Early life

Kathy Ireland was born in Glendale, California, the daughter of John and Barbara Ireland.

Modeling

In 1979, at the age of sixteen, Kathy Ireland was scouted at her high school by Elite Model Management.

She has appeared on covers for Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, and Mademoiselle.

External images

Ireland's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover from February 7, 1989

Ireland's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover from March 9, 1992

Ireland's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover from February 14, 1994

Starting in 1984, Ireland was featured in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for 13 consecutive years, with her final appearance in 1996. She appeared on the cover of the annual issue three times, a feat tied by Christie Brinkley and Cheryl Tiegs, and surpassed only by Elle Macpherson (with five appearances). Ireland was the cover model for the first time on the 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Edition, which became SI 's best selling swimsuit issue to date. She returned to the cover in 1992 and in 1994. In her third appearance, she was accompanied by Rachel Hunter and Elle Macpherson, who were both pregnant at the time.

As a teenager, Ireland reported that a photographer once "crossed the line" with her and wanted her to pose topless. She did not feel comfortable and he did not respect her "no." He reportedly pushed her and got physical and she "decked him."

During SI Swimsuit's 50th Anniversary event, Ireland's 1989 cover was awarded "The Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Of All Time" by its publisher.

Business ventures

In 1993, Kathy Ireland's name on a line of socks sold 100 million pairs and Kmart took notice, subsequently giving Ireland her own clothing line including swimwear, active wear, accessories, sweaters and more.

She then founded kathy ireland Worldwide, initially a brand marketing firm, which she and her related trusts own in its entirety. The company concentrated on building its business in home products in 2003, after it cut its exclusive ties to Kmart.

In 2004, Ireland's annual take was thought to be around $10 million. Forbes described Ireland as a "prototype for model-turned-mogul" in a 2006 article about the trend of modelpreneurs. By 2004, kathy ireland Worldwide was marketing products from 16 manufacturers, including those of Nourison and Pacific Coast Lighting. Between 2005 and 2012, products bearing Ireland's brand generated $2 billion in annual retail sales and the company became a leader in its industry. In a May 2012 British Vogue article, Ireland was called the world's richest model.

Ireland's billionaire friend and Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett advised her to enter into the home furnishings business. "Fashion and apparel is consistently changing, but in home it's more consistent," Buffett said. Buffet opens each Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting with Ireland and Bill Gates.kathy ireland Worldwide ranked #31 on License! Global magazine's Top 150 Global Licensors.

Ireland also designs wedding dresses and social occasion gowns. She launched her line of wedding gowns by presenting a runway fashion show at the Festival of Brides held in Disneyland Resort. Fashion is not Ireland's only venture. Sterling/Winters Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kathy Ireland Worldwide, which is the management company for multi-Grammy Award-winning artist Janet Jackson.

Ireland has branded products in many classifications including the Home, Fashion Apparel, Wedding, Fine Jewelry, Baby, Children's Toys and books, Publishing, Pet Care, Crafts and Gift markets. American Legend launched a Kathy Ireland collection consisting of 30 styles, which was featured at Macy's beginning in Fall 2011. Ireland is chief designer for Royal Footwear & Accessories (The RFA Group). She has established a relationship with manufacturer Gorham designing dinnerware, glassware and flatware.

Ireland designed a collection of jewelry inspired by Elizabeth Taylor. She welcomed Elizabeth Taylor's dogs, Gracie and Delilah, into her home, also inspirations for her collection of pet care products. Ireland launched a collection of pet products called Loved Ones, which includes furniture, bowls, collars, toys and luxury bedding. She teamed up with Worldwise Inc., a pet products company based in San Rafael, California to create the pet collection.

Public speaking

Ireland has delivered numerous keynote speeches at corporate events, industry conventions, expos, entrepreneurial events, social media conferences and pro-life events.

She spoke at the fourth Youth Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters on August 13, 2007 encouraging young people to engage in activities aimed at ending poverty. Ireland gave a keynote at the Googleplex, the corporate headquarters for Google on July 12, 2012. She delivered the keynote at Licensing International Expo 2012 in Las Vegas.

Literary works

Ireland has written six books, including three for children. Her debut effort (with Laura Morton), Powerful Inspirations: Eight Lessons that Will Change Your Life, was published in 2002. Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity and Real Solutions: 52 God Inspired Messages from My Heart were published in 2009. Her children's books, Mona's Favorite Words, What Do Mommies Do? and An Angel Called Hope, were released in November 2005.

Fitness videos

Since 1994, Ireland has published several fitness videos that led to her design of athletic apparel and launched her brand licensing of fitness equipment. Several of these were VSDA Award winning, including Total Fitness Workout, Core Workout, Absolutely Fit, Advanced Sports Fitness, Reach and Health and Body Specifics, which was awarded Fitness Video Of The Year.

Philanthropy

Ireland's sister, Cynthia, has a child with Down syndrome. Ireland wrote an article about her niece and the need for an increase in research.

Ireland has lent her estates to charitable organizations such as the Marine Corps' Toys For Tots to generate funds for charity. According to Maj. Bill Grein, USMC (Ret), Ireland’s company and her book business partner Bendon Publishing International, the world’s largest publisher of children's books, donated $10 million to supplement the 2013 annual Toys For Tots gathering and distribution of Christmas gifts for millions of at-risk children and youths.

Ireland and NFL wide receiver Tim Brown are ambassadors for 9-1-1 For Kids, a non-profit organization that specializes in making educational materials to assist emergency dispatchers in teaching children the proper use of 9-1-1 and other general emergency preparedness tips. In an effort to encourage equality in women's athletics, Ireland has hosted several LPGA Golf Tournaments, including the Kathy Ireland Championship from 1999 to 2001 and the Kathy Ireland Greens.com LPGA Classic in 2000.

Ireland has been outspoken in her support for Israel. On October 15, 2009, she became an international ambassador for the Friends of Sheba Medical Center, traveling back to the country in 2010 to film a documentary entitled Holy Land Heroes highlighting its work for wounded soldiers and terror victims. She received the Messenger of Peace Award at the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Gala in 2012.

Ireland was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2012 by the California State University System, which said she "generously uses her power and influence to benefit others, supporting social causes including empowering women, supporting young girls through mentoring, and providing opportunities for girls and women at risk." On June 23, 2011, Ireland was honored by the Anti-Defamation League with the American Heritage Award, presented by the National Home Furnishings Industry. She received the Messenger of Peace Award at the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Gala in 2012.

Personal life

Ireland is a Christian. She is a pro-life advocate. She married physician Greg Olsen in 1988, and they have three children; Erik, Lily and Chloe.

Forbes named Ireland one of the 20 most successful, self-made women in California, and named Ireland one of Forbes top 50 most successful women as measured by their net worth. In her Today Show interview with Matt Lauer, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model Hannah Davis stated that she strives to emulate Kathy Ireland.

In her Today Show interview, Kate Upton stated that her career was inspired by Kathy Ireland. Ireland appeared on Larry King Live in 2009 to discuss her weight gain and women's health. She had gained a pound a year for 25 years and the cumulative effect had become obvious to her in a candid photograph her son had taken.

Elizabeth Taylor and Ireland had a close friendship and attended public events together. After Ireland received outspoken criticism for her uneven performance as an on-air host of ABC's 2010 pre-Oscar special, Taylor publicly defended Ireland; "I have never seen anyone epitomize glamour and grace and professionalism like she did." Ireland publicly credits Taylor as her mentor and for part of her success in life, business, design and philanthropy. Taylor bequeathed her Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Oscar to Ireland.

Filmography

Ireland has appeared in a number of television and movie roles. Her first movie, 1988's Alien from L.A., was later skewered during the fifth season of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Ireland's other appearances include Melrose Place, Boy Meets World, The Larry Sanders Show, Muppets Tonight, Side Out, Mr. Destiny, Necessary Roughness, Mom and Dad Save the World, National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 (as Miss. Destiny Demeanor), Once Upon A Christmas, and its sequel Twice Upon A Christmas. She also appeared in the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars, where Ireland and her partner Tony Dovolani were the third couple eliminated in the second week of competition.

Film and Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1985	Charles in Charge	Woman in Line	Episode:"Snowed In"
1988	Alien from L.A.	Wanda Saknussemm	Motion Picture
1989	Journey to the Center of the Earth	Wanda Saknussemm	Motion Picture
1989	Worth Winning	Uncredited	Motion Picture
1990	Grand	Sheila	Episode: "Carnegie Hall"
1990	Side Out	Marie	Motion Picture
1990	Mr. Destiny	Gina	Motion Picture
1991	Necessary Roughness	Lucy Draper	Motion Picture
1992	Tales from the Crypt	Joyce	Episode:"Beauty Rest"
1992	Mom and Dad Save the World	Semage, Raff's Daughter	Motion Picture
1992	Danger Island	Laura	TV Movie
1993	Loaded Weapon 1	Destiny Demeanor	Motion Picture
1993	Down the Shore	Rachel	Episode:"Computer Date"
1993	The Larry Sanders Show	Herself	Episode:"The Breakdown: Part 1"
1993	Amore!	Taylor Christopher	Motion Picture
1993	A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives	Dee Morrison	TV Movie
1994	Boy Meets World	Alexis	Episode: "Model Family"
1994	Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit	Crystal	TV Movie
1994	Melrose Place	Brittany Maddocks	Episodes: "Grand Delusions", "In-Laws and Outlaws", "It's a Bad World After All" and "I am Curious, Melrose"
1995	Backfire!	Jessica Luvintryst	Motion Picture
1995	The Watcher	Pilot	TV Series
1995	Deadly Games	Amber	Episodes: "The Camp Counselor: Parts 1 & 2"
1996	Gridlock	Michele Conner	TV Movie
1995-1996	The Fantastic Four	Crystal (Voice)	Episodes: "Doomsday", "The Sentry Sinister", "Inhumans Saga: Part 3: Beware the Hidden Land" and "Inhumans Saga: Part 2: The Inhumans Among Us"
1996	Miami Hustle	Marsha Thomas	TV Movie
1997	Sabrina, the Teenage Witch	Shelley	Episode: "Trial by Fury"
1997	Suddenly Susan	Terri	Episodes: "Love and Divorce American Style: Part 2" and "Love and Divorce American Style: Part 3"
1997	Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man	Susan/Susie	Episodes: "Vuuck, as in Duck" and "Aged Heat 2: Women in Heat"
1996-1997	The Incredible Hulk	Ogress (Voice)	Episodes: "Fashion Warriors", "Down Memory Lane" and "Fantastic Fortitude"
1998	The Lionhearts	Survive (Voice)	TV Series
1998	King of the Hill	Sylvia	Episode: "Peggy's Pageant Fever"
1999	Cosby	Kara	Episode: "He Who Hesitates is Lucas"
1999	Pensacola: Wings of Gold	Sarah	Episode: "Tip of the Spear"
1999	Touched by an Angel	Karla	Episode: "The Last Day of the Rest of Your Life"
2000	Once Upon a Christmas	Kristen Claus	TV Movie
2001	Twice Upon a Christmas	Kristen Claus	TV Movie
2002	Strong Medicine	Amber Hutton	Episode: "Trauma"
2002	For Your Love	Rhonda	Episode: "The Helpless Hand"
2002	Totally Spies!	Julia Hastings	Episode: "A Spy is Born: Part 1"
2009	Family Guy	Cardboard Cut-out	Episode: "Family Goy"

[ Source: Wikipedia ]