Kathy Ireland is a name synonymous with the fashion industry, having graced countless
magazine covers and runways during her modeling career.
Notably, Ireland was a famed supermodel back in the 80s and 90s.
She rose to fame after appearing in 13 consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuits, three of which
she was featured on the cover.
But her achievements go far beyond modeling.
From building a multi-million dollar brand to becoming a philanthropist, Kathy Ireland
has shown that with faith, hard work, and determination, anything is possible.
What sets Kathy Ireland apart from many other successful individuals is her unyielding faith
in God.
Throughout her life and career, she has relied on her faith to guide her decisions and actions.
In this video, we will take a closer look at Kathy Ireland's career and her unwavering
belief in the power of prayer and faith.
We will examine how her faith has influenced her life and career, and how it has helped
her overcome challenges and obstacles along the way.
So, let's dive in and explore the remarkable journey of Kathy Ireland, a woman who has
never lost sight of her faith, even in the face of adversity.
Facts Verse Presents: Kathy Ireland Shocks Fans with Her Confession About Jesus
Kathy Ireland’s Spiritual Awakening
Kathy Ireland was born on March 20, 1963, in Glendale, California.
She grew up in Santa Barbara, California, in a tight-knit family with three sisters
and one brother.
Her parents were devout Christians, and faith played a central role in their family life.
When Ireland was sixteen, she was scouted at her high school by Elite Model Management.
By eighteen, Ireland was a lonely up-and-coming model living in a drab rundown French apartment
at the end of a dreary hallway that she and her housemates nicknamed "the dungeon".
While she would one day become one of the most sought-after models in the industry,
Ireland had to fight her way tooth-and-nail to the top in a notoriously cutthroat industry.
Before her efforts would be rewarded, she had to pay her dues and prove her worth.
No doubt, she questioned her career path on numerous occasions during those uncertain
times, but fortunately, she was able to find a glimmer of hope that kept her going.
It was during this time that the future entrepreneur developed a new relationship with the divine.
In 2021, Ireland told Fox News that while she was living in Paris, she was struggling
to keep her head up.
While modeling in France might sound pretty glamorous to some, it wasn't at all what she
expected when she first boarded a flight out of California en route to Europe.
She was all alone and didn't have much of a plan to speak, but she still knew that it
was an opportunity that could potentially lead her to bigger and better things.
While modeling, Ireland could save money for college or perhaps start a business.
At the time, she was fresh out of high school, and unlike today's youth, she had little in
the way of technology or other distractions to hide her back from remaining focused on
the prize.
During one evening in 1981, Ireland was going through her suitcase when she discovered a
bible that her mother had secretly packed for her.
While she had grown up in a religious household, she admittedly didn’t even know how to read
the Bible.
Still, she felt strangely drawn to the book, so she decided to just open it up and start
reading.
After turning to the book of Matthew, she proceeded to read throughout the night.
She knew at that moment that she was holding, and we quote, "truth" in her hands.
While there wasn't anyone else in the room telling her that she needed to join any particular
church or denomination, she knew right then and there that she wanted to be a follower
of Jesus Christ.
Something about Jesus and the words that she was reading in that old Bible seemed to come
alive.
She felt a strange sense of power and comfort sweep over her for the first time in her life.
Ireland told Fox that her industry, especially back then, it was filled with "a lot of really
sketchy guys".
But after reading the Bible, she felt drawn to how powerful Jesus was.
After reading the Gospels, she especially felt comforted by how loving and respectful
Jesus was to women.
So, right then and there, she confessed Christ as her Lord and Savior.
Looking back on that moment, Ireland says that the experience forever changed her life.
As Ireland continued to pursue what would eventually become a very successful modeling
career, she felt like she was failing in business.
Although she would one day be the brains behind a multi-billion dollar company, she had yet
to arrive at that first breakthrough moment.
If she had, likely her modeling career would have never taken off.
So, looking back on things, she probably feels like things played out precisely as they were
supposed to.
Even so, those initial failures really rattled her.
While she easily could have lost hope, she was able to keep trudging forward while relying
on her faith in God.
Studying The Bible Wasn’t Simple
The Bible can be a somewhat intimidating book to anyone that’s never read it before.
After all, it’s comprised of 66 smaller books and letters written by dozens of writers
over the course of a couple of millennia.
Without having an understanding of its ancient context, some of the Bible’s passages are
hard for a new believer to fully grasp.
Still, Kathy Ireland remained steadfast and determined to understand its message as her
modeling career skyrocketed.
After finding success, she could have put her faith on the back burner, but she knew
that if she did that, she would be neglecting one of the most powerful things in her life.
While reading the Bible, Ireland found many of its passages to be very uplifting and inspiring
while others seemed very perplexing and hard to grasp.
At first, she was simply picking and choosing what she liked while neglecting the rest.
She later admitted to trying to mold God into what she wanted him to be instead of surrendering
and letting him mold her into the kind of person she was made to be.
It wasn’t until Ireland was 44 that she finally read the entire Bible from cover to
cover.
Ever since then, however, she says that the Bible continues to teach and guide her every
day.
Today, Ireland is 59 years old and has three children, a loving husband, and a thriving
business.
Though she very easily could have prioritized her career above everything else throughout
her life, she has remained committed to putting her faith first.
Years ago, she started setting her morning alarm to make time for 10 minutes of prayer.
In time those ten minutes of prayer and Bible study turned into an hour or more.
To her, spirituality and faith aren't merely something that she pencils into her schedule.
Rather, it reflects a deep and longing need within her to get to know her creator.
She prays and studies not out of a sense of duty, but rather out of joy.
She even likes to call it her 'daily bread and water'.
Her Faith Kept Her Going
In 1993, Kathy pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a businesswoman when she founded
the Kathy Ireland Worldwide brand.
In 2015, it was reported by Forbes that she had grown into one of the most successful
women in America while building a $420 million fortune.
At the time, her name, style, and marketing were attached to some 17,000 products.
To become successful in the realm of business, one has to develop a thick coat of armor.
As Ireland developed her brand, she learned that she had to rely upon her faith to keep
going when doors were initially being slammed in her face.
Looking back on things, Ireland attests that the gospel was and still is at the core of
every decision that she makes.
Even so, she's quick to point out that her company isn't an explicitly Christian one.
She employs team members from all sorts of different backgrounds and beliefs and never
attempts to force her faith on anyone.
That said, she's not ashamed of her beliefs, nor does she do anything intentionally that
contradicts them.
The last thing she wants to do is compromise her faith, as she is so grateful for all that
God has blessed her with.
Even though her life hasn't always been so bright and brilliant, and she's certainly
made her fair share of mistakes just like the rest of us, she takes comfort in the fact
that Jesus gives her a sense of perspective and an eternal purpose.
She Wants To Give Back
Kathy Ireland feels like God has blessed her immensely throughout her life.
As such, she has always been passionate about giving back to those in need.
Her philanthropic work spans across a wide range of causes, from helping children and
families in crisis to advocating for animal rights and environmental conservation.
One of the most notable organizations she has been involved with is the Elizabeth Taylor
AIDS Foundation.
For World AIDS Day in 2017, Ireland donated $100,000 to Taylor's foundation.
Kathy Ireland has also used her platform to raise awareness about important social and
environmental issues.
She has been a vocal advocate for animal rights and has worked with organizations such as
the Humane Society of the United States.
She has also been an outspoken supporter of environmental conservation efforts and has
worked with the Rainforest Foundation and other similar organizations.
In addition to her charitable work, Kathy Ireland has also created her own philanthropic
initiatives.
In 2005, she founded the Kathy Ireland Worldwide Charities, which supports a variety of causes,
including education, health, and safety.
Through her philanthropic work, Kathy Ireland has made a significant impact on the lives
of countless individuals, and her legacy of giving back continues to inspire others to
do the same.
Isn’t it inspiring to learn how Kathy Ireland’s faith has continued to play an active role
in her life even after finding so much success?
It makes you wonder where she even would be today if her mother hadn’t tucked that Bible
away in her suitcase as a teenager.
On that note, we’ll go ahead and wrap things up, but that just means it’s now your turn
to let your voice be heard.
Did you know that Kathy Ireland was such a devout Christian and do you think her faith
has helped inspire others to seek out a relationship with God?
Let us know in the comments.
And as always, thanks for watching!