Kathy Ireland

Kathy Ireland, born Kathleen Marie Ireland on March 20, 1963, is an American author, entrepreneur, fashion designer, philanthropist, and former fashion model. She rose to prominence as a supermodel in the 1980s and 1990s, gaining recognition for her appearances in 13 consecutive Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, including three covers. In 1993, Ireland founded kathy ireland Worldwide (kiWW), a brand licensing company that has propelled her to become one of the wealthiest former models globally, with a personal fortune of $420 million by 2015. Her company generated a remarkable $3.1 billion in retail sales in 2021 alone, ranking it as the 15th largest brand worldwide. Ireland has been inducted into the Licensing Hall of Fame for her outstanding contributions to the industry.