- Christy was aged just 13 when she was discovered whilst horseback riding by photographer Dennie Cody who sent her photos to a local model agency. She signed with a small San Francisco agency and did small assignments during school holidays. She later signed with the Ford agency but decided to finish her education (at Monte Vista High School in Danville, CA) before taking up modelling full-time at age 18. Due to her perfect proportions, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art had 120 mannequins modelled after her in 1993 (they also gave her the title 'Face of the 20th Century').
- Christy was part of the supermodel Trinity together with Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell, and was also featured in Peter Lindbergh's book "10 Women".
- She was the official spokesmodel for Jade cosmetics.
- She was a co-founder of the Fashion Café restaurant chain along with Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Elle MacPherson, but has now quit. In addition, she runs two other businesses - "Sundari" (a skincare range) and "Nuala" (a Yoga collection).
- Christy has released her own calendar (shot in El Salvador, her mother's native country).
- She appeared in the film "Catwalk".
- She appeared in George Michael's "Freedom" music-video and Duran Duran's music video "Notorious".
- In 1994 she starred in a documentary film about her career entitled "Christy Turlington Backstage".
- She appeared in the 1995 Pirelli Calendar.
- She graduated from New York University in May 1999 after studying Liberal Arts and has a dual degree in Comparitive Religion and Philosophy.
- She is the chairperson of the Intercambios Culturales of El Salvador organization, as well as supporting PETA (in 1993 she featured naked on billboards in an anti-fur campaign for the charity).
- She has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.