Kathy Ireland on how the fashion industry is becoming more inclusive

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Kathy Ireland rose to fame as a supermodel in the 1980s and 1990s. She’s best known for appearing in 13 consecutive Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues. She’s gone on to become an entrepreneur and build a multi-billion dollar empire with her brand “Kathy Ireland Worldwide.” Ireland tells Yahoo Life the first model she hired when she started her brand was her mom. “I love representing every shape, size, color and age,” she says. “We’re seeing that more and more and I love that. Everyone wants to be represented and I think that’s important.” She also says that old job description of “shut up and pose” is not acceptable anymore. She encourages women to use their voices. “Do not let anyone or your circumstances dismiss you.”

Video Transcript

KATHY IRELAND: That old job description was shut up and pose. And I reject that today. And I encourage everyone, do not let anyone or your circumstances dismiss you.

When I worked in the modeling industry, it was just a very limited look. It was frustrating to me. And my girlfriends used to give me a hard time, and they'd say, you know, we're not going to spend our money on a magazine to look at pictures of skinny, retouched women wearing clothes we can't afford. But when you have your own business, your own brand, keep it real. And I always remembered that.

The first model I hired was my mom. And I loved representing every shape, size, color, and age. We're seeing that more and more. And I love that. Everybody wants to be represented. And I think that's important.

When I worked as a model, people would ask me, what's your biggest modeling secret? And my answer was a great photo retoucher. I mean, today, it's Photoshop, but everybody can do what they want to their images. I do see just undue pressure that it puts on people to try to conform to unattainable images.

One of the positives that I've experienced in the fashion industry is more inclusion. And I love that. To see that reflected physically in the modeling industry, I think it's beautiful, and it's encouraging, and it's needed. When you work in the modeling industry, you're working with different clients all the time. And they're telling you, go here, do this, wear this.

And it's so important to recognize and acknowledge, what are your values. If there was an outfit that I didn't feel comfortable wearing, to know what you stand firm on and what you're willing to walk away from. And whatever area of life that you're in, I encourage everyone, figure out your values. For me, it's my faith it's my family, and then being of service through the work.

I started my company in '93 with a single pair of socks. I was an aging model at my kitchen table. And today, we work in the area of real estate, fintech, diamonds, fashion, wonderful sectors of business.

Kathy Ireland Swim [INAUDIBLE] it's fashionable, it's fun, it's comfortable. It lets you move and be active in the swimwear in a variety of silhouettes. It's important to remember beautiful people come in every shape, size, color, and age.

Find a silhouette that most complements your physique, and get it in different colors once you find that cut that really works for you. But really embrace your own beauty. Each person has it.

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