Kathy Ireland was almost unrecognizable when she was spotted by the DailyMail.com camera in Montecito this week
But the Sports Illustrated supermodel is ready to rejuvenate her stunning face – and expand her already booming brand licensing business – by teaming up with renowned beauty brand Luminesse.
Luminesse, a line that includes beauty solutions for the skin and air, has teamed up with Kathy Ireland Worldwide (kiWW) to develop the first curated product line to bear her name, which they say “redefines the industry’s approach to beauty for will transform all ages.”
Ireland became one of the world’s richest supermodels after launching her lucrative brand licensing business at the height of her highly successful career as a cover girl.
After getting her big break as a model in the 1980s, the brunette beauty’s first claim to fame appeared in thirteen consecutive issues of Sports Illustrated, including three covers – one of which the magazine would call one of the greatest swimsuit covers of all time in 2014.
Kathy Ireland was almost unrecognizable when she was spotted by the DailyMail.com camera in Montecito this week
Her 1989 Sports Illustrated cover became a top-selling magazine and was awarded the best Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover of all time at the magazine’s 50th anniversary event.
But it looks like the Sports Illustrated supermodel is ready to rejuvenate her stunning face — and expand her already booming brand licensing business — by teaming up with renowned beauty brand Luminesse.
Dressed in a denim jacket, blue jeans and flip-flops, the 13-time Sports Illustrated swimsuit model looked casual and relaxed
The model-turned-entrepreneur, who turns 61 this month, was spotted in her Montecito neighborhood on Tuesday, making a quick stop at Pierre LaFond & Co Marketplace to grab one of their popular $4 large cookies, an exclusive reveals photos from DailyMail.com.
Dressed in a denim jacket, blue jeans and slippers, Ireland looked casual and relaxed – a stark contrast to the glamorous image she was known for in her heyday.
Her However, the famous mane of tawny hair was clearly visible and flowing as she walked into the store. She only spent a few minutes picking up some goods before driving away.
Locals and clients didn’t seem to recognize the down-to-earth local beauty who made such a big splash in the modeling and business world.
Ireland, who grew up in Santa Barbara, was seen again the next day while shopping at the local bank, where she withdrew several hundred dollar bills.
At one point, she appeared engrossed in her cell phone, carefully checking her receipt as she walked back to her car.
The model-turned-entrepreneur, who turns 61 this month, was spotted in her neighborhood on Tuesday during a quick trip to the Pierre LaFond & Co Marketplace to grab one of their popular $4 large cookies, exclusive photos from DailyMail reveal .com
Ireland rose to fame as a supermodel in the 80s and 90s, appearing in Sports Illustrated for 13 consecutive swimsuit issues and on three covers
Kathy was discovered by modeling agencies at the age of 17, while attending high school
To Montecito residents, the brunette is just Kathy, the cute tomboy who became a stunner and grew up surfing and biking in the idyllic seaside town
Ireland rose to fame as a supermodel in the 1980s and 1990s before launching kiWW, which reportedly grosses $2 billion annually and gives her a personal net worth of around $400 million.
But to the residents of Montecito, she’s just Kathy, the cute tomboy who became a firecracker and grew up surfing Hammond’s Beach in Santa Barbara, riding her bike along Coast Village Road and even having her own newspaper route nearby.
As she grew into a stunning beauty as a teenager, she worked as a hostess at the popular family restaurant and pizzeria Petrini’s in nearby Santa Barbara.
A local resident tells DailyMail.com: ‘Let’s just say this: when Kathy had a shift, there were a ton of pizzas sold. She wasn’t so arrogant then, she was – and is – one of the nicest people around.’
At the age of 17, Kathy was discovered while attending high school.
This was 40 years ago: the siren featured in an advertisement for a fitness machine
Today, Ireland runs a lucrative brand licensing company, Kathy Ireland Worldwide, which reportedly brings in $2 billion annually and gives her a personal net worth of approximately $400 million.
Ireland married Dr. in 1988. Greg Olsen, and the couple have three children, Erik, 29, Lily, 25, and Chloe, 20, (pictured right in 2019)
By the time she graduated from high school in 1981 – from San Marcos, Santa Barbara – she was working full-time at the Elite Modeling Agency.
She appeared in Sports Illustrated magazine for 13 consecutive swimsuit issues and on three covers.
In 1993, she started kiWW with a simple sock line that became a hit at Kmart.
From then on, its licensing agreements included furniture, rugs, clothing and a total of 15,000 products.
With her busy schedule, it’s no wonder she isn’t seen much in Montecito.
Nowadays, Ireland’s social media shows that she is very busy with her business and family.
In 2018, she sold her two-acre Tuscan-style estate there for almost $13 million, but she still lives in the Santa Barbara area.
The devout Christian married Dr. in 1988. Greg Olsen, and the couple have three children: Erik, 29, Lily, 25, and Chloe, 20.
