Kathy Ireland

Kathy Ireland has transformed from a supermodel to a global business magnate and philanthropic advocate. After being scouted by Elite Model Management in 1979, Kathy Ireland embarked on a highly successful modeling career. She graced the covers of numerous prestigious magazines, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, and Forbes. Ireland became particularly recognized for her appearances in Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, featuring in 13 consecutive issues and appearing on three covers.

Her iconic 1989 Sports Illustrated cover was later honored as ‘The Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Of All Time’ during the magazine’s 50th Anniversary event in 2014, solidifying her status as a global icon. Transitioning from modeling, Ireland founded her brand licensing company, kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW), in 1993. This venture began with a groundbreaking line of socks for Kmart, selling over 100 million pairs, and rapidly expanded into diverse product categories such as home furnishings, fashion, and jewelry. Under her leadership as CEO, kathy ireland Worldwide evolved into a global enterprise generating billions in retail sales.

Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She also serves as an ambassador for 9-1-1 For Kids and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Further extending her impact, Ireland took on significant leadership roles, appointed to the NFL Players Association board of directors in 2019 and joining the Women’s National Basketball Players Association’s (WNBPA) Board of Advocates in the same year. In 2020, she was appointed International Youth Chair for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

Through kiWW and her various philanthropic and board appointments, Kathy Ireland continues to be recognized as a formidable global business magnate and dedicated advocate for social causes, leveraging her platform to drive significant change and sustained success across multiple industries.