# Olivia Culpo
**Olivia Culpo** (Olivia Frances Culpo; born 1992) is an American model, television personality, and entrepreneur who won the Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA, and [Miss Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/miss-universe) pageants in 2012, becoming the first American to hold the Miss Universe title in several years[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/) • [2](https://fashion.caa.com/fashion/olivia-culpo-2). She later built a career in fashion influencing, television, and consumer brands, and in 2025 was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992, raised in the Edgewood section of Cranston, Rhode Island[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/) |
| Pageantry | Swept Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA, and Miss Universe in 2012[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/) |
| Modeling | Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model in 2020; posed for the annual issue every year from 2018 to 2021[3](https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/meet-your-cover-model-2020-olivia-culpo) • [4](https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/olivia-culpo-luxe-clothing-collab-wag-approved) |
| Business | Co-founder of the Rhode Island restaurants Union & Main, Back 40, and Lake Taco, and of the beverage company Vide; launched the baby brand Picolette at Target in 2026[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/) • [2](https://fashion.caa.com/fashion/olivia-culpo-2) • [5](https://corporate.target.com/news-features/article/2026/07/picolette) |
| Marriage | Married NFL running back Christian McCaffrey in 2024 at Watch Hill, Westerly, Rhode Island, in a wedding covered exclusively by Vogue[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/) |
| Children | Daughter Colette (born 2025) and son Roman Augustus McCaffrey (born 2026)[6](https://www.eonline.com/news/1423926/olivia-culpos-identity-crisis-after-having-baby-colette) • [7](https://swimsuit.si.com/models/olivia-culpo/archive) |
| Recognition | Inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2025[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/) |
## Early life and education
Culpo was born in 1992, and raised in the Edgewood section of Cranston, Rhode Island, into a family of restaurateurs and musicians[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/). Her father, Peter Culpo, owns multiple restaurants in [Rhode Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/rhode-island) and Boston, and her mother, Susan Culpo, plays viola with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the [Boston Symphony Orchestra](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-symphony-orchestra), and the Boston Pops[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/).
She is a classically trained cellist who performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble, The Bayview Orchestra, The Boston Accompanietta, and The Rhode Island All-State Orchestra; her musical background was later cited as a major factor in her pageant success[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/). She graduated from St. Mary Academy – Bay View and attended [Boston University](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-university) and the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/).
## Pageantry
Culpo entered Miss Rhode Island, in her own telling on a whim while a student at Boston University, and within about a year and a half had won Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA, and Miss Universe[2](https://fashion.caa.com/fashion/olivia-culpo-2). She was crowned Miss Universe on September 17, 2012, representing the United States[8](https://www.missuniverse.com/country/united-states/). Her victory made her the first American Miss Universe titleholder in five years, according to one account, and the first in over 15 years according to her talent agency's profile[9](https://www.thedailybeast.com/miss-universe-olivia-culpo-34-hits-back-at-pregnancy-weight-gain-comments/) • [2](https://fashion.caa.com/fashion/olivia-culpo-2). She was the eighth [Miss USA](https://www.edgepedia.org/miss-usa) titleholder to go on to win Miss Universe since the Miss USA contest began[10](https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-91232744-OPP-24.pdf).
Her reign included acting training: as part of the Miss Universe prize package she received a full scholarship to the [New York Film Academy](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-film-academy), which she used during her reign to work on her on-camera presence[11](https://www.nyfa.edu/film-school-blog/miss-universe-olivia-culpo-hones-her-craft-nyfa/).
## Modeling and fashion
After her pageant career, Culpo became a fashion influencer, building a following of more than 7 million people across social media platforms[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/). She has been the face of [Anastasia](https://www.edgepedia.org/anastasia), L'Oréal, Macy's, and Pretty Little Things, and has appeared in and on the cover of [Harper's Bazaar](https://www.edgepedia.org/harpers-bazaar), Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, L'Officiel, Modeliste, Maxim, Grazia, Sports Illustrated, and The Daily Front Row[2](https://fashion.caa.com/fashion/olivia-culpo-2). She was named #1 in MODE magazine's "World's 100 Most Beautiful Women 2016"[12](https://www.modelifestylemagazine.com/magazine/m2219/olivia-culpo-is-modes-worlds-most-beautiful-woman-2016-exclusive-interview/).
Her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit work ran from 2018 through 2021, culminating in her selection as a cover model for the 2020 issue[3](https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/meet-your-cover-model-2020-olivia-culpo) • [4](https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/olivia-culpo-luxe-clothing-collab-wag-approved). In October 2025 she debuted the Olivia Culpo x NAADAM collection, the knitwear brand's first co-designed capsule[4](https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/olivia-culpo-luxe-clothing-collab-wag-approved). Samsonite has repeatedly cast her in its "It's Not Just a Bag, It's a Samsonite" campaign, including a July 2026 chapter centered on the Better Than Basic collection[13](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/samsonite-partners-with-olivia-culpo-once-more-in-latest-its-not-just-a-bag-its-a-samsonite-campaign-302837165.html).
## Television and film
Culpo's screen work includes the films *I Feel Pretty* (2018) with [Amy Schumer](https://www.edgepedia.org/amy-schumer) and *Reprisal* (2018) with [Bruce Willis](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-willis), the reality series *Model Squad* (E!, 2018), and the family reality show *The Culpo Sisters* (TLC, 2022–2023)[14](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/olivia-culpo/umc.cpc.71fgi1s3nf11ga0h70zpqlke8). She has appeared as a guest judge on *Project Runway* and *Project Runway All Stars*, and on food programs including *[Hell's Kitchen](https://www.edgepedia.org/hells-kitchen-american-tv-series) with Gordon Ramsay*, *Beat Bobby Flay*, *The Kitchen*, and *The Rachael Ray Show*[14](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/olivia-culpo/umc.cpc.71fgi1s3nf11ga0h70zpqlke8) • [1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/).
Her hosting credits include the 2025 Super Bowl Pre-Show, the 2024 Victoria's Secret Runway Show, several consecutive Miss Universe pageants, and the Netflix cooking competition *Next Gen Chef*, in which chefs under 30 compete for a $500,000 prize[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/) • [15](https://dearmedia.com/olivia-culpo-real-pod-the-squeeze/).
## Business ventures
Culpo co-owns three family restaurants in Rhode Island: Union & Main in East Greenwich, Back 40 in North Kingstown, and Lake Taco in Coventry[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/). She is also a founding member of the canned cocktail brand Vide, for which she served as creative director[2](https://fashion.caa.com/fashion/olivia-culpo-2) • [16](https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2021/02/19/model-olivia-culpo-on-life-in-charlotte-with-panthers-cmc-248418). With her sisters she created the Culpos X INC clothing collection for Macy's[16](https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2021/02/19/model-olivia-culpo-on-life-in-charlotte-with-panthers-cmc-248418).
**Picolette.** In July 2026 she launched Picolette, a baby brand sold exclusively at Target and described by the retailer as its largest dedicated collaboration for Baby[5](https://corporate.target.com/news-features/article/2026/07/picolette). The 60-item collection spans apparel, accessories, keepsakes, and gifts, and was inspired by her daughter Colette's first year; the name combines the Italian word for small (piccola) with Colette[5](https://corporate.target.com/news-features/article/2026/07/picolette). The first drop launched July 26, 2026, in stores and online[5](https://corporate.target.com/news-features/article/2026/07/picolette).
## Personal life and advocacy
In 2024 Culpo married [Christian McCaffrey](https://www.edgepedia.org/christian-mccaffrey), the record-breaking running back who played at Stanford University and for the [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-49ers), in a ceremony at Watch Hill in Westerly, Rhode Island, that celebrated her Italian heritage and was covered exclusively by Vogue[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/). The couple announced in March 2025 that they were expecting their first child[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/). Their daughter Colette was born in 2025, and their son Roman Augustus McCaffrey was born in 2026[6](https://www.eonline.com/news/1423926/olivia-culpos-identity-crisis-after-having-baby-colette) • [7](https://swimsuit.si.com/models/olivia-culpo/archive).
Culpo has spoken publicly about endometriosis, a disease affecting the uterus, through educational live streams, podcast appearances, and accounts of her own experience with the disorder[1](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/). In September 2026, at 37 weeks pregnant with her second child, she responded on TikTok to online comments about her pregnancy weight gain[9](https://www.thedailybeast.com/miss-universe-olivia-culpo-34-hits-back-at-pregnancy-weight-gain-comments/).
## References
1. [Olivia Culpo, Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame](https://riheritagehalloffame.com/olivia-culpo/)
2. [Olivia Culpo, CAA Fashion](https://fashion.caa.com/fashion/olivia-culpo-2)
3. [Meet Your Cover Model: Olivia Culpo, SI Swimsuit](https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/meet-your-cover-model-2020-olivia-culpo)
4. [Olivia Culpo Unveils Luxe Clothing Collab That’s WAG Approved](https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/olivia-culpo-luxe-clothing-collab-wag-approved)
5. [Introducing Picolette, Olivia Culpo's New Baby Brand Exclusively at Target, Target Corporate](https://corporate.target.com/news-features/article/2026/07/picolette)
6. [Olivia Culpo Details Having an Identity Crisis After Welcoming Baby Colette, E! Online](https://www.eonline.com/news/1423926/olivia-culpos-identity-crisis-after-having-baby-colette)
7. [Olivia Culpo News & Galleries, SI Swimsuit](https://swimsuit.si.com/models/olivia-culpo/archive)
8. [United States, Miss Universe](https://www.missuniverse.com/country/united-states/)
9. [Miss Universe, 34, Hits Back at Cruel Weight Gain Comments, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/miss-universe-olivia-culpo-34-hits-back-at-pregnancy-weight-gain-comments/)
10. [UNDIPUTED MATERIAL FACTS, USPTO TTAB document](https://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/ttabvue-91232744-OPP-24.pdf)
11. [Miss Universe Olivia Culpo Hones Her Craft at NYFA, New York Film Academy](https://www.nyfa.edu/film-school-blog/miss-universe-olivia-culpo-hones-her-craft-nyfa/)
12. [Olivia Culpo is MODE's World's Most Beautiful Woman – 2016: Exclusive Interview, MODE Lifestyle Magazine](https://www.modelifestylemagazine.com/magazine/m2219/olivia-culpo-is-modes-worlds-most-beautiful-woman-2016-exclusive-interview/)
13. [Samsonite Partners with Olivia Culpo Once More in Latest "It's Not Just a Bag, It's a Samsonite" Campaign, PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/samsonite-partners-with-olivia-culpo-once-more-in-latest-its-not-just-a-bag-its-a-samsonite-campaign-302837165.html)
14. [Olivia Culpo Movies and Shows, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/olivia-culpo/umc.cpc.71fgi1s3nf11ga0h70zpqlke8)
15. [From Pageants to Power Moves: Olivia Culpo on Building an Empire Beyond the Runway, Dear Media](https://dearmedia.com/olivia-culpo-real-pod-the-squeeze/)
16. [Model Olivia Culpo on life in Charlotte with Panthers' CMC, Axios Charlotte](https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2021/02/19/model-olivia-culpo-on-life-in-charlotte-with-panthers-cmc-248418)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Food, customs, and everyday culture › Clothing, textiles, and domestic crafts › Fashion and commercial models › Fashion and runway models*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license