Kathy Ireland, 61, was a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model and pals with Elizabeth Taylor – see her now

Kathy Ireland thrived as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover girl in the 1980s.

The pH๏τogenic wonder was also on many Cosmopolitan magazine covers. 

And the California native was known as a fitness model who was regularly posed in bicycle shorts and sports bras for ads.

She is now a furniture mogul who has made a fortune in the business world thanks to her brand savvy. Her company is now worth $3billion.

The star – who is now worth a reported $500million – still looks incredible today.

Kathy Ireland thrived as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover girl in the 1980s and she still looks great today

Kathy Ireland thrived as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover girl in the 1980s and she still looks great today

At the age of 16, Kathy was scouted and shortly after, became a prominent face in the modeling world. Aside from appearing on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, she has also shown up on covers for Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Forbes

At the age of 16, Kathy was scouted and shortly after, became a prominent face in the modeling world. Aside from appearing on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, she has also shown up on covers for Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Forbes

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Ireland was a big supermodel in the 1980s. She appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit three times. 

Her 1989 Sports Illustrated cover became a top selling magazine, and was awarded the Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover of all Time during the magazine’s 50th anniversary event. 

At the age of 16, Kathy was scouted and shortly after, became a prominent face in the modeling world. 

Aside from appearing on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover, she has also shown up on covers for Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Forbes. 

She has since become a design powerhouse. 

The mom of three has devoted herself to running her Kathy Ireland Worldwide company, which as of 2021, has made a grand total of $3.1 billion in sales. 

Her 1989 Sports Illustrated cover became a top selling magazine, and was awarded the Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover of all Time during the magazine's 50th anniversary event

Her 1989 Sports Illustrated cover became a top selling magazine, and was awarded the Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover of all Time during the magazine’s 50th anniversary event

Here she is seen in her early days of modeling

Here she is seen in her early days of modeling 

This was 40 years ago: The siren seen in an ad for a piece of gym equipment

This was 40 years ago: The siren seen in an ad for a piece of gym equipment

Sports Illustrated 30th Anniversary Swimsuit Special: L-R: Elle MacPherson, Kathy and Rachel Hunter

Sports Illustrated 30th Anniversary Swimsuit Special: L-R: Elle MacPherson, Kathy and Rachel Hunter

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She was also close friends with Elizabeth Taylor, who gave her guidance in the business world.

Kathy’s other pᴀssion is focused on charity work and philanthropy. 

This comes after she opened up a second location for her Kathy Ireland Recover Center in in 2021.

The entrepreneur opened her first recovery center last year in 2021 in New Hampshire. 

To continue to offer ᴀssistance to those suffering from mental health issues and substance abuse disorders, Kathy opened an additional location in West Virginia. 

The former supermodel posted a pH๏τo of herself posing next to a sign that stated, ‘Kathy Ireland Recovery Centers.’ 

She added a caption to her post, explaining the purpose and to announce the official second opening. 

‘Each of us has, will, or is engaged in the war on addiction. It is not a health crisis that anyone can avoid confronting in some form,’ she typed out. ‘We welcome all to the opening of kathy ireland Recovery Centers, Williamson.’ 

The official website states, ‘These rehabilitation programs serve individuals and families struggling with mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs).’ 

The mom of three also explained that, ‘Expanding our company’s health advocacy into the area of mental health and substance use disorder has been a long-held top priority goal.’ 

Here she was seen five years ago on Instagram

Here she was seen five years ago on Instagram 

The mom of three has devoted herself to running her Kathy Ireland Worldwide company, which as of 2021, has made a grand total of $3.1 billion in sales

The mom of three has devoted herself to running her Kathy Ireland Worldwide company, which as of 2021, has made a grand total of $3.1 billion in sales

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For years, the philanthropist has been dedicated to helping those battling with addiction and other health needs.  

During an interview with USA Today, Kathy opened up about her other work with Let’s Talk Interactive, a telehealth solution to ᴀssist those who need access to healthcare. 

‘It’s bringing telemedicine to a lot of people,’ she explained to the publication. ‘It’s throughout the world, which is exciting.’ 

She also talked about the war on the opioid crisis. amid her interview with USA Today. ‘This is a battle that can be won. There is hope. There is victory.’

Seen in Paris in October on Instagram

Seen in Paris in October on Instagram

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Kathy has put a lot of her time and devotion to charity, such as the March of Dimes, City of Hope, and Feed the Children. Earlier this year, she also launched Music Funds The Cure for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.  

Following her modeling days, Kathy became CEO of her own brand licensing company in 1993, which began with a basic pair of socks. 

According to Today, the business mogul now, ‘designs and markets some 17,000 products.’ 

When it comes to being successful in the industry, the author explained to the publication that some of the keys are to, ‘consider others as more important than yourself,’ and, ‘all that you give is all that you get.’ 

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