By Michaela Gordoni
Kathy Ireland is trading her high heels for fishing waders as she explores a new career in commercial fishing.
In July, Ireland revealed she has her open-ocean commercial fishing license from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. She works as a crew member on the 4th Watch, captained by her husband, former emergency room physician Dr. Greg Olsen.
“It’s pretty wonderful,” Ireland told Fox News Digital. “I’m so grateful for the opportunities that I have.”
“I grew up camping and fishing,” she explained. “My husband, he’s been fishing since he was 3 years old.”
She said she always wanted to be out on the boat with her husband, and she jumps at the opportunity when she has the time.
She’s still the CEO and chief designer of her global multi-billion-dollar Kathy Ireland Brands, which licenses products and services including fashion, home decor, furniture and other things.
“The lessons I’m learning from being out at sea are amazing,” she said. “They’re powerful. Much of it aligns with business.”
Related: Kathy Ireland Shares Faith Journey: ‘My Life Forever Changed’
“And being out there in truly God’s country where we’re just surrounded by just the wide open sea — it’s beautiful. It’s hard work, but I have a renewed appreciation for what my husband and so many others do,” she said.
“I knew it was hard work. But I knew unless I experienced it, I wouldn’t fully understand why he has this passion,” she said of her husband.
She’s still “learning the ropes” — literally.
“When you’re tying those ropes — we’ve got 360-pound traps — it’s critical that they’re tied correctly, or else you can lose those traps. And the work that goes into it, the precision, is absolutely excellent,” Ireland said.
“The first few days, I was struggling, as typically first mate or crew works the rails while the captain is driving,” she explained. “And working the rails, you’re pulling up the traps when you identify your buoy, you’re pulling up the trap, you’re scraping off the kelp and then you’re rolling it onto the rails. And it was so heavy and it was so hard.”
She says she has no fear of the sharks out in the open ocean.
“I much prefer the sharks in the ocean than I do those in business,” she said. “I’ll deal with those, but the ones in the sea, I love those ones.”
“You’ve got to be able to pivot,” she said of fishing. “You’ve got to be alert and focused. And you’ve got to be able to take in the elements, everything that’s hitting you at once, and you have to act decisively and focus.”
She recently gushed about lobster fishing on Instagram: “Lobster fishing is hard work! Sore from head to toe but a good kind of sore! Back at it tomorrow!”
“Non-stop from pre-dawn to post dusk, the most beautiful scenery everywhere and the most handsome captain!’ she shared.
She also shared a photo of herself filling bait jars.
“Though I love working with my husband on the most beautiful ocean, as I’m filling bait jars with warm squishy mackerel, this is the verse that fills my heart!” Ireland said. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:13.”
Some may be surprised by Ireland’s career spin. But for her, the new chapter presents worthwhile challenges and refreshing purpose.
Read Next: Kathy Ireland Talks Faith Journey: ‘I Love Jesus. I Want To Follow Him’
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