Who is the actress in the Doritos commercial?
A close-up on the face behind one of the most memorable snack ads of the 1990s
(By Carmichael Phillip)
The woman behind the chip bag
The actress in the iconic Doritos commercial is Ali Landry. She first gained major public notice when she starred in a Super Bowl commercial for Doritos in 1998 — a spot that would ultimately become one of the defining ad moments of late-90s pop culture.
Landry’s journey to that commercial is rooted in pageantry and modeling. Born July 21, 1973, in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, she came through the pageant circuit—winning Miss Louisiana Teen USA in 1990 and later taking the Miss USA crown in 1996.
Her pageant wins opened doors in modeling and television, but it was the Doritos spot — sometimes referred to by fans as the “Laundromat” ad — that turned her into the “Doritos Girl” and gave her wide-scale recognition.
How the commercial became a career moment
The commercial in question aired during Super Bowl XXXII in 1998, and featured Landry in a laundromat setting where she catches flying Doritos chips in dramatic, almost gymnastic fashion.
What made it stand out:
The juxtaposition of an everyday setting (a laundromat) with a dynamic, eye-catching stunt of the chips flying and being caught.
The use of motion and athletic posture in the ad made it feel more dynamic than a standard snack commercial.
The Super Bowl placement gave it massive exposure — making Landry’s face synonymous with the brand virtually overnight.
Following the success of the commercial, Landry signed a multi-year spokesperson contract with Doritos, further cementing her public identity as “the Doritos Girl.”
Wikipedia
Beyond the chips: Landry’s professional arc
While the Doritos ad remains her most widely recognized moment, Landry’s career spans far beyond that single commercial:
After her pageant wins, she moved into modeling and then acting, landing roles on television (such as her multi-episode part on the series Eve from 2003–2006) and in film.
She also developed a personal brand and lifestyle ventures; for example, her “Belle Parish” line draws on her Southern roots.
Wikipedia
Her association with the Doritos brand didn’t end with the 90s. In fact, the snack company later tapped into nostalgia for that era and worked with Landry in promotional efforts (for example, relating to the Doritos 3D chips) in 2020.
Marketing Dive
Landry has often spoken in interviews about how the commercial changed her life — not just in terms of fame, but in how people saw and treated her. She’s been both celebrated and typecast because of that “Doritos Girl” identity.
Why the commercial still matters
There are several reasons why this particular ad — and thus Landry’s role in it — endures in advertising memory:
Visibility at the biggest stage: Super Bowl commercials are among the most-watched and discussed of the year. To break out in that context gives instant iconic status.
Visual novelty: The execution of the spot — a woman making dramatic moves in a laundromat to catch chips — stood out in contrast to typical snack commercials of the time.
Linking a face to a brand: Landry’s image became so tightly associated with Doritos that many people still recall “the Doritos girl” before remembering her name.
Nostalgia factor: As the 90s recede into history, the commercial becomes a cultural touchstone of that decade’s advertising style. It’s referenced in “best ads” lists and still cited in media.
Brand-leveraged comeback: Doritos’ revival of 3D chips and associated campaigns brought Landry back into the spotlight, showing how modern marketers draw on past moments to connect with newer viewers.
Marketing Dive
Because of all this, when someone asks “Who was the actress in the Doritos commercial?”, the name Ali Landry is almost automatic — a testament to how a single spot can shape both brand and personal identity.
Where she is now & reflections on the role
Today, Ali Landry continues her work in the entertainment industry while balancing personal projects and family life. Among the highlights:
She remains active in modeling and acting, though her Doritos identity remains her most recognized credential.
She uses her platform to support causes and share her life as a mother, which adds more depth to public perception beyond the snack-commercial fame.
In interviews, she reflects candidly on the ad’s impact — both the financial and the psychological aspects of becoming “the face of chips.” For example, her simplicity and approachability in the commercial made viewers curious, but it also made her a target for branding and typecasting.
TV Insider
Landry appears to view the commercial as a stepping stone rather than a limitation. She often acknowledges that while the Doritos spot might have been her breakout, it didn’t define everything she wanted to do — but that she is grateful for it.
So, if you’re wondering “Who is the actress in the Doritos commercial?”, now you know: it’s Ali Landry — a former beauty-queen, model and actress — whose laundromat-chip-catching performance turned her into a cultural reference point and remains one of the most remembered snack ads of its era.
Acting Magazine Newsletters
Never miss out on the best from Acting Magazine.