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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Amber Rose

Amber Rose Levonchuck (born October 21, 1983) is an American model, rapper and television personality. She first gained attention after starring in the music video for Young Jeezy's 2008 single "Put On", which featured Kanye West. The same year, she entered a heavily publicized two-year romantic relationship with West, which led her to model for Louis Vuitton advertising campaigns. The following year, she signed a modeling contract with Ford Models, while earning wider recognition as a video vixen in numerous hip hop videos.

After splitting from West in 2010, Rose began dating rapper Wiz Khalifa, whom she married in 2013. She filed for divorce in 2014. Following this, she released her first book, How to Be a Bad Bitch, published by Simon & Schuster. In 2015, she founded the Los Angeles chapter of the SlutWalk protest march, an annual feminist demonstration founded in Toronto. In 2016, Rose hosted her own talk show, The Amber Rose Show for VH1. That same year, she also began hosting the syndicated radio call-in program Loveline.

Early life

Amber Levonchuck was born in Philadelphia on October 21, 1983, to Dorothy Rose and Michael Levonchuck. Her father is of Irish and Italian descent and her mother is of Cape Verdean and maternal Scottish descent from Ayrshire. She has one brother named Antonio Hewlett. Rose grew up in South Philadelphia.

Rose claimed to have begun stripping at the age of 15 under the pseudonym "Paris" to provide for her family after her parents' divorce. On Van Lathan's The Red Pill podcast, she claimed that she also attempted to sell crack cocaine, but was not successful.

Career

Rose's appearance in the music video for Young Jeezy's 2008 single Put On" caught the attention of Kanye West, who guest performed on the song and video. Rose then gained wider exposure after posing for a Louis Vuitton print advertisement featuring West's sneaker line. She walked the runway at New York Fashion Week for "Celestino", and later made cameos in music videos including Nicki Minaj's "Massive Attack", Young Jeezy's "Vacation", Wiz Khalifa's "No Sleep", Fabolous' "You Be Killin' Em", Ludacris' "What Them Girls Like" and Future's "Mask Off". She was signed with modeling agency Ford Models from 2009 to 2010.

In 2010, she appeared in Russell Simmons's reality show about his two assistants, Running Russell Simmons. She also starred in a PSA by NOH8 Campaign. In 2011, Rose was a guest judge on Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race. She was also a judge on Season 2 of Master of the Mix. In November 2011, she became the spokesperson for Smirnoff and appeared in television ads and billboards for the company's new flavors Whipped Cream and Fluffed Marshmallow.

Musical pursuits

Rose released her debut single "Fame", which featured her then-fiancé Wiz Khalifa, on January 10, 2012, followed by a second single, titled "Loaded", the following month. She then rapped on the eleventh track of Khalifa's O.N.I.F.C., titled "Rise Above", along with rappers Tuki Carter and Pharrell Williams, the latter of whom produced the song. She was managed by Leticia "Tish" Cyrus, the mother of singer Miley Cyrus, who was Rose's and Khalifa's close friend.

Business endeavors

Rose at the People magazine awards in December 2014

In September 2009, Rose announced plans to launch her own eyewear line. In 2012, Rose opened a clothing line with her friend Priscilla Ono called Rose & Ono. Rose guest-starred on an episode of Wild 'N Out on MTV2, and had a role as "MaryWanna" in the film School Dance, which was directed by her then-manager, Nick Cannon in 2014. Simon & Schuster published her first book, How to Be a Bad Bitch, in which she offers advice and personal anecdotes on everything from finances and career to love and fashion. The cover features an image shot by famed photographer David LaChapelle.

In 2015, Rose filmed "Walk of No Shame with Amber Rose" with Funny or Die. The viral video helped promote Rose's SlutWalk, which took place on October 3, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. In March 2016, Rose launched an emoji app called MuvaMoji, featuring 900 emoji icons which she curated. In May 2016, it was announced that Rose would star in her own talk show titled The Amber Rose Show on VH1, which debuted on July 8, 2016. On September 8, 2016, Rose began hosting Loveline.

Dancing with the Stars

On August 30, 2016, Rose was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on the 23rd season of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with professional dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. They were eliminated on October 17 and finished in ninth place.

Personal life

Relationships

Rose dated rapper Kanye West for two years, starting in 2008. She briefly dated Machine Gun Kelly in 2015. In 2016, Rose dated NBA player Terrence Ross.

In 2013, she married rapper Wiz Khalifa and the two had a son together. Rose, Khalifa, and their son divided their time between homes in Los Angeles and Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Rose filed for divorce from Khalifa on September 22, 2014, citing irreconcilable differences and planned to take full custody of their son. As of 2015, Rose and Khalifa have joint custody of their son.

Beginning in summer 2017, Rose was dating 21 Savage. As of March 2018, the couple was separated.

In 2009, in regard to her sexual orientation, Rose stated, "I'm extremely open with my sexuality. I can be in love with a woman, I can be in love with a man. As far as humans go, I definitely find beauty in everybody, whether they're heavy-set, super-skinny, if they're white, black, Indian, Asian, Spanish. I can see beauty in anybody. 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, Rose disclosed to guest Margaret Cho during an episode of her podcast Love Line with Amber Rose that she once dated a trans man.

On April 3, 2019, Rose on Instagram that she is expecting her second child with Def Jam executive Alexander "A.E." Edwards. In October 2019, Rose gave birth to a son.

SlutWalk

In October 2015, Rose led the Los Angeles-based SlutWalk to honor all women who have been judged and demeaned for their sexual behavior. As part of the event, she spoke publicly about the instances of shaming she has experienced, specifically mentioning an incident at the age of 14, when a male classmate pulled his genitals out while in a closet with her playing the kissing game "seven minutes in heaven". Rose related that he tricked her into kneeling down in front of him, then threw open the closet door for all of their friends to see, suggesting oral sex had taken place. Rose grew visibly agitated while speaking about the bullying that followed, demonstrating for her audience the depth of the trauma the experience caused. Rose has since been associated with the event annually.

Political views

In May 2024, Rose endorsed Donald Trump for the American presidential election.

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
2011–12 Master of the Mix 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
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