Kathy Ireland

Model, actress[6]

What is Kathy Ireland known for?

Born in Glendale, California, Kathleen Marie Ireland, known as Kathy Ireland, has made a significant impact as an actress, author, entrepreneur, fashion designer, philanthropist, and former fashion model. She is best known for her tremendous success as a supermodel during the 1980s and 1990s, appearing on covers of prominent magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Shape Fitness, Harper's Bazaar, Mademoiselle, Teen, and Seventeen. Her iconic modeling career includes 13 consecutive appearances in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, including three covers, one of which was named "The Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Of All Time" during Sports Illustrated swimsuit's 50th Anniversary event.

Her career took a fascinating turn in 1993 when she founded a brand licensing company, kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW). This venture proved enormously successful, resulting in her becoming one of the wealthiest former models globally with a personal fortune reaching $420 million by 2015. Her business prowess didn't stop there, as her company generated retail sales of $3.1 billion in 2021 alone, leading to Ireland's induction into the Licensing Hall of Fame.

Kathy Ireland was born in Glendale, California and grew up in Santa Barbara, where her family continues to reside. As a teenager, she attended San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, where her modeling career started when she was scouted by Elite Model Management. Ireland's journey from a cover girl to a multimillion-dollar entrepreneur has inspired many active fashion models, like Kate Upton and Hannah Jeter, who aspired to model their careers after her.

Expanding her reach beyond fashion, Ireland has also had a notable presence in film and television. Her film debut came in 1988 with "Alien from L.A.". Since then, she has appeared in a diverse range of films and shows like Melrose Place, Boy Meets World, The Larry Sanders Show, Muppets Tonight and the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars.