The list of accolades against Kennedy's name if you look her up on Wikipedia is impressive and suggests that she should still retain a higher profile today. She's named as an actress, a model, a writer and producer, a spokeswoman, public speaker, and broadcaster. In reality, though, she largely retired from public life as the 1980s drew to a close and hasn't been seen much on television since.
Kennedy gave birth to three children during the 80s plus a fourth in the 1990s, so it's likely that she walked away from fame so she could focus on her family. She's still warmly remembered by legions of keen admirers though; 'Ebony Magazine' named her one of the twenty greatest sex symbols of the 20th century, and Coca Cola named her 'the most admired black woman in America.' She could have gone on to do whatever she wanted, but it seems that what she most wanted to be was a mother.