You’ve probably seen Erin Heatherton in those glitter-heavy Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows. Or on a glossy Vogue spread with her trademark blonde waves and sharp runway walk.
But here’s the thing — beyond the sequins and angel wings, the story is messier. More layered. And honestly, more interesting.
She was born on March 4, 1989, in Skokie, Illinois. Stood nearly 5 ft 11 in before she’d even left high school. By 17, she was scouted on a Miami beach and tossed headfirst into a career that would put her on the same runways as Chanel and Prada. A dream, sure. But also the beginning of battles that few fans ever saw.
Want the quick bio? She’s 36 now. She was a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2010 to 2013. She’s been on covers from Elle to GQ. And yes — People Magazine confirmed she quietly welcomed a baby girl in April 2024.
How tall is Erin Heatherton?
Erin Heatherton is 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) — tall even by modeling standards, and definitely tall enough to command a runway built for giants.
For context, Karlie Kloss stretches to 6’1″. Adriana Lima? Just about 5’10″. Heatherton sits right between, which made her instantly noticeable when she joined the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows from 2010 to 2013.
When is Erin Heatherton’s birthday, and how old is she?
She was born on March 4, 1989, which makes her 36 years old in 2025.
The number is easy. The story around it is better.
She grew up in Skokie, Illinois, in a tight-knit Ashkenazi Jewish community, where holidays meant family tables and traditions that carried more weight than fashion magazines ever could. The Chicago Tribune once pointed out how Skokie’s Jewish schools shaped generations — Heatherton herself attended Solomon Schechter Day School before landing at Niles North High School.
And here’s the twist. Before runways and glossy campaigns, she was just “Erin Bubley” — the girl known for her height on the volleyball court. Classmates remember her spike more than her strut.
How did Erin Heatherton start her modeling career?
She was discovered at 17 while on vacation in Miami, later debuting at Diane von Fürstenberg’s runway in 2006.
South Beach, bright sun, tourists everywhere. And a teenager named Erin Bubley (she wouldn’t adopt “Heatherton” until later) was walking near Collins Avenue. Scout Arri Taylor noticed her, stopped her, and — just like that — her trajectory shifted. It sounds cliché, almost too cinematic, but Vogue and Variety both confirm the story.
By fall 2006, she was already on the runway for Diane von Fürstenberg in New York. Months later, she signed with Marilyn Agency, one of the biggest players in the modeling world. A few years down the line, she would move to IMG Models, solidifying her spot in the high-fashion circuit.
Fans on fashion boards still bring it up: how early-2000s this whole discovery felt. Miami Beach. A scout with a sharp eye. The idea that a single moment — a stroll, a glance — could spin into global campaigns with Prada or Chanel.
Honestly, part of me thinks those “plucked from nowhere” stories sound romantic until you realize how much pressure comes after. Still, Heatherton leaned in. She wasn’t done — or maybe she was just getting started.
What is Erin Heatherton best known for?
Erin Heatherton is best known as a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2010 to 2013, when she became one of the most recognizable faces of the brand’s televised fashion shows.
During those years, she walked in multiple VS events and starred in global campaigns with Prada, Chanel, and Michael Kors, gaining visibility far beyond the catwalk. In 2013, her popularity was cemented when AskMen ranked her #35 on their “Top 99 Most Desirable Women” list, a mainstream marker of her cultural impact.
Fans, however, often point to a different highlight. Clips of Heatherton’s 2011 runway moment — wings on, smiling mid-stride — continue to circulate on Instagram reels and Tumblr threads, proof that her VS legacy resonates years later.
So while the obvious answer is Victoria’s Secret Angel, the fuller truth includes the designer campaigns, media rankings, and the digital fan culture that keeps her name trending.
What happened to Erin Heatherton after Victoria’s Secret?
After leaving VS, she pivoted toward wellness and entrepreneurship, co-founding Resistance Chicago Lagree in 2021.
But the road there wasn’t linear. In 2015 and 2016, she popped back up in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Sun, sand, bikinis — the whole contrast to those crystal-heavy VS wings. Then came a quieter phase. By 2019, Heatherton signed with Select Model Management in London, a kind of comeback attempt. Covers resurfaced, including a splashy Chicago Splash feature in November that year.
Here’s the twist: the modeling grind wasn’t her endgame. She leaned into fitness. People Magazine reported her co-founding Resistance Chicago Lagree, a boutique studio focused on the Lagree method (think reformer Pilates but tougher).
She wasn’t alone in this pivot. Miranda Kerr turned to beauty with KORA Organics. Karlie Kloss built an entire coding initiative. Heatherton’s choice? Wellness, sweat, community. To me, it felt like the most grounded move she could’ve made.
Fans saw it differently. Some cheered her reinvention. Others wondered if the shift meant she was “done” with fashion. Maybe both were right.
Either way, by early 2024, her studio had already become a local fixture in Chicago. And in 2025, she’s still showing up there — not as a supermodel, but as a co-founder leading classes.
Who is Erin Heatherton married to?
She married Karol Kocemba in January 2023.
The ceremony was Chicago-based, intimate by celebrity standards, but fans still pieced together details from Instagram posts and wedding snaps shared by friends. The engagement had come just a year earlier, in 2022, after she quietly announced it online with a ring shot that made lifestyle blogs pick it up within hours.
Then came the bigger news. In April 2024, Heatherton and Kocemba welcomed their first child, a daughter named Eila Violet. People Magazine confirmed the birth that May, noting she had kept the pregnancy private until after the delivery.
Fans responded in the way fans do now — with hashtags and reels. #CongratsErin trended for a weekend, and comment sections filled with hearts, “angel mama” notes, and throwbacks to her VS years.
What makes this stand out? Many sites stop at “Erin Heatherton married Karol Kocemba.” But the fuller story includes the family she’s building and the quieter, steadier life she’s carving out post-Victoria’s Secret.
Honestly, I thought the shift felt refreshing. Less spectacle, more substance.
Did Erin Heatherton face controversies or challenges?
Yes — Heatherton faced a $10 million lawsuit, a bankruptcy filing, and candid discussions about modeling pressures.
- RetroActive lawsuit (2017): Former stylist Clare Byrne sued her over a failed activewear line, demanding damages in New York court.
- Bankruptcy (2019): Court documents reported by People and Page Six showed she owed more than $500,000 in liabilities, compared to minimal assets.
- Industry pressure: On the Fallen Angel podcast, Heatherton admitted she used diet pills while working for Victoria’s Secret, saying she felt “backed into a corner” by unrealistic body standards.
What is Erin Heatherton doing now?
As of 2025, Heatherton balances motherhood, entrepreneurship, and selective modeling work.
She co-founded Resistance Chicago Lagree in 2021, a boutique fitness studio in River North, praised by local wellness blogs for its high-intensity reformer classes. By early 2024, the studio was thriving — just as she quietly welcomed her daughter, Eila Violet, with husband Karol Kocemba, a milestone confirmed by People Magazine.
On social media, her Instagram following nears one million. Yet the posts that spark the most engagement aren’t old runway shots but candid family photos. Fans cheer these updates, often commenting “angel mama” or flooding her feed with heart emojis.
She joins peers like Karlie Kloss (tech and coding advocacy) and Miranda Kerr (beauty entrepreneurship) in proving that former Angels can reinvent themselves beyond the runway.
Honestly, I thought her pivot into fitness felt less flashy but more sustainable than other post-modeling ventures. In September 2025, she even shared a lakeside photo captioned simply “Home” — and thousands of fans liked it. A quieter spotlight, but one she seems to control on her own terms.
Fact Highlights: Erin Heatherton Quick Bio
| Fact | Detail |
| Full Name | Erin Heather Bubley |
| Birthday | March 4, 1989 |
| Age (2025) | 36 years old |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Birthplace | Skokie, Illinois, USA |
| Career Start | 2006 Diane von Fürstenberg runway |
| Notable Achievements | Victoria’s Secret Angel (2010–2013), Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (2015–2016) |
| Spouse | Karol Kocemba (m. 2023) |
| Children | Daughter, Eila Violet (b. April 2024) |
Did You Know?
- Ranked #35 on AskMen’s “Top 99 Most Desirable Women” in 2013.
- Landed spreads in Elle and GQ during her peak modeling years.
- Her athletic volleyball background at Niles North High School shaped the strong walk fans still talk about.
It’s the headlines, the trivia, the milestones — the shorthand version of a career that was never just about wings and runways.
Erin Heatherton’s Evolving Legacy
From Victoria’s Secret Angel to Chicago entrepreneur to new mom, Heatherton’s arc is anything but one-note. She had the height, the wings, the magazine covers — and then she pivoted. Fitness studios. Family life. Honest conversations about the toll of modeling.
To me, that’s the compelling part. She’s proof that careers evolve, and life after the catwalk can be just as compelling — maybe even more grounded. The gossip fades, but the legacy shifts: resilience, reinvention, and a reminder that glitter isn’t the only finish line.
Because Heatherton’s story isn’t just past tense. It’s ongoing. And fans — whether on Instagram or in Chicago studios — are still watching.
Mohit Wagh is the co-founder of The Graval with over 10 years of experience in SEO and content strategy. He specializes in crafting data-driven, authoritative content that blends cultural insight with digital growth.
Honestly, the plucked from nowhere story feels like a quaint fairy tale compared to the real grind! Love how the article acknowledges the pressure *after* the discovery. But switching from VS wings to leading intense fitness classes? Thats the real pivot, right? Less catwalk chaos, more curated Instagram posts and heart emojis – sounds like a plan! And the bankruptcy? Just proof the modeling money doesnt *always* last forever, unlike some angels online presence, I guess. Still, her move into wellness and motherhood looks like the most grounded, less flashy trajectory possible. #AngelMama indeed!