- Kathy is known as a former model, actress, CEO and designer of her eponymous brand product marketing company, Kathy Ireland Worldwide.
At age 17, Kathy was "discovered" by an agent for the Elite Model Management company.
- By the time Kathy had graduated from high school, she was working steadily as a model.
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Kathy was featured in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for 13 consecutive years.
- Kathy 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.
- Kathy's first cover was for the 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Edition, which became SI's best selling swimsuit issue to date.
- In 1993, Kathy put her name on a line of socks. After they proved a best-seller for Kmart, the retailer gave Ireland her own clothing line.
- By 2005, KIWW products were sold at over 50,000 locations, in 15 countries and generating an estimated $1.4 billion in retail sales. Kathy's annual take is thought to be around $10 million.
- Forbes named her the "prototype for model-turned-mogul," in an article about the trend of modelpreneurs.
- Kathy has written five books (including three for children), and a sixth book is due out in Fall 2009.
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