Emily Ratajkowski
A model who leveraged viral music video fame into a powerful personal brand, challenging industry norms and ownership of her own image.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American model and actress·Birthday: June 7·Millennials
Biography
Emily Ratajkowski's career trajectory is a modern study in self-directed celebrity. Initially signing with a modeling agency as a teenager, her breakthrough was seismic but not traditional: a non-speaking, scene-stealing appearance in the 2013 music video for 'Blurred Lines' made her an overnight sensation. Rather than remain a muse, she quickly parlayed that visibility into high-fashion campaigns, magazine covers, and film roles. Ratajkowski has consistently used her platform to engage with feminist discourse, arguing for female autonomy over their bodies and sexuality. In 2021, she expanded her voice into writing with a collection of essays, 'My Body,' which dissects the complexities of beauty, power, and commodification in the digital age. Her path reflects a strategic navigation of an industry that often seeks to define women, insisting instead on defining herself.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Emily was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Emily Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Emily's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Published the essay collection 'My Body,' a New York Times bestseller exploring feminism and image.
- Founded Inamorata, a successful independent swimwear and clothing line, in 2017.
- Appeared on the covers of major international editions of magazines like Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Glamour.
- Leveraged a viral appearance in the 'Blurred Lines' music video into a sustained career as a top fashion model.
- Starred in feature films including 'Gone Girl' and 'I Feel Pretty'.
Did You Know?
She was born in London to American parents, which granted her dual citizenship.
She appeared in two music videos for Robin Thicke: 'Blurred Lines' and 'Give It 2 U'.
She studied at UCLA for a year before leaving to pursue modeling and acting full-time.
She is an outspoken advocate for reproductive rights and political causes, often using social media for activism.
As a child, she performed as a dancer with the San Diego Ballet.
“My sexuality is not for your pleasure or for your consumption. It’s for me.”
