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The Surprising Truth About How Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Kathy Ireland Became a Christian

Kathy Ireland is known as one of the most famous supermodels of the 1980s and ’90s. She has been on fashion magazine covers, such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan, among others, and Sports Illustrated, which she was on the cover for 13 years in a row, even named the former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model 1989 cover as “The Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover of All Time” during the magazine publisher’s 50th Anniversary event.

@sigogglinn#morph #kathyireland #model #fashionmodel #modellife #famousmodel #popculture♬ In the Summertime – Mungo Jerry

But Kathy Ireland didn’t stop her successful career there. She developed a brand, Kathy Ireland Worldwide that has made her 100s of millions of dollars, as well. She’s even been in movies and TV. Perhaps you’re familiar with all of this. What you might not know is that Kathy Ireland is a devout and outspoken Christian, and has been on this faith journey since 1981.

To watch 30-minute interview about Kathy Ireland and her business, watch this:

The Faith Journey of Former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model, Kathy Ireland

Kathy Ireland, the entrepreneur and former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, was just a budding model in Paris in 1981 when she became a Christian. It all started when she found a Bible her mother had snuck into her suitcase.

At the time, her 18-year-old life wasn’t especially glamorous. She explained to Fox News, “I was living in Paris, and it was a really hard time.”

The former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model describes that time as lonely and explained her French apartment in which she lived with roommates as old and the hall leading to the apartment to be dungeon-like.

According to Kathy she had originally intended to go to college and eventually start a business, and modeling had been just a means to pay for those dreams. She explained, “I know it might sound glamorous, but I was alone modeling. It wasn’t my plan, but I recognized it as an opportunity.”

Kathy Ireland explained that her attempts at businesses were failing at the time. “If something would have taken off earlier, the modeling career wouldn’t have gone for so long, Kathy Ireland shared about her original pursuits in the business world.

Jessica Sausto
Jessica Sausto
Jessica Sausto is a longtime writer and editor of Christian resources, news, and information.

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