Christie Brinkley, 69, looks youthful in striking red dress as she shows off her love of dogs as co-host of American Humane Hero Dog Awards in Palm Beach

Both two and four-legged stars walked the red carpet at the 13th annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida on Friday.

Among the famous faces to lend their support: legendary supermodel Christie Brinkley, who also served as co-host of the festivities alongside Carson Kressley.

The annual event is a nationwide competition that searches out and recognizes America’s Hero Dogs, according to the organization’s website.

Oftentimes these heroes are ‘ordinary dogs who do extraordinary things, whether it’s saving lives on the battlefield, lending sight or hearing to a human companion, or helping people achieve their goals.’

In the end, Maverick, a 150-pound European Great Dane therapy dog, was announced the 2023 Hero Dog Award winner.

Striking: Christie Brinkley, 69, turned more than a few heads while serving as co-host of the American Humane Hero Dog Awards at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida on Friday

Ahead of the competition, Brinkley showed off her youthful side decked out in a full-length red dress that hugged her model curves.

The striking number had subtle ruching at waist and hips, and glamorous draping down the center.

The Monroe, Michigan native, who has been a longtime New Yorker, had her blonde tresses styled long and flowing over her chest.

With her infectious smile lighting up the room, the iconic covergirl kept accessories to a minimum by carrying a simple black clutch.

After showing off her modeling skills on the red carpet solo, Brinkley then directed her attention to this year’s winner, Maverick.

Brinkley posed with her arms wrapped around the proud pooch, who turned and stared directly towards the camera, for a few photos.

‘They give us so much and It’s wonderful to be giving back to them,’ Brinkley said, according to CBS News 12 in Palm Beach. 

Maverick’s handler, Kelly Brownfield, a native of Missouri, shared some of the skills and benefits a dog like hers has to offer the world.

 Hosts: Brinkley shared the hosting duties with Carson Kressley, 54

Winning dog: At one point, the longtime supermodel struck a pose with the winning dog, Maverick, who’s a 150-pound European Great Dane therapy dog

 

The hosts: Brinkley also took to her Instagram page to sing the praises of her co-host with a few pictures of them rehearsing beforehand

‘Just to have a therapy dog there during some of the hardest times, whether its escorting a child to the gravesite of their loved one, escorting into a funeral, or maybe it’s just having him there to lean on a service member who’s experiencing a hard time, he just reminds you of what love is,’ Brownfield told CBS 12 News. 

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue star also shared the red carpet spotlight with Kressley, who was looking dapper in a black and white tuxedo.

‘Singing the praises of my co-host @carsonkressley @americanhumane @herodogawards,’ the top model wrote in the caption of an Instagram post showing the two co-hosts getting playful before the show.

‘I’m so excited to meet all the incredible dogs If I had a tail it would be wagging!’ she wrote, in part, the previous day in another promotional post.

Some of the other high-profile people on hand to lend their support included Knots Landing actress Donna Mills, 82, producer Richard Holland, 72, follow Knots Landing alum Nicollette Sheridan, 59, and The Real Housewives Of Miami star Adriana de Moura, 57.

Show of support: The other high-profile people on hand to lend their support were Knots Landing actress Donna Mills, 82, and producer Richard Holland, 72, who were color-coordinated in black

Animal lover: The Real Housewives Of Miami star Adriana de Moura, 57, showed off her fashion sense in a colorful form-fitting dress

Another former Knot’s Landing alum, Nicollette Sheridan, 59, showed the contestants lots of love

Working it: Sheridan looked sexy and elegant in an off-white spaghetti strap minidress that she matched with a pair of strappy heels

Promo mode: Brinkley arrived for the dog event on Thursday with her agent

To find a winner of the 13th annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards, the prized pooches compete in seven different categories for the Hero Dog Awards: Law Enforcement and First Responder Dogs, Service and Guide/Hearing Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Military Dogs and Emerging Hero and Shelter Dogs.

Founded in 1877, American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of animals, and is considered one of the nation’s oldest organizations promoting the safety of animals.

The organization boasts its leadership programs as being the ‘first to serve in promoting and nurturing the bonds between animals and humans.’ 

Supporters can can help make a difference; to learn how just go to www.americanhumane.org.

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