It’s a talent that very few people possess.
[But] when compelled to do that in front of a camera and make it seem as natural?
That’s a really difficult skill.
So how does this mother, host, and one-of-a-kind entertainer really do it all?
“I mostly talk to nice people and I give back what I get.
But treat me with disrespect, and you’ll learn real fast that I’m from Jersey.”
Sounds like a pretty ideal routine if you ask us.
She later revealed that she was also a cheerleader at her own high school.
A year later she also appeared on “Dance Party USA,” the national version of the show.
And in 1987, she responded to a letter that claimed women can’t handle rejection (viaTikTok).
“This guy made me mad,” she said.
“Anything guys can do, girls can do better.”
(viaGood Housekeeping).
Although Ripa’s mom had reservations about her daughter’s acting goals, she was there for her.
Clearly, things worked out.
But it didn’t take long for the stars to align.
In 1990, Ripa earned the role of Hayley in the soap opera “All My Children.”
Just 20 years old at the time, Ripa later reflected on her success and how it came about.
“There was never any clear-cut path,” she said inRedbookin 2007.
“And anytime I tried to have a clear-cut path, that’s usually when I would be disappointed.
In the entertainment industry, you might only work so hard to achieve a goal.
It’s really 90 percent luck, 5 percent opportunity, and 5 percent skill.”
She continued on to say: “Eventually I saw that I had to change my own destiny.
I had to light my own fire.
But after I took the talk show, I was offered the sitcom and lots of other acting jobs.
Sometimes opportunity begets opportunity and work begets work, and you just have to take a leap.”
Initially,Consuelos didn’t think Ripa wasn’t his pop in.
Ripa, on the other hand, felt an undeniable connection.
“When I met Mark, I was just sort of thunderstruck,” she said in Redbook.
“I had a dream about him that night.
We were married and had a little girl and were on a plane to Rome.'
And he was like, ‘Oh, really?’
and walked away and probably thought about filing a restraining order.”
But clearly, 24-year-old Ripa and her dream didn’t scare Consuelos away.
Before he knew it,Consuelos was confessing his love to Ripa.
Her audition did not disappoint.
During the episode, a guest psychic predicted Ripa’s future pregnancy.
Little did the world know, Ripa was pregnant at the time with her second child.
As she said on the show, “I haven’t told my boss yet!”
She had that much honesty she couldn’tnotreact."
However, the Jersey girl ultimately won the gig, and the rest is history.
Their daughter, Lola Consuelos, arrived in 2001.
And In 2003, their youngest, Joaquin Consuelos, arrived.
Finding a work-life balance became all the more important to Ripa once she became a mom.
This is all new to me, having free time, having time to have lunch.
For the first time in 13 years, I can have lunch with my husband at a restaurant.
As she said in Good Housekeeping, she never went to college but she wanted more for her kids.
“Not going to college, it sort of gives you a chip on your shoulder.
Would I change anything in my life?
But I have hopes that my kids will go to college someday, certainly,” she said.
The show ran for three seasons and a total of 74 episodes.
At the time, Ripa knew that getting the role was a life-changing moment.
“I’m nervous in a way that I feel is positive,” she said toABC.
“I was nervous like this for ‘All My Children.’
I was nervous like this when I was offered the job of Regis' sidekick …
I was nervous like that when I got married.
It’s a positive nervousness.”
Reflecting on her three years on the show, she had nothing but good memories.
“We laughed every day,” Ripa said.
The first project was the 2008 ESPN documentary “The Streak.”
and numerous other dramas, documentaries, and reality series like the Logo show “Fire Island.”
“Production has always been a big passion of hers.”
In 2010, Ripa showed up to “Live with Regis and Kelly” on crutches.
Philbin was being hyperbolic, of course, but that’s not to say Ripa took this update well.
“Right away, I was like what?
There must be a mistake!”
This wouldn’t be the last time Ripa endured an exercise-related injury.
She’s a big fan of SoulCycle
Kelly Ripa has long been a well-known fan of SoulCycle.
As she toldVanity Fairin 2012, “I love it.”
Years later, she recalled the SoulCycle class that got her hooked in an interview withStyle of Sport.
“I had taken spin classes before, never really liked them, never really thought anything about them.
They seemed kind of disorganized and this was organized.
I was trying to keep up but I really didn’t know what I was doing.
My legs were flying all over the place,” she shared.
She’d long established herself as a style icon and fitness trendsetter.
She’d been married to an objectively handsome star for 17 years.
And yet, she still felt like a big ol' dork.
I think that’s why people get me."
On the flip side, Ripa is also the first to tell you how cool she wants to be.
But, like, am I dying to be cool?
Yes, I’m dying to be," she shared.
After the news broke, Ripa did not show up to “Live with Kelly and Michael.”
Instead, Ana Gasteyer took over for her.
Ripa’s rep explained at the time that Ripa had felt “blindsided” by the announcement.
“We’re excited for Michael.
He wanted that job, and it’s great for him.
I think it is a perfect match,” she said.
The TV veteran also acknowledged that she was nervous about finding a replacement.
“It doesn’t fall out of the sky,” she stated.
The feeling was mutual: Seacrest referred to Ripa as his “work wife” onInstagram.
“I like to work with my friends.
“We trust one another and admire each other.
We involve each other in our deep workplace discussions, which was such a new thing for me.”
The name of the show?
“Work Wife.”
Unfortunately, in 2021, ABC announced that the show wouldn’t be continuing.
The pair opened up toPeopleabout what it felt like to be on their own again.
“It’s scary, thrilling, liberating, shocking… and quiet,” Ripa told the publication.
“I didn’t know how to make dinner proportionally.
Now, it’s 10 p.m. and we’ll eat.”
She went on to get candid about the anxiety that comes with being an “empty nester.”
Luckily, the pair have only gotten closer since their kids flew the coop.
“This has without question been the fastest six years of my life,” Ripa said.
“Ryan and Mark were like, ‘What are you nervous about?
It’s going to be fine,'” Ripa told Variety.
“And I said to them, ‘You have to forgive me.
I have a little PTSD.'”
“To have Mark join me at that desk every day, it’s a dream come true.
We’ve been so uniquely blessed …
It’s going to be off the rails!”
Ripa said toPeopleof Consuelos becoming her co-worker.
“I prefer the togetherness.
Ripa’s former co-hostRyan Seacrest has nothing but praise for Consuelos.
Although the podcast typically doesn’t include Consuelos, Ripa’s husband was her very first guest.
The series has gotten great reviews, with fans praising it for being inspirational and real.
As one listener wrote in an Apple Podcast comment, “Kelly and team are fantastic.
Funny, honest, great guests and she’s a fabulous interviewer.
I feel like I’m listening to a group of friends.”
She also touched on how she’s been empowered by other women who’ve faced it, too.
To mark the milestone,Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos celebrated 28 years of marriageon where else?
“Live with Kelly and Mark.”
“My benchmark for a long time is going through first grade to being a senior in high school.
12 years is a long time.
Like, when you were a kid, that’s a whole lifetime.
That’s like doing that twice plus a PhD.
Plus 4 years in college and master’s program!”
Consuelos said, as reported byPeople.
Ripa didn’t limit the public celebration of her 28th wedding anniversary to her talk show.
The host also took toInstagramto show her husband some love.
“Squeezing 28 years into 10 pics is not possible, but you get the idea.
Happy anniversary to the love of my life [Mark Consuelos.]
So grateful to you for all the dreams come true,” Ripa captioned a carousel of photos.
