Rose Kennedy Schlossberg: The Facts About JFK's Eldest Grandchild
The Kennedy family has kept us captivated for decades, from John F. Kennedy's political career to Jackie Kennedy's beloved style and grace, and of course, the family tragedies that seemed to follow them everywhere. With politics seemingly in their genes, many family members have had their time in the spotlight. Now, another member of the Kennedy family is turning heads wherever she goes: Rose Kennedy Schlossberg.
Rose is the eldest granddaughter of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, born in 1988, 25 years after JFK's infamous assassination. Although she never had the chance to meet her late grandfather, she's taken great care to keep his memory alive, appearing in one video marking his 100th birthday and another promoting how the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' ability to foster art and culture as "a really fitting tribute to [her] grandfather."
Rose Kennedy Schlossberg grew up on the Upper East Side of New York as the eldest of her two siblings, Tatiana and Jack Schlossberg, and is now an actress, producer, and writer living in California (via Irish Central). Despite her notoriety, Rose lives a fairly private life out of the eye of the press, only resurfacing now and again to support her family or to discuss how her late grandfather still serves as an inspiration for her. So, what are all of the facts to know about JFK's eldest grandchild?
She is the spitting image of Jackie O
Easily the first thing that caught everyone's attention is how much Rose resembles her maternal grandmother, Jackie Kennedy Onassis. When Rose Kennedy Schlossberg stepped into the limelight after launching a web series with her friends, the public had to do a double take; everything from her eyes to her cheekbones, the way she carries herself, and the cute brunette bob she sports, she could be Jackie reincarnated.
Rose was actually very close with her grandmother until Jackie's tragic death from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1994 when Rose was five years old. Jackie went by "Grand Jackie" to her grandchildren as a loving family nickname for "grandma." She often took her granddaughters to the museum, and the playground, and chaperoned on school trips, which was all made easy because she lived only down the road from the rest of the family. By all accounts, Jackie was a phenomenal influence on Rose and would speak to her like an adult, according to a neighbor (via New York Post).
The similarities they share seem to stem further than just aesthetics. Given Jackie's influence, not just on the world but on those closest to her, it's no wonder people are so excited to see what Rose does next.
She was named after JFK's mother
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in 1890 to a prominent Irish-American Boston politician, getting her first taste of political life early on. She had nine children with her husband, Joseph Kennedy, with John F. Kennedy being her second-born. In 1938, her husband, Joseph Kennedy, would go on to be appointed Ambassador to Great Britain, and they relocated to London, where they immersed themselves in a new culture and rubbed shoulders with the royals.
Later in life, she supported her children throughout their political campaigning efforts, hosting parties and speaking at rallies for John, Ted, and Bobby's campaigns. Throughout her life, she suffered immense tragedy as many family members met untimely deaths, but she soldiered on until the age of 104 in 1995 (via National Park Service).
This is the inspirational woman Rose Kennedy Schlossberg was named after. Jackie was reportedly the one who suggested the name, despite her dislike for her mother-in-law (and Rose Senior's equal dislike for Jackie). Jackie supposedly told press secretary Pierre Salinger, "The old bat's about 100 years old, so let's give her some respect" (via New York Post). Rose Kennedy Schlossberg now carries the befitting name of a woman who lived an incredible life (as well as the probable weight of responsibility to do the name justice, too).
Her parents are Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg
Rose Kennedy Schlossberg is the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, a U.S. ambassador, and Edwin Schlossberg, a designer and artist. Coming from such a prominent political family, it's no surprise that Caroline Bouvier Kennedy followed suit. She was only five years old when her father was assassinated, and her mother, Jackie, aimed to protect her from the public eye as she grew up.
After receiving her Bachelor's degree from Harvard, she attended Columbia Law School and took up a job at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. There, she met Edwin Schlossberg, and the couple wed in 1986, having three children. Later, she endorsed Obama's 2008 presidency, and in 2012, his administration appointed her as U.S. ambassador to Japan. Recently, President Biden named Caroline as U.S. Ambassador to Australia (via Marie Clare). Yet another remarkable Kennedy affected by tragedy throughout her life, Caroline remains a resilient presence in Rose's life today.
Rose's father, Edwin Schlossberg, is a designer and artist who got his start studying at Columbia University in the '60s. He became well-known in 1977 when he was commissioned to help design the interactive Brooklyn Children's Museum, using his renowned synergistic and unique multimedia creations (via Society for Experiential Graphic Design). While most of Rose's family has been heavily involved in politics, her interests perhaps leaned closer to her father's career path, as she's broken away from the political game in search of Hollywood success.
Her siblings are also in the spotlight
Rose has a younger sister, Tatiana Celia Kennedy Schlossberg, and a younger brother, John "Jack" Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg. The three siblings are all activists, seemingly inspired by their late grandfather's missions and using their platforms to raise serious issues.
Tatiana lives in New York and worked for years as a successful environmental journalist for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. She has frequently credited JFK as inspiring her to fight for climate change awareness and learning to connect with the grandfather she never knew through this work. In 2019, she released her award-winning book, "Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don't Know You Have," which discusses the modern-day toll technology has taken on the world (via Daily Mail).
Jack is a Yale and Harvard Law School graduate and now lives in New York as a lawyer. He spent time writing political commentary and, in 2020, endorsed President Biden in a video alongside his mother, Caroline. In the video, Jack noted, "Times have changed, but the themes of my grandfather's speech — courage, unity, and patriotism — are as important today as they were in 1960. And once again, we need a leader who believes America's best days are yet to come" (via Us Weekly). Following this video, people were quick to comment about Jack's resemblance to his uncle, John F. Kennedy, Jr. — as it seems several of the Kennedy grandchildren were blessed with their elders' good looks.
She's married to Rory McAuliffe
In the summer of 2022, Rose Kennedy Schlossberg married her long-term girlfriend, Rory McAuliffe, in a beautiful outdoor ceremony, with each of the women wearing very modern white dresses and black platform shoes. Family members and celebrities (including David Letterman, Jason Segel, and Jimmy Buffet) attended their wedding, but there were some reports of familial drama, all down to the family's religious beliefs conflicting with Rose's same-sex marriage. Despite this possibility, her mother, Caroline, was still in attendance (via Rare). This wouldn't be a surprise, though, as there have been other reports of the Kennedys' cousins declining to attend other important weddings, like Tatiana Schlossberg's.
It doesn't seem like Rose has done much publicly since the wedding, possibly opting for a less hectic life than the one Hollywood provides. She and Rory have moved to the tiny town of Ojai, located in Ventura County, California, where the vibe is much calmer than in Los Angeles. Rory McAuliffe, who used to be a film producer, is now a restaurateur, co-owning a restaurant called "Rory's Place," located in Ojai, with her sister, Meave (via Daily Mail). We'll have to wait and see if Rose makes a reappearance in Hollywood or if she's decided a more serene life in Ojai is the place for her.
She's a graduate of both Harvard and New York University
Like many of her family members, Rose Kennedy Schlossberg is an ivy league graduate. She was set up for success early in life, having been enrolled as a child at a fancy, all-girls private school in New York called Brearley School. Rose then received her Bachelor's degree in English in 2010 at Harvard University, following in her mother's and grandfather's footsteps at their alma mater. While there, she developed an interest in fashion (much like her stylish grandmother) and film, which would eventually lead her toward her career in Hollywood.
Before she'd move toward her acting career, though, she got another degree. In 2011, she enrolled at New York University in the Interactive Telecommunications Program, receiving her Master's degree in Professional Studies in 2013 (via Irish Central).
It's no surprise Rose enrolled at Harvard, as she'd hardly struggle with admissions, given the Kennedys' long-standing relationship with the school. Beginning with JFK's grandfather, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., who graduated from Harvard in 1912, the legacy continued, and the connections made along the way no doubt aided in their political aspirations in life (via The Harvard Crimson). Rose's brother, Jack, was the most recent Kennedy graduate of Harvard, having received both his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees in 2022.
She wrote and starred in End Times Girls Club
In 2016, Rose and her friend, Mara Nelson-Greenberg, released a six-part comedy web series titled "End Times Girls Club." The web series is a satirical take on your typical YouTube tutorial videos but with an apocalyptic twist. Characters Bee (played by Schlossberg) and Lara (played by Nelson-Greenberg) take you through the world of post-doomsday makeup, recipes, and survival tips, so you, as the viewer, will be prepared for "the end times."
Rose Kennedy Schlossberg — who was surprisingly omitting the "Kennedy" from her name at the time — says she came up with "End Times Girls Club" while studying at NYU. She told Mashable, "It came up as a response to seeing the way that New York responded to Hurricane Sandy, and how people were grossly underprepared — specifically, girls in damsel in distress mode." She explains that she wanted to create a quirky show where girls were "survivalists, without compromising their cute factor" (via Mashable). The most recent episode was posted six years ago, so it's safe to say the series has unfortunately ended.
She was a writer for a Netflix series produced by Jay-Z
Throughout Rose Kennedy Schlossberg's Hollywood career, she has been credited as an actress, producer, production associate, and writer on a handful of lesser-known works. Aside from a couple of parts, she's often been behind the scenes, including her work on Netflix's 2017 show, "TIME: The Kalief Browder Story." Rose was credited for her involvement in all six episodes (via IMDb).
The series focuses on the true story of Kalief Browder, a black teenager who was imprisoned at New York City's Rikers Island between 2010 and 2013, without trial, over a supposed stolen backpack. Browder spent an inhumane period of time in solitary confinement, and the Netflix series, with Jay-Z as executive producer, dissects how a broken justice system and social class divide can cause so much despair.
Although most viewers probably wouldn't have noticed Rose in the credits, her involvement speaks volumes. During her grandfather's presidency, the civil rights movement was in full swing. JFK was initially criticized for lacking the urgency needed to push civil rights forward, but just months before his assassination, he announced in a speech addressing the nation that he would send the legislation to Congress (via ABC News). Perhaps Rose took part in this Netflix series because it was a tragic story that needed to be told, maybe she wanted to discuss the inequalities millions still face today, or perhaps she was inspired to argue for justice where her grandfather no longer can.
She endorsed Obama's presidential campaign
In 2008, long before she was endorsing Biden's presidential campaign, Caroline Kennedy wrote an article endorsing Obama for president, titled "A President Like My Father," published in The New York Times. Caroline then served on the search committee for vice president. She brought her kids along with her to the political events, who, along with much of the public, were encouraging her to run for Senate. Rose said, "it's an exciting prospect and [I] look forward to whatever role my mom chooses to play in this new era of American politics" (via The Harvard Crimson). Caroline eventually pulled herself out of the race after some poor luck. While Rose certainly hasn't been as involved in politics as many members of her family, she has consistently stood by her mother throughout her political endeavors.
During this time, Rose also showed her support for Obama. Although she was only 20 at the time, she was so inspired by him (and likely the work her mother was doing) that she donated $350 to his presidential campaign. The relationship between the Kennedys and the Obamas has remained strong, and back in 2014, President Obama announced he would appoint Rose to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (via New York Post).
She volunteered for Alan Khazei's 2010 campaign for Senate
Although she's now stepped away from politics following her endorsement of Obama, Rose Kennedy Schlossberg showed her support for another Democratic politician: Alan Khazei. Khazei ran for United States Senate in 2010, hoping to fill the Massachusetts seat of Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy, who had passed away. A major focal point of Khazei's campaign was to emphasize the public to incite change rather than letting special interest groups have their say, which is why he only accepted donations from public citizens (via The Harvard Crimson).
Senator Kennedy was JFK Jr's uncle and Rose's grand uncle, so by backing Khazei, she clearly believed in his abilities to replace Senator Kennedy. In her early twenties, she supported Khazei by volunteering for his campaign after he made a speech about the Afghanistan war, although he, unfortunately, lost the race (via Boston Herald). It would seem that this was the last time Rose was directly involved in politics, but there are plenty of other Kennedys to fill that spot for her.
She struggled significantly with the death of her uncle, JFK Jr.
Growing up, Rose was very close with her uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., who was the son of JFK and the brother of Caroline Kennedy. He was reportedly like a father to her, so when he died in a plane crash in 1999, along with his wife, Carolyn Bessette, and sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette, when Rose was just 11 years old, she was crushed. JFK Jr. had insisted on piloting the plane, and experts believe the "hazy" conditions had disoriented him when it went down. He and Carolyn had planned to drop her sister off, then make their way to Rory Kennedy's wedding in Cape Cod, but they unfortunately never made it (via History).
According to the New York Post, a Kennedy family member said, "Rose withdrew after John's death... She went into a six-month depression during which she barely spoke to anyone. She stopped eating — she must have lost 30 pounds." Rose's studies reportedly took a temporary hit, but she managed to get back on track. Aside from the pressures of growing up within a well-known family, Rose faced several familial tragedies — like any Kennedy can attest to — which many have blamed on the "Kennedy curse." The same family member said, "If there was a saving grace, it was that both Jackie and John Jr. left her considerable trust funds. At the age of 14, Rose was worth millions."