How had this curious line of work begun for the ex-marine? Well, Ihrke had gone to visit friends in Chicago just before the conclusion of her four-year contract of service. Then, as one of her pals happened to be putting together a fashion show at the time, they asked Ihrke to walk the runway. She agreed, and the rest, as they say, is history.
This modeling debut did more than simply put Ihrke on the fashion world’s radar. Photographers began to get in touch, too. So, when the Corps discharged her, she went on to pursue a career in an industry that was far from the one to which she had grown accustomed. And it was an especially big change for someone who had been a tomboy throughout her life.
Still, having modeling as a new potential career path made it easier for Ihrke to decide to leave the Marines. She told The Sun in 2019, “Had I not had other dreams I still wanted to accomplish in my life, I would have re-enlisted without hesitation… And although I am no longer on active duty, I will always bleed green.”
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