selling author and has earned numerous accolades for her transformative work as a health and wellness advocate.

Every Mother Counts (EMC) Founder and President Christy Turlington Burns’ work in maternal health began after experiencing a childbirth related complication in 2003—an experience that would later inspire her to direct and produce the documentary feature film No Woman, No Cry about the challenges women face throughout pregnancy and childbirth around the world. Under Turlington Burns’ leadership, Every Mother Counts has invested more than $27 million in programs in Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States focused on making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere.

Before founding Every Mother Counts, Turlington Burns received international acclaim as a model, representing some of the world’s biggest fashion and beauty brands. She served as the founder of Nuala, a yoga lifestyle brand in partnership with Puma; co-founder of Sundari, skincare based on the principles of Ayurveda; and author of the bestselling book Living Yoga: Creating a Life Practice.

Turlington Burns was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and featured in Glamour magazine’s 2013 Woman of the Year awards. In March 2016, EMC was recognized as one of Fast Company magazine’s Top 10 Most Innovative Not-For-Profit Companies.

Turlington Burns graduated cum laude from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and studied public health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She currently serves on the Yale Nursing School Dean’s Leadership Council and the Smithsonian Institute’s American Women’s History Initiative Advisory Committee. Previously, she has served on the Harvard Medical School Global Health Council and the Harvard School of Public Health Board of Dean’s Advisors. Turlington Burns has completed 10 marathons on behalf of EMC and lives in New York City with her husband, filmmaker Edward Burns, and their two children. Turlington Burns is the proud daughter of her Salvadoran-American mother.