1. Overview
Amber Rose Levonchuck (born October 21, 1983), known professionally as Amber Rose, is an American model, television personality, fashion designer, and actress. She initially gained public attention after appearing in the 2008 music video for Young Jeezy's single "Put On", which featured Kanye West. Her subsequent romantic relationship with West further elevated her profile, leading to modeling opportunities with brands like Louis Vuitton and a contract with Ford Models. Rose became widely recognized as a prominent video vixen in numerous hip hop music videos. Beyond modeling, her career diversified into music, television hosting, and entrepreneurial ventures, including the release of her own singles and a book. A vocal advocate for women's rights, she founded the Los Angeles chapter of the SlutWalk protest march in 2015, addressing issues of sexual shaming and victim-blaming.
2. Early Life
Amber Levonchuck was born on October 21, 1983, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Dorothy Rose, is of Cape Verdean descent. Her father, Michael Levonchuck, is of Irish, Italian, Latvian, and Polish descent. She has one brother named Antonio Hewlett. Rose grew up in South Philadelphia. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, and she was subsequently raised by her maternal aunt, Mary Lakes. Rose has publicly stated that she began stripping at the age of 15 under the pseudonym "Paris" to financially support her family following her parents' divorce. She also attempted to sell crack cocaine during this period, though she was unsuccessful in that endeavor.
3. Career
Amber Rose's career is marked by her diverse engagements across the entertainment industry, encompassing modeling, music, television, and various business ventures.
3.1. Modeling
Rose began her modeling career locally at the age of 17, appearing in magazines such as Smooth Magazine, Elle, and Complex. Her appearance in the music video for Young Jeezy's 2008 single "Put On", which featured Kanye West, first brought her significant attention. This led to her posing for a Louis Vuitton print advertisement that showcased West's sneaker line. From 2009 to 2010, she was signed with the prominent modeling agency Ford Models. Rose also walked the runway at New York Fashion Week for "Celestino" and became the new face for Boadicea the Victorious perfume advertisements. She gained wider recognition as a "video vixen" through her appearances in numerous hip hop music videos, including Nicki Minaj's "Massive Attack", Young Jeezy's "Vacation", Wiz Khalifa's "No Sleep", Fabolous's "You Be Killin' Em", Ludacris's "What Them Girls Like", Future's "Mask Off", and Mary Mary's "God in Me".
3.2. Music
Rose expanded her career into the music industry, releasing her debut single titled "Fame" on January 10, 2012. This track featured her then-fiancé, rapper Wiz Khalifa. She followed up with her second single, "Loaded," the subsequent month. Additionally, Rose contributed her rapping skills to the eleventh track of Khalifa's album O.N.I.F.C., a song titled "Rise Above," which also featured rappers Tuki Carter and Pharrell Williams, with the latter also producing the song. Her musical endeavors were managed by Leticia "Tish" Cyrus, who is the mother of singer Miley Cyrus and a close friend to both Rose and Khalifa.
3.3. Television and Media Personality
Rose has established herself as a notable television and media personality through a variety of appearances and hosting roles. In 2010, she appeared in Russell Simmons's reality show Running Russell Simmons. She also participated in a PSA for the NOH8 Campaign, which protested against the ban on same-sex marriage in California. In 2011, Rose served as a guest judge on Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race and was also a judge on Season 2 of Master of the Mix. In November 2011, she became a spokesperson for Smirnoff, appearing in television advertisements and billboards to promote the company's new Whipped Cream and Fluffed Marshmallow flavors.
In August 2016, Rose was announced as a contestant for the 23rd season of Dancing with the Stars, where she was partnered with professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. The pair were eliminated on October 17, finishing in ninth place. In May 2016, it was revealed that Rose would host her own talk show on VH1, titled The Amber Rose Show, which premiered on July 8, 2016. Furthermore, on September 8, 2016, Rose began hosting Loveline, a syndicated radio call-in program. She also guest-starred on an episode of Wild 'N Out on MTV2.
3.4. Business Ventures
Beyond her work in entertainment, Amber Rose has pursued several entrepreneurial endeavors. In September 2009, she announced her plans to launch her own eyewear line. In 2012, she co-founded a clothing line named Rose & Ono with her friend Priscilla Ono. Rose also ventured into publishing, with Simon & Schuster releasing her first book, How to Be a Bad Bitch. The book offers advice and personal anecdotes on various topics, including finances, career, love, and fashion, and features a cover image shot by the renowned photographer David LaChapelle. In 2015, she filmed "Walk of No Shame with Amber Rose" in collaboration with Funny or Die, a viral video created to promote her SlutWalk event. In March 2016, Rose launched her own emoji application, MuvaMoji, which included 900 emoji icons curated by her.
4. Personal Life
Amber Rose's personal life has been a subject of public interest, particularly her high-profile relationships, family, and candid discussions about her sexuality and identity.
4.1. Relationships and Marriages
Rose's romantic relationships have often been in the public eye. She dated rapper Kanye West for two years, beginning in 2008, a relationship that significantly increased her public profile. Following her separation from West in 2010, Rose began dating rapper Wiz Khalifa in early 2011. They became engaged on March 1, 2012, and married on July 8, 2013. However, Rose filed for divorce from Khalifa on September 22, 2014, citing irreconcilable differences and initially seeking full custody of their son. By 2015, they had settled on joint custody.
After her marriage to Khalifa, Rose briefly dated rapper Machine Gun Kelly from May to October 2015. In 2016, she was in a relationship with NBA player Terrence Ross. From summer 2017, Rose dated rapper 21 Savage, but the couple separated by March 2018.
4.2. Family
Amber Rose has two sons. Her first son, Sebastian Taylor Thomaz, was born on February 21, 2013, from her marriage to Wiz Khalifa. During their marriage, Rose, Khalifa, and Sebastian divided their time between homes in Los Angeles and Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. On April 3, 2019, Rose announced on Instagram that she was expecting her second child with Def Jam executive Alexander "A.E." Edwards. Their son, Slash Electric Alexander Edwards, was born in October 2019.
4.3. Sexuality and Identity
Amber Rose has been notably open about her sexuality and personal identity. In a 2009 statement regarding her sexual orientation, she declared, "I'm extremely open with my sexuality. I can be in love with a woman, I can be in love with a man." She further expressed her ability to find beauty in all individuals, regardless of their body type, ethnicity, or gender, stating, "If I see a woman and I think she's beautiful and I like her, and she likes me back we can definitely try to be in a relationship together." In 2016, during an episode of her podcast Love Line with Amber Rose, she revealed to guest Margaret Cho that she had previously dated a trans man. Rose also began selling pictures on OnlyFans in 2020, stating she had wanted to do so earlier but was delayed by her pregnancy. As of October 2024, she is reported to earn 1.12 M USD monthly on the platform, making her one of its highest-paid creators. She has openly discussed her OnlyFans account with her son, Sebastian, explaining it as a way for "Mommy to make money."
5. Social Activism and Advocacy
Amber Rose has actively engaged in social causes, particularly focusing on issues related to sexual shaming and women's empowerment.
5.1. SlutWalk
In October 2015, Rose founded and led the Los Angeles chapter of the SlutWalk, an annual feminist protest march originating in Toronto. The event's primary purpose is to challenge sexual shaming and victim-blaming, aiming to honor and support all women who have been judged or demeaned for their sexual behavior. As a central part of the Los Angeles SlutWalk, Rose publicly shared deeply personal experiences of shaming she had endured. She recounted an incident from when she was 14 years old, playing the kissing game "seven minutes in heaven" in a closet with a male classmate. She described how he tricked her into kneeling in front of him, then abruptly threw open the closet door, exposing her in a position that suggested oral sex had taken place to all their friends. Rose visibly displayed her agitation while recounting the bullying and profound trauma that followed this experience, underscoring the lasting impact of such incidents. She has since been consistently associated with and supportive of the SlutWalk event annually.
6. Political Views
Amber Rose has publicly expressed her political stances, which have evolved over time. In August 2016, she voiced strong disapproval of Donald Trump, stating, "He's just such an idiot. He's so weird. I really hope he's not president." However, by May 2024, Rose announced a shift in her political alignment, declaring her support for Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. She formally endorsed him during a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention in July 2024.
7. Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | A Haunting | Jessie | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Better Off Alone | Jennifer | Short film |
| 2010 | The Hills | Herself | |
| 2011 | RuPaul's Drag Race | Herself | Guest judge |
| 2011-2012 | Master of the Mix | Herself | Judge |
| 2012 | Gang of Roses II: Next Generation | Tara X | Film |
| 2014 | School Dance | MaryWanna | Film |
| 2014 | Selfie | Fit Brit | TV series |
| 2015 | Sister Code | Lexi | Film |
| 2015 | Black-ish | Dominique | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Zoolander 2 | Herself | |
| 2016 | Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry | Herself | TV series |
| 2016 | What Happened Last Night | Melanie | Film |
| 2016 | The Eric Andre Show | Herself | TV series |
| 2016 | The Amber Rose Show | Herself | |
| 2016 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself/Contestant | Season 23 |
| 2017 | America's Next Top Model | Herself/Guest | Season 23 |
| 2019 | Hell's Kitchen | Herself/Guest diner | Episode: "What's Your Motto?" |
| 2022 | Good Mourning | Weed girl | |
| 2022 | Intervention | Herself | Season 24 |