While you were scrambling at the supermarket for last minute Thanksgiving ingredients last Wednesday, GlobalGrind was kicking it on the phone with gorgeous pin-up model Brittany Ireland.
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Brittany looks familiar because you’ve seen the Chicago native in the company of Playboy, King and on The Howard Stern Show, showing off her beautiful charm and assets.
We chatted with Britt about travel, exercise, her humble beginnings and her other interests.
Check out our exclusive below!
When you were growing up, did you have any idea that you would end up being a pin-up model? Was that a dream of yours or something that you were interested in as a teenager?
It’s so crazy! I really had no idea that everything was going to turn into what it has. I started modeling when I was 13. I was in the mall with my mom and I got scouted by an agency in Chicago. I started doing print and runway work and I never took it seriously. I thought it was so cool to be modeling but I never figured down the road, six or seven years later, that I would be doing so well at it and it would be my job. It’s surreal and it’s taken on a life of its own.
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Do you remember the first job that gave you a lot of exposure? How did that feel and what was that job?
The very, very first job that gave me the most exposure was through Playboy. An article was written on thesmokingjacket.com. It was a little, funny piece and it was a little interview which got insane hits. From there I was featured on MTV.com, and then Howard Stern saw it. After that, it just exploded like wildfire! That’s when my name, Brittany Ireland, got out. From there it has been an amazing journey. I have been every place you could possibly imagine and I still want to go more places.
What was it like working with Howard Stern?
It was amazing! Howard Stern is such a legend, you get prepped and what not, but it’s always scary. When we got there, they brought me upstairs and put me in the green room and I am sitting in this green room thinking about all these famous people who have been in this green room. I’m sitting there thinking, ‘This is not happening!’ And when we finally did the interview, it just went so well! We were joking back, Robin was amazing! She was so sweet. I thought she was going to be mean to me. After, Howard said that was it was a great interview, that I did really well and ‘We would love to have you back.” I said definitely!
From there everything has gone up, even with Playboy. After that aired, Playboy TV contacted me and had me in their series called Camp Playboy. We filmed that in California. Lots of good stuff came out of it. I really love Howard and his whole staff.
You’re recognizable now. Have you ever thought about transitioning from pin-up modeling to something else?
We have some stuff that I can’t talk about right now, but I’ve got some pretty cool things coming up. It’s really interesting that so many models are strictly urban models, or they are mainly mainstream and they aren’t really crossing that platform. King magazine just dropped, I had the centerfold in that. It was about seven features and a two page interview. Right after King, I have Playboy coming out, too.
The good thing about my brand is I’m versatile. I really don’t like to define myself as a model. My ultimate goal is what my team is gearing for and they are doing a great job in steering me in that direction, to hit every market, in a sense, to be everywhere like a global pop icon. I don’t want to be promoting the gossip and the normal blog type of nonsense. I like to strictly be doing work and focus on my work. Sometimes something may come up on Bossip or something like that, and most of the time, I don’t pay attention to it.
Modeling is not as rigorous as acting (but it is still something that is my passion) and I take it very seriously. Right now I see myself moving into the acting and TV realm, that’s the long term goal and I am really excited about that. I have two magazine covers coming out and some TV stuff, so it is going to be a good year.
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How do you stay in shape?
My mom was a model. She was tall and had blonde hair and blue eyes and she is 5 foot 10. I eat pizza like it’s my job. I am the worst when it comes to going to the gym. My manager has to call me and tell me to go to the gym. I do not like running on the treadmill. I hate things that are time centered. I want to do what I want and just go with the flow. I try to eat healthy but it doesn’t really work out, so I would be lying if I said that I did. I don’t know what it is, maybe I have high metabolism or something. I just eat a lot of pizza and drink a lot of wine. Maybe that combination, somehow, is magical!
Your mom must be pretty psyched that you’re having all this success!
My mom and my dad are both really supportive. The one stipulation they had when I was growing up was that if I wanted to pursue high fashion modeling, I had to go to college. They stressed getting a degree. I stopped school randomly, but I picked back up. When I tell you randomly, this is what I mean: I had flown out to Chicago to see one of my girlfriends and she said, ‘I have a casting, come with me.’ I said OK and I ended up going with her. When I got to the audition with my friend, they said, ‘You’re gorgeous! Will you test?’ I ended up testing, it went great and the next day they invited me to some private party they had at the headquarters for all the employees.
It snowballed from there and then I started doing Playboy.com work and in the cyber area where the games are! Then I started doing Playboy Mobile, Playboy Live and Playboy Radio. I was their go-to girl of color, which was cool, and it is a huge honor.
Playboy is such an iconic brand! It’s a brand that is so recognizable all over the world and my fan base initially started with Playboy. They have stayed with me on this journey, so it’s really nice to see these fans who were there at the first photo shoot, now at King magazine.
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What are some of the things that you don’t like about this business?
People always ask me this and I don’t know if I am oblivious or I just have a great team behind me. I think it is all about how you handle yourself and how you handle whatever it is you’re doing. I luckily haven’t encountered too much negativity. Fingers crossed, I hope it stays that way!
What are your favorite destinations for work and play?
My favorite spot to play? I love Miami. Miami is my go-to spot for vacation! Plus I have a house in Naples, Florida so I go to Miami and then take the drive down to Naples and just chill. I really like Mexico. I love Cancun. It sounds really Spring Break-ish, but I love places with high energy. I’ll vacation in Vegas, but I don’t really like going out of the country because my mom is sick with cancer. When I do have downtime, I try to stay closer to home in case something happens, God forbid, so I would be able to be there. Otherwise I like to travel to L.A. a lot when I am not in Chicago. I love Detroit and, obviously, I love New York. The only place that I haven’t been is Atlanta and I keep hearing about all of these strip clubs out there, but I haven’t gotten the chance to check any of this out. Maybe one day I will.
Are you going to be seeing your mom for the holidays?
I am! I am going to be spending Thanksgiving with my mommy and my daddy! I will be with them, eating her macaroni and cheese and her turkey! I have to go work but I am still excited to spend some time with my family.
A lot of what I do now, my motivation is to make my mom proud. You never know how long people are going to be on this earth and she gets so much joy when she sees me in an interview or on TV. Some people do things for the money or the fame or power or whatever, but my motivation is a little different from other people. My motivation is to make her happy. She has brain, lung and lymph node cancer so she doesn’t have that long. I am pushing to get everything done quickly so I can show her that this is for her.
