With over 16 million workout videos sold since 1980, Kathy Smith has become a household name in fitness. A mother of two, Kathy also serves on the board of the USC School of Gerontology, the Women's Sports Foundation and is a recipient of the IDEA Lifetime Achievement Award from IDEA Health & Fitness, the world's largest professional fitness organization.
Farrah
In the early days of my career, I had the pleasure of meeting Farrah Fawcett when we were both spokesmodels for Faberge products. I appeared in ads for their “Babe” perfume, while Farrah, of course, promoted shampoo.
We flew to Mexico for a Faberge conference, where we met with their Board (including none other than Cary Grant) and spoke to their salespeople. Even though I’d only released one workout album at the time, I had no problem jumping up on stage to get the crowd moving. Then it was Farrah’s turn to appear, and in spite of her stardom, there was no trace of a larger-than-life icon. She was soft-spoken, delicate, and surprisingly shy. Even when I’d run into her on occasion, years later, at Ryan O’Neal’s Pro Gym, she maintained a sweetness and a warmth that I’ve rarely seen in starlets of her caliber.
I was moved by her incredibly brave TV documentary “Farrah’s Story.” It not only showed us her excruciating battle, but her will to survive. And thanks to her courage, talent, and beauty, she’ll stay with us.
