Who is the woman in the Estée Lauder commercial?
Unveiling the face behind the beauty brand’s current campaign
(By Carmichael Phillip)
Setting the stage: which commercial are we talking about?
When someone asks “Who is the woman in the Estée Lauder commercial?”, the first task is to identify which commercial is in question. The brand Estée Lauder runs multiple campaigns across categories (skincare, makeup, fragrance) and in different markets (U.S., Asia, Europe). For example:
One recent announcement reveals that model-actor Paulina Porizkova has returned to Estée Lauder as a Global Brand Ambassador.
Another recent ambassador is Nia Long, introduced as Brand Ambassador for North America.
Estée Lauder
Earlier, supermodel Hilary Rhoda was known as a face of Estée Lauder in the late 2000s.
So, if you’ve seen a TV or online spot for Estée Lauder and wonder “who is she?”, the answer depends on the ad version and product category you saw. We’ll explore major candidates and how to identify the right one.
Paulina Porizkova: the returning face of the brand
Paulina Porizkova is one of the top leads recently associated with Estée Lauder. Key points:
On January 30, 2025, Estée Lauder announced that Porizkova would return as Global Brand Ambassador (after having worked with the brand from 1988–1995).
According to the brand’s blog, this time around the partnership is less about “youth imagery” and more about authenticity, experience and empowerment.
Thus, if you saw a commercial recently (in early 2025 or later) that features a mature woman speaking about beauty, heritage, ageing with confidence, it could very well be Paulina Porizkova.
Nia Long: a newer ambassador for North America
Another possible “woman” you might have seen is Nia Long. Some details:
Estée Lauder’s blog announced Nia Long as Brand Ambassador for the North American region.
Estée Lauder
The announcement emphasised Long’s cultural relevance, authenticity, and multi-dimensional persona—qualities the brand says reflect its values.
If the ad you viewed featured Nia Long (who is recognizable from film and television) then that would be the correct identification in that case. However, the announcement doesn’t always mean every commercial features her image exclusively; the brand uses multiple talents.
Hilary Rhoda and other past faces: identifying the right era
If the commercial you saw appears older (for example, campaign photos from 2009–2011) then you might be dealing with someone like Hilary Rhoda. For example:
Hilary Rhoda was a face of Estée Lauder in the late 2000s, having signed an exclusive contract in January 2007.
Wikipedia
+1
Another historic face: model Karen Graham held an exclusive spokesmodel role in the 1970s for the brand.
Wikipedia
Hence: if the commercial you reference looks vintage (older styling, older format) then the “woman” might be someone from a previous era of the brand’s campaigns.
How to determine which Estée Lauder ad you saw
To pinpoint exactly who the woman is, you can follow these steps:
Note the product: was it skincare (Advanced Night Repair, Revitalizing Supreme+), makeup (Double Wear), fragrance (Modern Muse), etc.?
Note when and where you saw the ad (TV, social, region). Some ambassadors vary by region.
Inspect the visuals: image of the woman, age, hair style, known face?
Search with keywords: “Estée Lauder [product] commercial 2024 2025 [talent]”
Review brand press releases: For example, Porizkova’s return was announced in January 2025.
El Companies
+1
If the ad you saw is very recent and features an empowered, older woman speaking about courage and ageing, the “woman” is likely Paulina Porizkova.
By using these clues you can narrow down the correct ambassador/actress.
Why ambassadors matter: beyond just being the “woman in the ad”
Why does it matter who the woman is? Here are some reasons:
Brand narrative: When Estée Lauder selects a talent like Porizkova, Long or Rhoda, they are aligning the product with a message (age-positivity, authenticity, cultural relevance).
Consumer connection: Recognising the face builds trust and recall. If you see someone you know (celebrity or respected figure), you might engage more with the ad.
Cultural relevance: For example, Porizkova’s return emphasises empowerment and defying age stereotypes.
Vogue
+1
Marketing clarity: For those in the beauty industry or analytic fields, tracking which celebrity endorses which campaign helps understand brand strategy.
So identifying the woman is more than trivia—it signals what the brand is trying to say.
Common reasons the identity might be unclear
Despite the above, viewers may still struggle to identify “the woman” because:
Some commercials use lesser-known models or regional talent who are not publicly named.
Brands may not always credit the talent in the ad or on publicly accessible databases.
If the ad is from a different country (non-U.S.), the ambassador may differ.
The pace of campaigns changes quickly; what ran last year may feature a different person than what runs now.
If you cannot identify the woman via the clues above, it may simply be a case of anonymous talent used for that particular spot.
Final verdict: likely who the woman is
Putting all this together:
If the commercial is recent (2024/2025), shows a confident mature woman, and product is skincare, the woman is Paulina Porizkova.
If the commercial features Nia Long, then that is the correct woman for the North American campaign.
If the commercial is older, you may be looking at Hilary Rhoda or earlier talent.
If the woman is not a recognisable celebrity, the identity may be undisclosed model/talent used for that version.
So the best-supported answer to “Who is the woman in the Estée Lauder commercial?” is: very likely Paulina Porizkova, if the ad matches the timeframe and style of the current campaign.
If you still want to be absolutely sure
Here’s how you can confirm beyond doubt:
Visit the brand’s official website and check their “News & Media” or “Press Releases” section for announcements (e.g., Porizkova’s return)
El Companies
+1
Search the product name shown in the commercial + “Estée Lauder ambassador”
Use commercial-tracking databases like iSpot.tv or ad archives to check the creative for that product and see if the talent is listed.
Reverse-image a still from the ad (pause video, screenshot woman’s face) and search via Google Images to see if she appears in other branded content.
Using those methods should lead you to a reliable identification of the woman.
In conclusion: If you’ve asked “Who is the woman in the Estée Lauder commercial?”, you are most probably looking at one of the brand’s key ambassadors—especially Paulina Porizkova in the current era.
Acting Magazine Newsletters
Never miss out on the best from Acting Magazine.