About
Charlotte McKinney (born August 6, 1993, in Orlando, Florida) is an American model-turned-actress who first grabbed national attention walking through a farmers’ market—seemingly “all natural”—in Carl’s Jr.’s viral Super Bowl XLIX burger commercial in 2015. The spot racked up millions of views in days and instantly crowned her “the next Kate Upton,” vaulting the self-described “curvier bombshell” onto magazine covers, red carpets, and film sets.
Since that breakout moment, McKinney has blended modeling, acting, and an expanding social-media presence (she tops 2 million followers on Instagram) into a multifaceted career. She has fronted campaigns for Guess and Wilhelmina Models, graced covers of GQ Mexico, Ocean Drive, and Vanity Fair, and appeared in editorials for Men’s Health and Esquire—publications that once profiled her as the quintessential “Insta-famous” success story.
On-screen, she’s moved from comedic cameos—Joe Dirt 2 (2015), Baywatch and Flatliners (both 2017)—to indie horror. Her latest project, the slasher film Stiletto, is slated for release in 2025 and features McKinney as an exotic dancer caught in a cat-and-mouse thriller.
Before Fame
McKinney’s path to the spotlight was anything but textbook. Growing up in Orlando, she struggled with dyslexia and endured bullying over her figure; by age 17 she had dropped out of Boone High School. Instead of retreating, she turned Instagram into a living, breathing portfolio—posting sunny Florida snapshots and behind-the-scenes shoots long before “influencer” became a career title.
That gamble paid off. Esquire featured her as a rising digital star, and Guess tapped her for a swimwear campaign, validating her belief that social media could outmaneuver traditional modeling agencies. By 2014 she had signed with Wilhelmina, relocated to Los Angeles, and was fielding auditions—setting the stage for that Super Bowl ad that would change her life overnight.
Trivia
- Dancing Shoes: Shortly after her Carl’s Jr. fame, McKinney joined Dancing with the Stars Season 20. Paired with Keo Motsepe, she was eliminated in Week 3 but credits the show with jump-starting her fitness routine and public-speaking confidence.
- Comedy Curveball: Beginning in 2023, she quietly began testing stand-up sets at Los Angeles clubs and, by early 2024, was advertising full comedy dates on Instagram—embracing a brand-new creative outlet and poking fun at her own “burger-girl” image.
- Body-Positivity Voice: Having endured cyber-criticism about her curves, she partners with dyslexia and body-positivity organizations, telling ABC News she wants young women to “own what makes them different.”
- Fitness Philosophy: McKinney’s wellness mantra is “train like an athlete, eat like a foodie.” She swears by daily Pilates, boxing for cardio, and an occasional vegan-ice-cream splurge—habits she says balance her demanding photo-shoot schedule.
Family Life
Charlotte is the younger of two daughters born to Terry and Susan McKinney. Her parents—whom she calls her “biggest cheerleaders”—encouraged her to pursue creative work when academics felt out of reach due to dyslexia. In interviews she’s shared that her father proudly keeps copies of every magazine she’s appeared in, including the poster-sized reprint of her Carl’s Jr. billboard.
The model keeps her romantic life largely private. She dated actor Stephen Dorff (2014-2016) and has since been linked to several industry figures, though she prefers focusing interviews on career moves rather than couple headlines. She splits her time between a Malibu beach bungalow—ideal for 6 a.m. surf sessions—and an Orlando family home where she still celebrates holidays.
Associated With
McKinney’s resume is dotted with collaborations that echo her crossover appeal: she filmed Baywatch alongside Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron; swapped one-liners with David Spade in Joe Dirt 2; and shared magazine spreads with fellow Guess alum Gigi Hadid.
In brand work, she follows a lineage of Carl’s Jr. Super Bowl muses—Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Kate Upton—yet credits photographer Mario Testino’s Miami shoot for GQ Mexico as the moment she felt “seen as more than just the burger girl.”
