Jarah Mariano is a Hawaiian-born model and actress of Korean and Native Hawaiian descent, recognized for her trailblazing presence in fashion and media.[1][3] Born in 1984 on Kauai, Hawaii, she moved to California as a teen, where she was scouted at age 15 on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade, launching her career with campaigns for Abercrombie & Fitch, MAC, Armani Exchange, Sephora, Roxy Quiksilver, and notably as the first Hawaiian model in Victoria's Secret catalogs.[1][2][3] After graduating from Trabuco Hills High School, Mariano relocated to New York City at 18, balancing modeling with studies at Pace University, where she earned a degree in Speech Communications with a Media Studies concentration.[1][3] Key milestones include her 2008 and 2009 features in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, runway shows in Miami and New York, and covers for magazines like Self, Taiwan Vogue, L’Uomo Vogue, Glamour, Elle, and Italian Vanity Fair.[1][3][4] She diversified into acting with roles in films such as Minority Report and The Girl from Monday, TV series like Rescue Me and Chuck, and music videos including Jay-Z’s “Show Me What You Got”; she also had an uncredited appearance in the James Bond film Skyfall's title sequence.[1][3] Mariano launched the H I N A + K ū fragrance line in November 2021, partnering with the Makalapua Fund to support education and aid in Hawaii, reflecting her community dedication.[3] An avid athlete, she enjoys surfing, skiing, tennis, and yoga.[3] In 2023, she privately married actor Milo Ventimiglia, known for Gilmore Girls and This Is Us.[3][4] In early 2026, amid the Palisades Fire, she and Ventimiglia evacuated their home—losing it and a construction project—just weeks before their baby's birth, after a prior Franklin Fire drill.[3] Mariano remains active in modeling, fragrance, and philanthropy, embodying resilience from her multifaceted career.[1][2][3]