A Q&A with Kathy Ireland
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For most people the name Kathy Ireland conjures one image: a blue-eyed, auburn-haired woman with killer legs modeling a swimsuit. Indeed, beginning in 1984, Kathy appeared in the pages of Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue a dozen times and on the cover three times, including the publication's top-selling 25th-anniversary issue.
However, her modeling career is only a small piece of Kathy, and one she left behind more than a decade ago. She's also a longtime Christian (she became a believer at age 18) committed to growing in her faith and serving others—a journey that has been slow but steady. "I'm a late bloomer," she admits. "I remained a baby Christian for a long time. Fortunately God is faithful even when we mess up. Today my goal is that my life will be in line with his will, not my own."
That commitment is an integral part of Kathy's current roles as the founder and ceo of Kathy Ireland Worldwide (KathyIreland.com), which markets furniture and home décor products in 28 countries, as well as wife to Greg and mom to Erik, 14, Lily, 10, and Chloe, 6. Kathy explains, "My priorities are my faith, my family, and then being of service to others through my work." That heart for service, specifically ministering to fellow moms, has not only influenced her company's mission statement—" … finding solutions for families, especially busy moms"—but inspired her to write a book, Real Solutions for Busy Moms (Howard).
With a teenaged son and a daughter on the cusp of adolescence, this former model is now facing a new season in her parenting. TCW chatted with Kathy about her own struggles with issues such as faith, body image, and self-esteem, and how she's handling them with her kids.
You're known mostly for your beauty. So I have to ask, were you one of those gorgeous girls in junior high and high school that all us average gals loved to hate?
Not at all! In junior high I felt like a loser. I never had anyone to talk to or hang out with. I wondered why God made me so dorky.
Really? But you obviously moved beyond those insecurities to become a model. How?
One day when I was in eighth grade, in the midst of feeling sorry for myself, I thought, Wait a minute. God made me, and he doesn't make mistakes. So that must make me okay. That shift in attitude gave me a new sense of self-esteem.
So did this newfound knowledge come from a deep connection with God?
No, I didn't become a Christian until I turned 18. As a child I went to church and believed in God, but I didn't have a relationship with him. My family went to church for a time because that was what we were supposed to do. Eventually, though, we stopped going.
What changed for you?
My mom became a Christian, and I noticed the change in her. She seemed stronger, more focused and at peace. I'd traveled to Paris for a modeling job, and she put a Bible in my suitcase. One night I was jet lagged, bored, and lonely, so I picked it up and began reading the book of Matthew. It instantly and forever changed my life.
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2009, May/June, Vol. 31, Issue 3, Page 20
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Bob
I happened on this article and was impressed by Kathy's comments about encouraging her daughters to value modesty and stating that there were modeling choices she made in the past she wouldn't make today. Our society sexualizes young women, and is doing so at younger and younger and younger ages. Sadly, too many Christian parents seem to think it is no big deal for their daughters to dress immodestly. As our daughter grew through adolescence, I was appreciative for Christian influences that helped her see how to be both fashionable and modest. When I hear parents justify skimpy attire with comments such as, "It's nothing worse than you see on the beach" (as if what you see worn on the beach is somehow a relevant guide for Christians), I cringe at how easily we accept conformity to an increasingly corrupt culture and how little concern we exhibit for being and teaching our kids to be distinctively different as per Romans 12:1,2. Kathy's voice is a refreshing one.
Elaine
It's great to read about popular culture icons who make a stand for Jesus! God bless Kathy and her family
Denise R
Thank you for such a wonderful article. She is very real and this is very refreshing even in a Christian circle. Her Christian beliefs rule how she responds to the world around her and how she lives and raises her family. Who are we to judge.? I know I've some pretty gregarious mistakes over the years, but I have learnt from them and so has she. I am very glad she is part of our Christian sister hood. May we all grow and learn from our experiences and have Christ as the centre of our lives. Thank you Kathy for being totally honest.
Kellie
I was really encouraged by this article. My faith has also been one that has developing slowly. It was great to see how she is parenting with God's wisdom and boundaries for her children - something I pray I will be able to maintin for my childrens sake. An imperfect past and an honest appraisal of the choices she made and why, serves to really encourage me. I too am far from perfect. Rather than wallow in guilt and therefore demostrate my unwillingness to receive Gods forgiveness, I am grateful for an example that uses a less than perfect past and acknowledges the work of God in that life, for a more Christlike outcome. This is not something we should "roll our eyes" at, but rather give thanks to God that he loves us and faithfully restores us to himself if we let Him. I am reminded of the less than perfect examples of bible, Abraham, King David, Peter and Paul. They serve as a reminder of what is important to God. Not that we are perfect, but that we prefer Him above all else.
Just Me
I have to say, it bothers me to hear a couple posts where they bring up her swimsuit past. This was her past! We all have things we've done in the past we're not proud of, even things now, and there will be things in our future. Don't judge her because of that. I liked how she said she did have limits as to what she would and would not wear. What do you think of that? And back then, her faith wasn't where it is now. And, in my humble opinion, when she said a bathing suit was a uniform, I'm sure she meant since she lived by the ocean, she was probably at the beach often. Should she have gone in a fur coat? Come on ladies.....don't judge like that.
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