Johanna Selhorst "Josie" Maran (born May 8, 1978) is an American model, actress, and entrepreneur.[2]

Josie Maran
Maran in 2008
Born
Johanna Selhorst Maran

(1978-05-08) May 8, 1978 (age 46)
Menlo Park, California, United States
Occupations
Years active
  • 2002–2008 (acting)
  • 2007–present (entrepreneur)
Spouse
David Belle
(m. 2018)
Children2
Modeling information
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7+12 in)[1]
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorHazel
Websitewww.josiemarancosmetics.com

Early life

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Josie Maran was born May 8, 1978, in Menlo Park, California.[3] Her father is of Russian Jewish ancestry and worked in green home construction.[4][5] Her mother Roberta was an artist, interior decorator and had chronic fatigue syndrome, which inspired the family to live more healthily.[6] She was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.[7]

Maran attended Castilleja School, an all-girls school in Palo Alto, California, from grades 7 to 12.[8]

Modeling and acting career

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While she was still in high school, Maran was approached by a woman who asked her for a modeling performance[clarification needed] in San Francisco, and a scouting agent encouraged her to pursue modeling professionally.[9] In 1990 an appendectomy left Maran with a noticeable scar that is typically edited out of photos.[10]

Signed at age 17 with the Elite modeling agency of Los Angeles, Maran appeared on her first cover with Glamour magazine in 1998; she was then the featured Guess? Girl in their summer 1998 and fall 1998 campaigns. After building a résumé of over 25 commercials and advertisements, including playing Howie D's companion in the music video of Backstreet Boys hit "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)",[11] in which she was bitten on the neck by Count Dracula (played by Howie D), Maran moved cross-country to join with Elite in New York City. In 1999, she landed a multi-year deal with Maybelline. Maran appeared in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue for three consecutive years: from 2000 to 2002.

Maran's interest in music led her to play casually in two bands: Darling, with Nicole Richie, and Hollywood 2000, where she sang and played violin.[citation needed]

In 2001, Maran appeared in an independent film, as title character Mallory in The Mallory Effect. Maran followed this by appearing as Susan in Swatters in 2002. In 2004, she appeared in three films: As a French model in Little Black Book, as one of Dracula's brides, Marishka, in Van Helsing, and briefly as a cigarette girl in The Aviator. Maran appeared in a short film "The Confession" alongside Wentworth Miller in 2005, and as Kira Hayden in The Gravedancers in 2006.

Maran appeared in the street-racing video game Need for Speed: Most Wanted released in November 2005. She played Mia Townsend, who guides the player's character through the game.[12]

Maran competed in the 2007 season of Dancing with the Stars,[13] but she and dance partner Alec Mazo were the first couple eliminated.[14]

Josie Maran Cosmetics

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In June 2007, Maran launched her own natural cosmetics product line, named Josie Maran Cosmetics.[15] The company motto is "luxury with a conscience" and the main ingredient of the skincare and cosmetics is fair trade argan oil, grown and harvested by co-ops of Moroccan women.[16]

Beyond her business activities she commits herself to the protection and improvement of nature and the environment.[17]

Personal life

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Maran and her ex-partner, Iranian-American photographer Ali Alborzi, have two daughters, Rumi Joon (born 2006), and Indi Joon (born 2012).[18][19][20] Maran married David Belle on August 26, 2018.[21][22]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Mallory Effect Mallory [23]
2002 Swatters Susan
2004 Van Helsing Marishka [23]
2004 Little Black Book Lulu Fritz [23]
2004 The Aviator Thelma
2005 The Confession Wife
2006 The Gravedancers Kira Hayden

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn Self
2003 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self
2004 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self
2004 The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn Self
2004 Late Night with Conan O'Brien Self
2005 Van Helsing: Behind the Screams
2005 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self
2007 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Self
2007 Dancing with the Stars Self eliminated in week one
2009 America's Next Top Model, Cycle 13 Guest judge episode "Dance With Me" (October 7, 2009)

Miscellaneous

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Year Title Type Role Notes
1997 "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by Backstreet Boys Music video Mina Harker [24][25]
2000 The Howard Stern Show Radio Self (episode 13, December 2000).
2004 "Morning Light" by Truman Music video
2005 Need For Speed: Most Wanted Video game Mia Townsend [26]

References

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  1. ^ Fashion Model Directory profile. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  2. ^ "Argan Oil & Natural Skincare and Cosmetics Products by Josie Maran". Josie Maran Cosmetics. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  3. ^ "Josie Maran". Microsoft.
  4. ^ Dancing with the Stars Countdown! Josie Maran Q&A - Celebrity and Entertainment News | TVGuide.com Archived May 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Hodes, Kayleigh Donahue (April 18, 2012). "Josie Maran: Low-Key Mogul Mom". Redbook. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "Newly Engaged Josie Maran on Motherhood, Her Cosmetics Line, and an Important Message About Beauty". HuffPost. August 12, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Larkworthy, Jane (February 7, 2020). "A Clean-Beauty Pioneer With an Unexpected Eye-Cream Hack". The Cut. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  8. ^ "AskMen - Become a Better Man". AskMen. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  9. ^ "Josie Maran". Into The Gloss. February 26, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  10. ^ "Josie Maran - Fashion Model - Profile on New York Magazine". nymag.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  11. ^ Ceron, Ella (October 6, 2015). "Everybody, Nick Carter's Tribute to the Backstreet Boys on Dancing with the Stars Will Make You Cry". Teen Vogue. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  12. ^ "Need For Speed: Most Wanted News Article". EA Games. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  13. ^ Steibel, Deborah Starr (September 24, 2007). "Dancing with the Stars Countdown! Josie Maran Q&A". TVGuide.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  14. ^ "Josie Maran First Contestant Voted Off 'Dancing With The Stars'". Access Hollywood. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  15. ^ GREEN GIRL LOVES: Josie Maran Cosmetics Archived January 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Green Girl Guide.com. May 3, 2008.
  16. ^ Dickens, Katie (April 14, 2015). "Josie Maran's Guide to Marrakech". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  17. ^ Globalgreen.org Archived May 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine as of February 21, 2008.
  18. ^ "Josie Maran's Blog: Meet Me and My Family!". People Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  19. ^ "Josie Maran Welcomes Daughter". People Magazine. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  20. ^ "Newly Engaged Josie Maran on Motherhood, Her Cosmetics Line, and an Important Message About Beauty". HuffPost. August 12, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  21. ^ "Josie Maran on Instagram: "Mr. and Mrs. Belle 🎊 It's official! I'm getting married on Sunday to the love of my life ❤️Join me on @qvc all day today to celebrate with…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  22. ^ Castañon, Kelsey (September 3, 2018). "This Is How a Beauty Mogul Does Hair and Makeup For Her Wedding". POPSUGAR Beauty. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  23. ^ a b c "Actress Mamie Gummer cuts a deal for Josie Maran's rustic Beachwood Canyon home". Los Angeles Times. February 28, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  24. ^ Gemmill, Allie (June 28, 2017). "This is the one Backstreet Boys music video we'll never forget". SheKnows. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  25. ^ Cerón, Ella (October 6, 2015). "Everybody, Nick Carter's Tribute to the Backstreet Boys on Dancing with the Stars Will Make You Cry". Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  26. ^ "Model Josie Maran Feels Need for Speed", website, IGN, July 26, 2005, retrieved November 9, 2020
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