Everything You Need To Know About Model Monica Ruiz, Actress From Viral Peloton Ad

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Peloton


The Peloton bike commercial has become an international topic, and it has catapulted the actress in the viral bike ad to stardom. Here is everything you need to know about Monica Ruiz AKA the Peloton wife.

Monica Ruiz is a model and actress from California, who you may have seen before her now-infamous Peloton appearance.

Ruiz has six acting credits to her name, the first coming in 2005 as the uncredited “Pretty Girl” in The Game TV series and the last in 2015 as “Casey” in The Exes TV show. She also starred in the ABC Family show Baby Daddy as “Marissa.”

Ruiz said she played basketball and volleyball in high school. The Peloton Wife also said she first started modeling in high school for a catalog for girls clothing in a 2004 IGN interview. Ruiz, who is based out of Los Angeles, has done modeling work for Gap, CGM Models Miami, Target, Volkswagon, Lee Jeans, SLS, Corona, and Speedo.

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Oh hey! #SLS #belegendary #vegas

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#leejeans

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She was in commercials for Meiomi Rosé, Four Seasons Lanai, and Uniqlo.

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Four seasons Lanai commercial #fourseasonslanai

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She was also a cover model for Parents and Pregnancy & Newborn magazine.

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#camping more like #glamping #parentsmagazine

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Ruiz graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a degree in sociology.

On Friday, Ruiz appeared in a new viral commercial, this time for Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation Gin. She reprised her role as the Peloton Wife, but this time she is more focused on getting her drink on than exercising on her pricy fitness bike.

Ruiz’s breakout role came as the “Peloton wife” that was gifted high-end fitness equipment that costs $2,245 on Christmas morning by her husband, played by Canadian actor Sean Hunter. The commercial sparked a debate on Twitter because everything and anything sparks a debate on Twitter.

“People turned down a pretty dark path and it turned into a nasty thing,” said Hunter, who is also a teacher, in an interview with Good Morning America. “Once something goes viral, and it turns viral, people jump on that negative bandwagon and start to create any dialogue they want.”

“My image is being associated with sexism, with the patriarchy, with abuse, with these words that I am seeing people write about me — that’s not who I am,” Hunter continued. “The aftermath of the commercial has left me with more questions than answers, and this is only half the story. I reflect on what my co-actor must be dealing with, as she’s the other 25 seconds of the story.”

Hunter also wrote a blog post for Psychology Today, where he defended his acting in the commercial and toxicity of the internet.

” soon noticed that the commercial had several thousand downvotes as the tweets came out and talk shows weighed in,” Hunter wrote.

“Absolutely 100% chance that the husband in the Peloton ad is abusive,” joked @allahpundit on Twitter.

“She would rather be anywhere else in the world than here, in her glacial home with the husband she loathes,” Katie Way wrote in Vice.

“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My 5 seconds of air time created an array of malicious feedback that is all associated with my face,” Hunter added. “My friend texted me today declaring that I’m ‘a symbol of the patriarchy.'”

In an Instagram Story, Ruiz simply wrote: “It’s been quite the week. AmIright?”

Peloton has defended their holiday commercial.

“We constantly hear from our members how their lives have been meaningfully and positively impacted after purchasing or being gifted a Peloton Bike or Tread, often in ways that surprise them,” the company said in a statement.

“Our holiday spot was created to celebrate that fitness and wellness journey,” the spokesperson said. “While we’re disappointed in how some have misinterpreted this commercial, we are encouraged by — and grateful for — the outpouring of support we’ve received from those who understand what we were trying to communicate.”

[People/Heavy]