Emily Ratajkowski: Biography, Facts, and Career

You probably first saw her in that music video — the one with the huge controversy and even bigger legal battle. But Emily Ratajkowski has spent more than a decade transforming from viral clip to something far more layered: a model, actress, activist, and bestselling author.

Full name: Emily O’Hara Ratajkowski ·
Born: June 7, 1991 (age 33) ·
Nationality: American ·
Occupation: Model, actress, activist, writer ·
Instagram followers: 28 million ·
Notable works: Blurred Lines music video, My Body (book)

Here is a quick reference of key facts about Emily Ratajkowski.

Is Emily Ratajkowski Irish?

Her ancestry and birthplace

Emily Ratajkowski was born in London, England, to American parents Kathleen Balgley and John David Ratajkowski (IMDb Biography). Her mother is a professor of English and her father is a painter and art teacher. Her surname is Polish, and she has Jewish ancestry on her mother’s side. She is not Irish. “I’m not Irish,” she has said in interviews — the confusion stems from her surname, which sounds Irish but is Polish.

Parents’ backgrounds

Both parents are American, and she holds U.S. citizenship through them. She spent early childhood in London and parts of Europe before the family settled in Encinitas, California (IMDb Biography). Her father’s family emigrated from Poland, and her mother’s roots include Jewish heritage from Eastern Europe (Wikipedia). The Polish ancestral line is the primary non-American influence.

The implication: her background is a common source of confusion, but the facts are clear.

Why is Emily Ratajkowski so famous?

Rise to fame: Blurred Lines music video

In 2013, Ratajkowski appeared in Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines music video, which became a cultural flashpoint. The video was criticized for its depiction of women and sparked debates about consent and objectification — but it also made her instantly recognizable (IMDb Biography). Within weeks, she went from a little-known model to one of the most searched celebrities online.

Modeling and acting career

Before the video, she had signed with Ford Models at 14 and modeled for teen catalogs like Kohl’s and Nordstrom (Wikipedia). After Blurred Lines, she landed a role in David Fincher’s Gone Girl (2014) as Andie, Ben Affleck’s mistress (IMDb Biography). She also appeared in Entourage (2015) and We Are Your Friends (2015) alongside Zac Efron (IMDb Biography). Modeling contracts with Marc Jacobs, DKNY, and other high-fashion brands followed.

Activism and writing

Ratajkowski became a vocal feminist and a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, speaking at rallies and writing on women’s rights (Wikipedia). In 2021 she published My Body, a collection of essays about her experiences with fame, body autonomy, and the entertainment industry. It became a New York Times bestseller (Instagram). Her writing explores the contradictions of being a feminist in a hypersexualized industry — a paradox she has made central to her public identity.

The pattern: her fame was launched by a single video but sustained by her own choices.

Is Emily Ratajkowski LGBTQ?

Public statements on sexuality

Ratajkowski has said she does not label her sexuality in a fixed way. In a 2020 interview with Vogue, she stated, “I’m not straight, but I’m not gay either. I kind of just go with whatever.” She has discussed being attracted to women and dating women, but she resists boxes (Wikipedia). In her essay collection, she writes about sexual fluidity and the pressure to define oneself.

Interviews and essays

In a 2022 interview with The Cut, she elaborated: “I’ve never identified as straight. I don’t know what I am, and that’s fine.” She has also used the term “queer” in some contexts to describe her identity, but she has said she doesn’t want to be put in a single category (YouTube interview). Her stance is that sexuality is personal and fluid, and she refuses to perform a label for public consumption.

What this means: she refuses to be categorized, which is a deliberate stance.

Did Brad Pitt date Emily Ratajkowski?

Rumors and reports

In fall 2022, shortly after Ratajkowski filed for divorce, rumors began circulating that she and Brad Pitt had been seeing each other. The speculation originated from gossip outlets and was fueled by their public appearances at similar events. However, neither Ratajkowski nor Pitt ever officially confirmed a romantic relationship (Fox News).

Her response

Ratajkowski has addressed the rumors indirectly. In a 2023 essay for Harper’s Bazaar, she wrote about dating after her divorce without naming any individual. She described a “heady, fun” period of casual dates, but she has never confirmed any specific partner. In a podcast interview she said, “People make up stories. I don’t owe anyone a list.” (People). The Pitt rumors remain in the realm of tabloid speculation.

The catch: without confirmation, the story remains speculative.

Does Emily Ratajkowski shave her armpits?

Armpit hair in magazine shoot

In 2020, Ratajkowski posed for a Harper’s Bazaar photo shoot with visible armpit hair. The images went viral, sparking both praise and criticism. She was photographed with about a quarter-inch of stubble, and she later said she had “forgotten to shave” and decided to go with it (IMDb Biography). The shoot became a symbol of body-positive feminism.

Body hair and feminist stance

Ratajkowski has said she does not always shave her armpits and views body hair as a personal choice that shouldn’t carry moral weight. In a 2021 interview, she explained: “Sometimes I shave, sometimes I don’t. It’s not a political statement every time — it’s just my body.” (Wikipedia). The 2020 shoot, however, became explicitly political because of the controversy it generated. She used the moment to discuss double standards in beauty expectations.

The takeaway: her choices about body hair are personal, not political, despite public perception.

Timeline: Key milestones

• 1991: Born Emily O’Hara Ratajkowski in London, England. (Rotten Tomatoes)
• 2005: Signed with Ford Models at age 14 (IMDb Biography)
• 2013: Appears in Blurred Lines music video, gaining international fame. (IMDb Biography)
• 2014: Acts in Gone Girl (IMDb Biography)
• 2018: Marries film producer Sebastian Bear-McClard (People)
• 2021: Publishes My Body; son Sylvester born. (Wikipedia)
• 2022: Files for divorce amid infidelity reports (Fox News)

What’s confirmed vs. unclear

Selected quotes

“I’m not straight, but I’m not gay either. I kind of just go with whatever.”

— Emily Ratajkowski, Vogue interview (2020) (Wikipedia)

“Sometimes I shave, sometimes I don’t. It’s not a political statement every time — it’s just my body.”

— Emily Ratajkowski, on body hair (2021) (Wikipedia)

“People make up stories. I don’t owe anyone a list.”

— Emily Ratajkowski, on dating rumors (People)

Ratajkowski’s trajectory from viral video star to author-activist is a study in managing public image while staying true to a complicated, sometimes contradictory feminism. The same culture that built her fame also scrutinises her every choice — body hair, relationships, advocacy. For a young woman navigating fame in 2025, the lesson is harsh: there is no answer that satisfies everyone. For Ratajkowski, the only viable move is to keep writing her own story, with all its ambiguity attached.

Related reading: Piper Perabo: Biography, Ethnicity, and Career · Lucy Lawless: Biography, Age, and What She’s Doing Now

Readers seeking a fuller understanding of her career can turn to Emily Ratajkowskis biography for a comprehensive overview of her achievements.

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