Kathy Ireland Biography

Kathleen Marie "Kathy" Ireland (born March 20, 1963) is an American model, actress, and entrepreneur. Ireland was a supermodel in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for appearing in 13 consecutive Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues. In 1993, she founded a brand marketing company, "kathy ireland Worldwide" (kiWW), which has made her one of the wealthiest former models in the world.

Early life

Kathy Ireland was born in 1963 in Glendale, California, the daughter of John Ireland, a labor union organizer, and Barbara Ireland, who worked in charity. Her first job was a paper route when she was 11; she landed the job by writing the paper and stating she was the girl for the job.

Modeling

At age 16, Ireland was discovered by an agent for the Elite Model Management company. She appeared on covers for Vogue and Cosmopolitan.

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.

Business Ventures

kathy ireland Worldwide

In 1993, Ireland put her name on a line of socks for Kmart, which became a bestseller. The retailer subsequently gave Ireland her own clothing line. She then founded kathy ireland Worldwide, initially a brand marketing firm, which she and her related trusts own in its entirety. Since 1994, Ireland has published several fitness videos that led to her design of athletic apparel and launched her brand licensing of fitness equipment.

In 2004, Ireland's annual take is 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 Shaw Industries and Pacific Coast Lighting. Between 2005-2012, Ireland's company grew to about $2 billion in annual sales and became a leader in its industry.

In a May 2012 British Vogue article, Ireland was called the world's richest model.

Other ventures

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 is the Group Brand Ambassador for BrandSource,

Ireland designs wedding dresses and gowns. Her company provides rental sites for weddings. She also designed a collection of jewelry inspired by Elizabeth Taylor.

Other activities

Public speaking

Ireland has delivered keynote speeches at corporate events, industry conventions, 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 Expo 2012 in Las Vegas.

Books

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.

Acting

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 (alongside William Shatner), Once Upon A Christmas, and its sequel Twice Upon A Christmas. She also appeared in the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars, where her couple was the third eliminated in the second week of competition.

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. Other Ireland-supported causes include Big Brothers Big Sisters, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Alliance for Global Education, the Alliance for Christian Education and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

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."

Ireland has lent her estates to charitable organizations such as Toys For Tots to generate funds for charity.

She received the WithIt 2013 Legacy Award on January 27, 2013 at World Market Center - Las Vegas.

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.

Israel

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.

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.

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.

Ireland received an honorary master's of fine arts degree from the for-profit American Intercontinental University's School of Design.

Friendship with Elizabeth Taylor

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 lifetime achievement Oscar to Ireland.

Filmography

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	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"