From Sports Illustrated to Bible study, Kathy Ireland shares how God redeemed her story

By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Saturday, February 28, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kathy Ireland was 18, and alone in a Paris apartment when she opened a Bible her mother had tucked into her suitcase.

“I’d never read one before,” the 62-year-old former supermodel told The Christian Post. “I opened to the book of Matthew, and as I read, I knew that what I had in my hands was the truth. I just thought, I want to follow Him. I want to follow Jesus.”

It was 1981. Ireland had just begun modeling, a career that would eventually make her one of the most recognizable faces in the nation. But she said the moment of encountering Jesus reshaped how she understood success.

“If God is with us, who can be against us?” she said. “I didn’t care who liked me or didn’t like me. He loved me. What else mattered?”

The California native grew up believing in God, but didn’t have a personal relationship with Him, she told CP. That began to change when her mother returned to school to become a nurse and befriended a Christian classmate.

“My mom said, ‘What is it with you? You have three teenage daughters. I have three teenage daughters. But you have this peace,’” Ireland recalled. “And the woman said, ‘Jesus.’”

Her mother’s transformation left an impression. But Ireland said it wasn’t until that night in Paris, jet-lagged and isolated, that faith became personal. What struck her most, she said, was how Jesus treated women.

“I had been told growing up that following Jesus wasn’t good for women,” Ireland said. “But the truth was right there. Jesus loves women and honors and respects women. That was powerful, especially as a young woman entering an industry dominated by men of questionable character.”

The belief that she was loved and valued as a daughter of God, she said, gave her courage to walk away from situations that felt compromised.

“I could say no,” she said. “That mattered.”

Ireland went on to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, among other magazines, star in multiple films, and build a business empire spanning fashion, home furnishings, wellness and accessories. Her company has grown into one of the most valuable woman-owned licensing businesses in U.S. history, earning industry honors and recognition for producing affordable, family-focused products.

But she said she never wanted her identity tied to appearance or achievement.

“I didn’t want to earn a living on how someone else thought I looked,” she said. “That’s not my identity. Daughter of the King, I’ll take that one.”

Despite decades of public success, Ireland said her faith journey has been gradual and imperfect. In fact, she didn’t read the entire Bible until she was 44. 

"I love the Scripture that says, 'The one who is forgiven much loves much,' and I love a whole bunch. And in the past, I was a very slow learner, and God is so patient."

“It was bittersweet,” she said. “Sweet because I finally understood the love of the Father and how patient He is with us. Bitter because I realized I had wasted a lot of time. … The verse that God placed on my heart is Joel 2:25, intended for the Israelites, yet applicable to all of us. God says, 'I will restore the years the locusts have eaten.' And He's so faithful."

Today, Ireland said she’s passionate about studying the Bible, getting to know the nature of God and helping others develop biblical literacy. She leads a weekly Bible study that began in her mother’s living room in 2018 and later moved online during the pandemic.

“God has brought the most amazing women,” she said. “I recently met two in person for the first time after years on Zoom. They said, ‘It’s me from Bible study.’ That was so sweet.”

Ireland said passages about women and submission, specifically, are often misused, adding: “God does not condone abuse. The Word of God is our plumb line. Husbands are told to love their wives as Christ loved the church. That’s laying down your life. That’s strength.”

“The enemy knows the Word of God,” she added. “It's not enough to read it. It's not a book that you read like any other book. It's a living Word of God, and the enemy is the counterfeit. He tries to deceive. Bankers don’t study counterfeit money; they study real money so they can identify the counterfeit. We've got to know what the word of God says, so we can identify the counterfeit.”

Now a mother of three grown children and a grandmother, Ireland credits daily time in prayer and Scripture with grounding her and improving every part of her life.

“I started setting my alarm 15 minutes earlier,” she said. “That 15 minutes became an hour. If I don’t do that, I’m apologizing to someone by 7 a.m. … That’s my download time. He gives me wisdom and discernment. He’s made me a better mom, wife, grandmother and in work, more focus, more clarity.”

Ireland encouraged women, especially working mothers, to resist guilt and comparison, emphasizing that “there’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

“Our lives come in seasons. Sometimes we have to say no to good things to say yes to great things,” she said. “Even in business, there’s been betrayal. There’s been misplaced trust. But God is my boss. His Word is my plumb line.”

Reflecting on what hopes her legacy will be, Ireland stressed she “doesn’t care” about being known for acting, modeling or entrepreneurship. The most important thing to her now, she said, is leading others to Jesus.

“Being in the modeling industry, I saw how fickle it was, and our outward appearance is temporary,” she said. “I didn't want to earn a living on how someone else thought that I looked. That's not my identity.”

“I hope whatever I do points others to Jesus,” she said. “That’s why I’m here another day. I can honestly say I am good because God is good. I read the last page. It’s all going to be OK. Just keep your eyes on Him.”