From the catwalk to the kitchen, Louisville supermodel is behind popular Weelicious brand

Meet TizzMar 9, 2020Read original

The founder and CEO of

, a massively popular healthy family lifestyle brand, tells The Courier Journal that her blog, books and successful

presence — with followers in the tens of thousands — were "created out of luck."

But we aren't buying that explanation.

Catherine McCord's success has much less to do with luck than a talent for listening to her inner passion. A passion that we discovered originally took root in Kentucky.

If you watch

, you may have caught the effervescent

alum blending up fruit and vegetable-rich delights with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager.

No stranger to the spotlight, McCord has talked up her easy and nutritious family recipes during interviews for People, Forbes, Access Hollywood, Parents Magazine and recently in the home kitchen of veteran newswoman Katie Couric.

But before there was an online empire or national television appearances, McCord was a kid growing up in Louisville with dreams of winning an athletic scholarship.

"I really wanted to play sports but I was diagnosed with cysts in both my hips which was devasting," McCord told The Courier Journal. "I was looking for something else to do, so I went along with a friend to a modeling contest at Lazarus Department store in the mall — and I won!"

That day at Oxmoor Center would alter McCord's life almost immediately in ways she could never have imagined.

Within the year, the blonde, blue-eyed 14-year-old was signed to

“Look of the Year” contest and whisked off to Japan. The opportunity fast-tracked her modeling career.

Throughout the 1990s, the Louisville native was considered one of the world's most sought after supermodels, posing for top designers and magazines like Vogue, Elle and Glamour. Juggling high school classes and a career, she walked the runway for Donna Karan. Her senior year at Kentucky Country Day, she modeled for a

campaign alongside fashion legends

and

.

McCord went on to model for Victoria's Secret, L’eggs pantyhose and was voted "One of the Sexiest Women in the World" in 2001 by readers of FHM, a British men's magazine.

By the late 90s, she branched out to add television and acting to her resume — McCord was one of the female co-hosts of MTV's "Loveline" television show.

She also acted in several films including

starring Dwayne Johnson,

with Matt Damon and

starring Kate Hudson, John Corbett and Joan Cusack.

But then September 11, 2001 happened. McCord was living in New York City at the time the World Trade Towers were destroyed, and her perspective on life changed.

"I had always had a passion for food, and I knew it was time to pursue that culinary interest, so I signed up for classes at the

, " McCord said. "When I was growing up in Kentucky, my grandparents grew food in their garden, and they would take us to Southern Indiana to U-Pick farms. I loved the idea of really fresh food and cooking from scratch like my grandmother."

As she made her move from the catwalk to the kitchen, McCord worked for restaurants and catering companies. She modeled less, cooked more, got married and became pregnant with her first of three children. It was then that she cooked up the idea that would lead to her healthy family lifestyle brand,

.

"Once I was pregnant, I began to realize that I could cook a gourmet meal but I had no idea what to feed a child and a family," she said. "I couldn't find any good solutions for simple nutritious recipes that my family would want to eat, so I started to create my own."

In 2007, using her knowledge from culinary school and her love of fresh food developed during her childhood in Kentucky, McCord started a blog to share her recipes for easy, unfussy and nutritious family cooking.

"I founded

as a resource to discuss recipes for babies and children, but I had no idea it would grow into what it has become today," she said.

With a quarter of a million followers on her

alone, McCord has become a "Mommy Blogger/Influencer" known for her easy to follow

and creative solutions to family mealtime.

Besides running Weelicious out of her home kitchen in Los Angeles, McCord has written three books including

and the new

This month McCord returns to her hometown to demonstrate some of her favorite recipes and autograph her book.

You can catch the Louisville model turned healthy lifestyle guru on Saturday, March 21 at 12 p.m. at Williams Sonoma in Mall St. Matthews, 5000 Shelbyville Road and at 2 p.m. the same day at Carmichaels, 2720 Frankfort Ave.

Her passion for smoothies is a result of searching for a healthy food-related solution to help her son, who had spent months feeling lethargic and suffering from headaches and nausea.

"So really what began as me trying to figure out why my son wasn't feeling well turned into a global movement of others focused on changing their health through what they’re drinking every day," she said.

The "Smoothie Project" includes over 100 smoothie recipes with information about the benefits of particular ingredients and how they work in the body. There are tips for quickly preparing smoothies and charts to help decode all of those ingredients you hear about but have no idea why they are supposed to be good for you like hemp seeds, matcha and Camu Camu, plus shopping lists and advice from top nutritionists.

“It is impossible to look at the rainbow of options in 'Smoothie Project' without seeing health on every page," actress Jennifer Garner is quoted in the book. " I am, as in all things, Weelicious sold.”

While the cookbook is meant for all ages, it may be particularly helpful for parents like Garner and McCord who are trying to introduce healthier foods into their child's diet.

Think about it — if you are a 5-year-old, a salad bowl of kale leaves isn't nearly as yummy as the "Pineapple Matcha" smoothie made from frozen pineapple, kale, Matcha, almond milk and vanilla protein powder. In fact, this option is way more delicious at any age.

"All of this relates to health and wellness for me," said McCord. "Very early on, growing up in Louisville I had a connection to food which was made with fresh healthy ingredients. I think I was more aware of how food felt to my body and I am glad that today it is a passion I can share."

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WHAT: Catherine McCord, a Louisville native and the founder of the popular website Weelicious, offers a way to change your life using only your blender. Whether you’re looking to improve your overall health, to combat a chronic condition, or to help your children eat better, this tried-and-tested collection of more than 100 delicious recipes —including Strawberry “Nice” Cream, Matcha Date Shake, Triple Green, Golden Milk and Chai Beauty Greens — will help you and your family achieve your goals practically and affordably.

COST: Hardcover $24.99, also available as an ebook

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