From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (July 2008)

This article or section is written like an advertisement. Please help rewrite this article from a neutral point of view. For blatant advertising that would require a fundamental rewrite to become encyclopedic, use {{db-spam}} to mark for speedy deletion. (July 2008)

Kathy Ireland
Kathy Ireland at the World Jewelry Center, 2008.
Date of birth	March 20, 1963 (1963-03-20) (age 45)
Place of birth	Santa Barbara, California
Hair color	Light Brown
Eye color	Blue
Spouse(s)	Dr. Greg Olsen
Official website

Kathy Ireland (born March 20, 1963) is a model, actress, businesswoman, and CEO of her epynonomous home design company, Kathy Ireland Worldwide.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Sports Illustrated 1.2 Acting 1.3 Retail 1.4 Writing 1.5 Speaking 2 References 3 External links

Kathy Ireland was born Kathleen Marie Ireland in Santa Barbara, California, daughter of John Ireland, a labor union organizer, and Barbara.^[1] At 17, she was discovered by an agent for Elite Model Management, and by the time she graduated high school, she was working steadily as a model.^[2].

Starting in 1984, Ireland was featured in the the annual Swimsuit Issue an extraordinary dozen times before her final appearance in 1996.^[3]. In addition to her long tenure within the pages, Ireland appeared on the cover of the annual issue 3 times, a feat tied by Christie Brinkley and Cheryl Tiegs and surpassed only by Elle Macpherson. The first time Ireland was on the cover, it was for the 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Edition, which was SI's best selling swimsuit issue to date.^[4][5] She returned to the cover twice more; 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]

Ireland has a small number of television and movie acting appearances to her credit, including roles in Melrose Place, Side Out, Mr. Destiny, Loaded Weapon 1, Once Upon A Christmas,Twice Upon A Christmas, and Necessary Roughness. Her first movie - 1988's Alien from L.A. - was mercilessly skewered (as were Ireland's acting abilities and idiosyncratic, squeaky voice) when it appeared on the fifth season of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Ireland’s two Christmas movies, Once Upon A Christmas and Twice Upon A Christmas were the highest rated movies for the ABC Family network and they continue to air every year. Twice Upon A Christmas, received a special screening at the White House and reunited original cast members John Dye and Mary Donnelly Haskell.

Ireland is the chief designer and CEO of Kathy Ireland Worldwide, a billion dollar brand product marketing company.^[6] She began this industry in a time (pre-2000) when other fashion models were refusing non-model contracts, which allowed her to begin building her industry before pop culture took the fashion industry into model-style fashion industry. Ireland remains an avid public speaker on women's issues.

She is the only designer in history to make her global travels camouflage her missing design degree. Effectively while no one was paying attention, she changed from her bikini to a business suit covering not only herself but the world with her Style Guides: La Vida Buena, Americana, European Country, Architectural, Aloha, In Russian Style, Ivory Coast and Far East Dreams.

Ireland had a long term agreements with K-mart Corporation. After the retail giant went bankrupt, Ireland quietly and skillfully moved to 50 thousand independent retail stores, leaving Stewart with her Kmart and Macy’s distribution.

Copying Ireland are other celebrities like Cindy Crawford, Jaclyn Smith, Daisy Fuentes and Heidi Klum. Igniting a war of the words between the super models Klum said derisively “Yes, Kathy Ireland is the most successful, but she’s so mass.” Ireland in typical sugar sweet fashion said, "I think Heidi’s a lovely girl. I wish her well.” One super model that Ireland is known to admire is Tyra Banks. She credits Banks for developing a brand strategy that didn’t copy her own. “Tyra became a force in the world of television. She’s brilliant and innovative. I think she can accomplish whatever she goes after, said Ireland. Ireland’s next grasp is a new manuscript from Howard Books titled "Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity" which will be released in 2009. Like Ireland and her never ending stream of products, it’s sure to be everywhere and probably sell as well as her other designs.

Ireland gently and firmly corrects anyone who dares to call her 15 thousand products line an endorsement, “I can’t give endorsements. Those come from celebrities and I’m not famous.” Incredulously Ireland’s goal seems to be avoiding the red carpet while trying to duke it out with fashion mavens like Liz Claiborne, Calvin Klein and the late Halston. All of whom she ironically out ranks in a recent survey of the worlds 100 most important licenses conducted by License Global Magazine ^[7]. Ireland showed on the list at a curiously high number 23. “A busy mom can get a lot done if she goes with out sleep,” said Ireland.

On March 4, 2007, she was named the Godmother of Carnival Cruise Lines 22nd ship, the M.S. Carnival Freedom

Ireland’s diverse business interests include Specialty Brands led by her Design Ambassadors and experts to facilitate the Brand’s mission statement. Acafe by her friend Chef Andre is a Kathy Ireland Brand Solution devoted to food, entertaining and culture. Jardin du Jour (J du J), cultivated by award winning landscape designer Nicholas Walker, is a Kathy Ireland Brand Solution devoted to bringing the outdoors in.

Ireland is the author of Powerful Inspirations: Eight Lessons that Will Change Your Life published by Double Day, which is in its 6th printing. She also authored three children's books entitled An Angel Called Hope, What Do Mommies Do, and Mona’s Favorite Words. She is also the editor of her popular website www.kathyireland.com

Ireland is also a motivational speaker. She has appeared at the United Nations speaking to the 4th Annual Youth Assembly addressing how to achieve the Eight Millennium Goals. She was the key note speaker at the Office Depot Success Strategies for Women Conference with Dr. Maya Angelou and Barbara Walters and gave the key note address’ for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Awards, Comerica Bank’s Women’s Initiative and the Women in the Millionaire Zone events. She is the godmother of Carnival cruise lines 22nd ship, the M.S. Carnival Freedom

Ireland is an advocate on behalf of various non-profit organizations. She is acknowledged by UCLA as one of the top 10 women’s health advocates in America. She is the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s (EIF) Ambassador for Women’s Health Issues and EIF’s Ambassador for the National Women’s Cancer Research Alliance. She is Ambassador of Hope for the City of Hope and National Chair of Family Services and Parenting for Athletes and Entertainers for Kids. She is active in the Special Olympics, and each holiday season, she partners with Feed The Children and underwrites the distribution of 170,000 pounds of food, clothing and toys to children in need across the nation. She is the National Ambassador for the Help One Up organization whose mission is that no child should have to sleep on the floor. She also serves as National Ambassador for IMom a web community designed to help moms achieve their desire of caring for their children by learning how to grow wise, healthy, purpose-minded relationally-focused children.

• Official Website
• 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) Montana • 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