Kathy Ireland, an American model, actress, entrepreneur, and businesswoman, was born on March 20, 1963, in Glendale, California. She is the daughter of John and Barbara Ireland and has two sisters, Mary and Cynthia.

She attended San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California, where several notable actors, including Anthony Edwards, Cady Huffman, and Eric Stoltz, were also students.

Modeling Career and Recognition

Kathy Ireland was discovered by Elite Model Management in 1979 at the age of sixteen. Her career quickly took off, and she appeared on the covers of numerous major publications including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, Mademoiselle, and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, notably in 1989, 1992, and 1994.

She made history when she appeared on the cover of the magazine’s 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Edition, which became its best-selling issue to date. Ireland was later honored with the title "The Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover of All Time" for her iconic 1989 appearance. Remarkably, she also graced the cover of the magazine while pregnant, a move that was seen as a bold and empowering statement in the fashion world.

Stand Against Inappropriate Modeling Practices

Reflecting on her early career, Ireland has spoken candidly about refusing to pose topless for a photographer who pressured her as a teenager. She has been praised for her firm stance and for setting boundaries early on in her career, emphasizing the importance of personal ethics in modeling.

Acting and Media Presence

In addition to modeling, Kathy Ireland pursued acting and appeared in films and television during the late 1980s and 1990s. Her credits include roles in Alien from L.A. (1988), Loaded Weapon 1 (1993), and TV series such as Melrose Place (1994) and Boy Meets World (1994). She also starred in the family movie series Once Upon a Christmas (2000, 2001).

In 1994, she released a fitness video titled Kathy Ireland's Total Fitness Workout and contributed as a fitness editor to FITNESS magazine.