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Kathy Ireland extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Kathy Ireland

Ireland at the World Jewelry Center, 2008.
Birth name	Kathleen Marie Ireland
Date of birth	March 20, 1963 (1963-03-20) (age 46)
Place of birth	Glendale, California, United States
Height	5'10"
Hair color	Auburn
Eye color	Blue
Spouse(s)	Dr. Greg Olsen
Website	http://www.kathyireland.com

Kathleen Marie "Kathy" Ireland (born March 20, 1963) is an American former-model, actress, entrepreneur, CEO and designer of her eponymous brand product marketing company, Kathy Ireland Worldwide.

Contents 1 Life and career 1.1 Sports Illustrated 1.2 Acting 1.3 Entrepreneur 1.4 Books 1.5 Personal life 2 References 3 External links

Life and career

Ireland was born in Glendale, California, the daughter of John, a labor union organizer, and Barbara Ireland, who worked in charity.¹ At age 17, Ireland was "discovered" by an agent for the Elite Model Management company, and by the time she graduated from high school, she was working steadily as a model.²

Sports Illustrated

Starting in 1984, Ireland was featured in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 13 consecutive years, with her final appearance in 1996.³ In addition to her long tenure within the pages, Ireland 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 six or more 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.⁴⁵ She returned to the cover in 1992 and in 1994. In her third appearance, she was accompanied by Rachel Hunter and Elle Macpherson; notably, both Hunter and Ireland were pregnant at the time.⁵

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 3000.⁶ Ireland's other appearances include Melrose Place, Boy Meets World, 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 (her final film to date). She also appeared in the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars, however, hers was the third couple eliminated in the second week of competition.

Entrepreneur

In 1993, Ireland put her name on a line of socks. After they proved a best-seller for Kmart, the retailer gave Ireland her own clothing line.⁷ She then founded "Kathy Ireland Worldwide," a brand product marketing company in which she holds a majority stake.⁸ By 2004, Ireland was marketing products from 16 manufacturers, including those of Standard Furniture.⁷⁹ Ireland's long-term exclusive contract with K-mart Corporation lasted until 2003, after which the company contracted with thousands of independent mid-tier retail stores for distribution.¹⁰ By 2005, KIWW products were sold at over 50,000 locations in 15 countries, generating an estimated $1.4 billion in retail sales.⁹ Ireland's annual take is thought to be around $10 million, which has prompted Forbes to name her the "prototype for model-turned-mogul," in an article about the trend of modelpreneurs.¹¹

Since 1994, Ireland has published several fitness videos.

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 first published by Doubleday in June 2002. It is laced with discussions of her faith in God and the reasons for her strong pro-life stance.¹²

Her children's books, Mona's Favorite Words, What Do Mommies Do? and An Angel Called Hope, were released by Publications International Ltd. in November 2005 as part of their Story Reader series.¹³

Ireland's Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity was published by Howard Books in April 2009. It was released in both English and Spanish. According to the jacket, in her book Ireland shares "stories from her own life and wisdom she has gained through her years from teenager with a paper route to successful supermodel to mom to entrepreneur."

Her sixth book, Real Solutions: 52 God Inspired Messages from My Heart was also published by Howard Books and released on November 24, 2009. This book says it "shares inspirational messages from one busy mom to another."¹⁴

Personal life

Kathy Ireland became a Christian at the age of 18, when she read the Bible out of curiosity.¹⁵ She has said that she switched her previously pro-choice stance on abortion to pro-life after researching her husband Dr. Greg Olsen's medical books.¹⁵

Ireland gave a speech at the fourth Youth Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters on August 13, 2007. The purpose was to encourage activities among young people towards ending poverty. Ireland spoke on a subject of social entrepreneurship and partnerships.¹⁶

In May 2009, Ireland and her family were evacuated from two homes endangered by the Jesusita Fire near Santa Barbara, California: one belonging to Ireland's parents, and the other being the home where Ireland, her husband and their three children reside.¹⁷

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 said in the interview, "Weight is a symptom of something that needs to change in your life."¹⁸

References

External links

• Official Website
• Kathy Ireland Interview And Pictures - The Global Townhall
• Kathy Ireland at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover models 1960s Babette March • Sue Peterson • Sunny Bippus • Marilyn Tindall • Turia Mau • Jamee Becker 1970s Cheryl Tiegs • Tannia Rubiano • Shelia Roscoe • Dayle Haddon • Ann Simonton • Cheryl Tiegs • Yvette and Yvonne Sylvander • Lena Kansbod • Maria Joao • Christie Brinkley 1980s Christie Brinkley • Christie Brinkley • Carol Alt • Cheryl Tiegs • Paulina Porizkova • Paulina Porizkova • Elle Macpherson • Elle Macpherson • Elle Macpherson • Kathy Ireland 1990s Judit Mascó • Ashley Richardson • Kathy Ireland • Vendela Kirsebom • Kathy Ireland, Rachel Hunter, & Elle Macpherson • Daniela Peštová • Valeria Mazza & Tyra Banks • Tyra Banks • Heidi Klum • Rebecca Romijn 2000s Daniela Peštová • Elsa Benítez • Yamila Díaz • Petra Němcová • Veronika Vařeková • Carolyn Murphy • Veronika Vařeková, Elle Macpherson, Rebecca Romijn, Rachel Hunter, Daniela Peštová, Elsa Benítez, Carolyn Murphy, & Yamila Díaz • Beyoncé Knowles • Marisa Miller • Bar Refaeli 2010s Brooklyn Decker

v • d • e 1980–1989 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 1980 Christie Brinkley • Irina Gerasimenko • Jocelyn Javits • Bernadette Swann 1981 Carol Alt • Christie Brinkley • Kelly Emberg • Lena Kansbod • Rita Tellone 1982 Kim Alexis • Carol Alt • Charissa Craig • Kathryn Redding 1983 Kim Alexis • Carol Alt • Kelly Emberg • Paulina Porizkova • Hilary Safire • Cheryl Tiegs 1984 Kim Alexis • Carol Alt • Kelly Emberg • Kathy Ireland • Jean Pelton • Paulina Porizkova 1985 Kim Alexis • Kathy Ireland • Elle Macpherson • Sarah Nursey • Paulina Porizkova • Renée Simonsen 1986 Jenna de Rosnay • Kelly Emberg • Kathy Ireland • Elle Macpherson • Coco Mitchell • Paulina Porizkova 1987 Karen Alexander • Kim Alexis • Carol Alt • Kathy Ireland • Elle Macpherson • Monika Schnarre • Renée Simonsen 1988 Karen Alexander • Kim Alexis • Cindy Crawford • Kathy Ireland • Estelle Lefébure • Elle Macpherson • Stephanie Seymour 1989 Carol Alt • Sabrina Barnett • Christie Brinkley • Kelly Emberg • Rachel Hunter • Kathy Ireland • Estelle Lefébure • Elle Macpherson • Paulina Porizkova • Ashley Richardson • Stephanie Seymour • Yvette Sylvander • Yvonne Sylvander • Cheryl Tiegs • Maria von Hartz • Kara Young Covergirl in bold 2010–2019 · 2000–2009 · 1990–1999 · 1980–1989 · 1970–1979 · 1964–1969 || Covers

v • d • e 1990–1999 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 1990 Sabrina Barnett • Michaela Bercu • Anna Getaneh • Rachel Hunter • Kathy Ireland • Estelle Lefébure • Elle Macpherson • Judit Mascó • Ashley Richardson • Maria von Hartz • Louise Vyent • Akure Wall • Roshumba Williams 1991 Monica Bellucci • Rosie de la Cruz • Angie Everhart • Rachel Hunter • Kathy Ireland • Elle Macpherson • Judit Mascó • Ashley Richardson • Stephanie Seymour • Roshumba Williams 1992 Naomi Campbell • Angie Everhart • Kathy Ireland • Vendela Kirsebom • Judit Mascó • Gail O'Neill • Paulina Porizkova • Ashley Richardson • Roshumba Williams • Stacey Williams • Shana Zadrick 1993 Tyra Banks • Britta Dubbels • Rachel Hunter • Kathy Ireland • Vendela Kirsebom • Estelle Lefébure • Ashley Richardson • Ingrid Seynhaeve • Amber Smith • Maria von Hartz • Stacey Williams 1994 Veronica Blume • Jenny Brunt • Angie Everhart • Rachel Hunter • Kathy Ireland • Kate James • Vendela Kirsebom • Elle Macpherson • Judit Mascó • Lana Ogilvie • Rebecca Romijn • Ingrid Seynhaeve • Amber Smith • Aya Thorgren • Dara Torres • Patricia Velásquez • Roshumba Williams • Stacey Williams 1995 Angie Everhart • Yasmeen Ghauri • Vendela Kirsebom • Roberta Little • Judit Mascó • Daniela Peštová • Ashley Richardson • Rebecca Romijn • Ingrid Seynhaeve • Talisa Soto • Cheryl Tiegs • Patricia Velásquez • Manon von Gerkan • Stacey Williams 1996 Tyra Banks • Angie Everhart • Kathy Ireland • Valeria Mazza • Georgianna Robertson* • Rebecca Romijn • Ingrid Seynhaeve • Manon von Gerkan • Stacey Williams 1997 Tyra Banks • Laetitia Castam • Naomi Campbell • Yasmeen Ghaurip • Steffi Graf • Eva Herzigová • Vendela Kirsebom • Valeria Mazza • Karen Mulder • Navia Nguyenm • Chandra Northp • Brandi Quiñonesm • Niki Taylor • Stacey Williams 1998 Tyra Banks • Caprice Bourret • Laetitia Casta • Louise Forsling • Eva Herzigová • Heidi Klum • Tanga Moreau • Karen Mulderp • Chandra North • Irina Pantaeva • Lorraine Pascale • Daniela Peštová • Rebecca Romijn • Beri Smither • Niki Taylor • Stacey Williams 1999 Kadra Ahmed Omar • Michelle Behennah* • Laetitia Casta • Yamila Díaz* • Amber Noelle Ehresmann • Lujan Fernandez • Eva Herzigová • Heidi Klum* • Chandra North • Sarah O'Hare* • Andrea Orme • Daniela Peštová* • Audrey Quock • Rebecca Romijn* • Tamara Spoelder • Veronika Vařeková Covergirl in bold *appeared in bodypainting by Joanne Gair, pappeared in print edition only, mappeared in special feature 2010–2019 · 2000–2009 · 1990–1999 · 1980–1989 · 1970–1979 · 1964–1969 || Covers