Josie Maran
Also known as Johanna Selhorst Maran
Career
Active 1997 – 2006
Biography
About Josie Maran
Born May 8, 1978, in Menlo Park, California, Josie Maran is an American model and actress who transitioned into business and digital media. At age 12, she was discovered at a barbecue restaurant and began modeling part-time. Signed with Elite at 17, she appeared on the cover of Glamour in 1998 and became the featured Guess? Girl for summer and fall 1998 campaigns. She later landed a multi-year deal with Maybelline in 1999, was a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model from 2000 to 2002, and appeared in over 25 commercials, including the Backstreet Boys' "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" music video. At 5'7", she worked primarily in editorial and advertising modeling, as runway work was limited. Her first film role was the title character in The Mallory Effect (2001), followed by appearances in Swatters (2002), Little Black Book, Van Helsing, and The Aviator (2004), The Confession (2005), and The Gravedancers (2006). She also played Mia Townsend in the 2005 video game Need for Speed: Most Wanted.
In 2007, Maran launched Josie Maran Cosmetics, a natural cosmetics line, and competed on Dancing with the Stars, where she was the first contestant eliminated. She has publicly stated her views on marriage, saying she doesn't believe it's necessary. She has expressed interest in teaching children in Hawaii and has practiced yoga and organic eating. She has a daughter, Rumi Joon, born in 2006, with photographer Ali Alborzi. As of early 2026, she has amassed 313,000 followers on Instagram and 11,200 subscribers on YouTube. Her solo content includes nudity, though topless only. She has no tattoos and no piercings. Her measurements are 34-24-34 with a bra cup size of 32C. She stands 5'7" tall and weighs 109 lbs. She is real and natural in her bust. Her body type is slim. Her hair and eyes are brown. Her career in acting and modeling spanned from 1997 to 2006, during which she was active for nine years, starting at age 19. She is Caucasian.
Maran's distinctive features include an appendectomy scar that is typically edited out of photos. She attended Castilleja School, an all-girls' school in Palo Alto. She plays casual music in bands and was in a relationship with magician David Blaine before her current partnership. Her interests include the arts and environmental protection, and she has committed to the protection and improvement of nature. She is a former actress, now a businesswoman, influencer, model, and YouTuber. She is 48 years old. Her height is 5'7" (or 170 cm), and her weight is 109 lbs (or 49 kg). Her WHR is 0.71. She was born on Monday, May 8, 1978, in Menlo Park, California, United States.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Years Active
- 1997-2006 (started around 19 years old; 9 years active)
- Birthplace
- Menlo Park, California, United States
- Ethnicity
- Caucasian
Body
- Hair Color
- Brown
- Eye Color
- Brown
- Weight
- 109 lbs (or 49 kg)
- Measurements
- 34–24–34 (B–W–H) · WHR 0.71
- Bra/Cup Size
- 32C show conversions - UK: 32C, EU: 70C, AU: 10C, JP: 70C
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
- Tattoos
- None
- Piercings
- None
Performances
- Solo
- Nudity (Topless Only)
Extra
- Instagram Followers
- 313k (as of April 2026)
Frequently asked
How did Josie Maran start her modeling career?
She was discovered at a barbecue restaurant at age 12 and began modeling part-time, later signing with Elite at age 17 and appearing on the cover of Glamour in 1998.
What is Josie Maran known for in the video game world?
She played Mia Townsend, the second lead in the street-racing game Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005), guiding the player through the game.
Why was Josie Maran's runway modeling limited?
At 5'7", she was considered too short for runway work, so she focused on editorial and advertising modeling.
What is a notable physical detail from Josie Maran's life?
An appendectomy scar from 1990 is typically edited out of photos.
What are Josie Maran's social media stats as of early 2026?
She has 313,000 Instagram followers and 11,200 YouTube subscribers.
Did you know
- Her first cover was Glamour in 1998, and she was the Guess? Girl for summer and fall 1998.
- She appeared in the Backstreet Boys' "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" music video, in which she was bitten on the neck by Count Dracula, played by Howie D.
- Her appendectomy scar from 1990 is typically edited out of photos.
- She played Mia Townsend in the 2005 video game Need for Speed: Most Wanted.
- She competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2007 and was the first couple eliminated, joking on Jimmy Kimmel Live that she "should have cut my legs off".
- She founded Josie Maran Cosmetics, a natural cosmetics line, in June 2007.
- Her daughter Rumi Joon was born in the back yard of their Los Angeles home in 2006, as planned.
- She has stated she doesn't believe in marriage, saying it's not necessary in this day and age.
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