Grace Rutherford

You began your professional modeling career at just three years old. How has growing up in the fashion industry shaped who you are today?

Every runway, every stage, every set — they’ve all been different ways to tell a story. Modeling showed me how a single moment can say more than words. Acting taught me how those moments grow into full characters. Music takes it further — it’s where my feelings turn into sound. Sometimes I’m halfway through math homework when a lyric interrupts me, like the song refuses to wait its turn.

I’ve lived the surreal — like the hush before the lights rise at New York Fashion Week — and the ordinary — like singing to my pets when no one’s watching. Both matter. Both keep me real. And in the end, whether it’s on a runway, a set, or a stage, I just want to make people feel something they’ll never forget.

You’ve walked runways in New York, Paris, Milan, and Los Angeles. Which city or fashion week holds the most special memories for you, and why?

Paris will always feel like a story I got to step inside. Walking Paris Fashion Week was already a dream but shooting my first ELLE editorial there made it full-circle — I grew up flipping through those pages, imagining the stories behind each photo, and suddenly I was inside one.

What stayed with me wasn’t the clothes or the lights — it was realizing that modeling isn’t just about wearing fashion; it’s about carrying a mood, holding a story in stillness. That moment in Paris pulled me toward acting and music too, because I realized I don’t just want to live inside other people’s stories — I want to tell them myself.

Paris wasn’t just a milestone. It was a spark.

Many people remember you as the “Lucerne Milk Girl.” How do you look back on that iconic role now?

It always makes me smile when people bring it up. At the time, I had no idea how many people would see it — it just felt like a fun day of playing pretend in front of a camera. Looking back, it was one of my first lessons in performance: even in a commercial, you’re not just holding a product, you’re holding a story.

People still recognize me for it, which is wild. But what I love most is that it showed me how powerful one image can be. That same spark is what keeps me chasing acting and music — finding ways to connect with people, whether it’s through a character, a lyric, or even just a smile that stays with them years later.

You’ve been featured in major publications like Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, and ELLE. How does seeing yourself in those outlets feel after all these years in the industry?

I used to cut out pages from those magazines for my inspiration boards, so seeing myself in them now feels almost unreal — like I stepped inside something I once taped to my wall. But what sticks with me isn’t always the clothes. It’s the nerves right before the first click, the photographer humming between shots, the stylist laughing while fixing my hair. Those small, ordinary moments are what make the extraordinary ones unforgettable.

I don’t always remember the clothes, but I remember the nerves before the first click or the photographer humming between shots. The little moments are what make the extraordinary ones unforgettable.

That’s what I carry into acting and music too — the reminder that it’s not just about how something looks, it’s about the people, the energy, and the feeling that lingers when it’s over.

Now you’re expanding into acting and music. What inspired you to explore these new creative paths?

I’ve always been drawn to storytelling. Modeling taught me silence can hold its own dialogue. Acting gave me the thrill of transformation — living inside someone else’s skin. Music is the opposite: it’s where I don’t have to play anyone but myself. Lyrics sneak in during math homework, like melodies that refuse to wait their turn.

What excites me most is how they connect. Fashion gave me presence. Acting gave me empathy. Music gave me a voice. Together, they’re not separate careers — they’re different languages I get to speak. And all I want is to create moments that stay with people long after the lights go down.

When it comes to acting and music, what kinds of stories or messages are you most passionate about sharing?

I like stories that don’t hide the rough edges — the ones that let you see the cracks and the light coming through them. In music, I write about growing up under expectations, the pressure to shrink, and the little rebellions that help you find yourself. Acting pulls me in for the same reason — I want to play characters who remind people they’re not the only ones struggling.

At the heart of it, I believe honesty is electric. Whether it’s a lyric whispered into a mic or a scene that feels almost too raw to watch, I want to create moments where someone thinks, ‘That’s me. That’s my story too.

You’re actively involved in philanthropy, from animal rescue to youth empowerment and mental health awareness. What drives your commitment to these causes?

I’ve always loved animals — every rescue I’ve brought home has taught me something about unconditional love and second chances. And as a teen myself, I know how heavy it can feel to grow up with expectations, comparisons, or battles no one else can see. That’s why mental health and youth empowerment matter so much to me.

For me, it’s not just philanthropy — it’s storytelling in real life. Music lets me write about those feelings, acting lets me step into them through characters, but service lets me change something right now. If even one person feels more understood or less invisible, then everything else I do — on a stage, a screen, or in a magazine — actually means something.

Receiving the U.S. Presidential Service Award twice is an incredible honor. How did those recognitions impact you personally?

Giving back always felt natural to me, so it never seemed like something that should earn a spotlight. When I received the U.S. Presidential Service Award twice, it honestly felt surreal. But the awards weren’t about recognition, they reminded me that even the smallest act of kindness can ripple out farther than you ever see.

Service is a lot like storytelling: you may not know who’s listening, but if you’re honest and you give from the heart, it reaches people. That’s how I see acting and music too. The award didn’t change why I do it — it just reminded me what you put into the world matters.

Balancing modeling, acting, music, and philanthropy is no small task. How do you stay grounded through it all?

For me, it’s the little things that keep everything else in perspective. My family and friends have known me long before the lights or the runways, and they remind me I’m still just me. I love making time for everyday moments — going to school events, laughing with friends, walking my dog.

I think staying grounded is also about remembering why I do this. Modeling, acting, music, philanthropy — they’re all ways of telling stories, but stories only matter if you live them honestly. The stage, the set, the runway — none of it means much if I forget the girl singing in her room, sketching designs in her notebook, or helping at an animal rescue. That’s the version of me that makes all the rest possible.

Looking ahead, what’s one dream project in modeling, acting, or music that you’d love to bring to life?

In modeling, I’d love to be the face of a brand that celebrates individuality and real beauty. In acting, I dream of a role in a teen drama or film that really connects with people. And in music, I’d love to release a full album that tells a story start to finish — something people can see themselves in.

Whether it’s a runway, a script, or a song, I just want people to walk away feeling something unforgettable.