A shy teenager, Kathy kept busy with a slew of after-school jobs, including a newspaper courier (she was named Courier of the Year three years in a row), a waitress, a hostess, and a department store saleswoman. Her good nature was evident early on in her career, with her work at a convalescent home.

At the age of 17, Kathy was discovered by an Elite Modeling scout (the beginning of practically every model's career). By the time she had finished high school, with original hopes of working in education, marine biology, or journalism, she was jet-setting to Europe for photo shoots.

Her modeling career reached its peak after she snagged the highly coveted 1984 cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition, which only marked the beginning of her relationship with the popular 'swimsuit' magazine.

Kathy could be seen on the cover of Sports Illustrated three more times, and has since appeared in the magazine a record-setting thirteen times, including the magazine's 25th Anniversary Special. Her incredible physique graced the covers of many more magazines throughout her career, including Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle, Shape, Seventeen, and Harper's Bazaar.

If men couldn't get enough of Kathy after all her magazine appearances, they could get a daily dose of Kathy in her own annual Swimsuit Calendar (which is one of the highest selling calendars in the world).

In the midst of her illustrious modeling career, Kathy was appearing on the silver screen, the boob tube and on stage. Among her list of film credits reads Mr. Destiny, Necessary Roughness, Robert Altman's The Player (as herself), Loaded Weapon 1, Amore!, and Backfire!

As for television roles, she appeared in Danger Island, Perry Mason: The Case of the Wicked Wives, Melrose Place, Miami Hustle, and Suddenly Susan. She also starred in the play Three Tall Women

And her career doesn't end with modeling and acting either. Kathy is the designer of her own line of clothing, the 'Kathy Ireland Brand', promoting style and quality at reasonable prices. Her line has expanded into a women's swimwear collection, exercise apparel, maternity line, home collections, and even watches, shoes, and handbags.

In her goal to promote fitness, health and well-being, Kathy became a certified fitness instructor in 1994, and has since released her best-selling fitness videos, which include: Kathy Ireland's Total Fitness, Kathy Ireland's Body Specifics, and Great Buns in 12 Minutes. Partly fulfilling her journalistic interests, Kathy is a contributing editor to Fitness Magazine.

Kathy has practically had the career of several women combined, with the long list of non-profit organizations she is involved with. She is the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Ambassador for the National Women's Cancer Research Alliance, the Honorary Chairperson for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica program, and the National Chairperson of Family Services and Parenting for Athletes and Entertainers for Kids.

She is also active in the Special Olympics, Feed the Children, Casa Julia de Burgos in Puerto Rico (for battered women and children), the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, Project Inform in San Francisco (disseminates HIV/AIDS treatment information nationwide), among many other charities and important causes.

Kathy is responsible for KathyIreland.com, a Web site providing users with information on issues such as health, family and fashion.