5 Shocking Facts About Emily Ratajkowski's Secret Role As Gibby's Girlfriend On ICarly

Did you know that one of the world's most recognizable supermodels and authors, Emily Ratajkowski, got one of her first major television roles on a Nickelodeon sitcom? It sounds like a piece of internet folklore, but it’s completely true. The global fashion icon, known to millions as ‘Emrata,’ had a brief but memorable two-episode arc on the hit show iCarly over a decade ago, playing a character whose identity has intrigued fans since she rose to international fame.

As of late 2025, Ratajkowski's early acting career continues to be a hot topic, especially after she herself shared a nostalgic throwback clip of her appearance on social media, reigniting curiosity among a new generation of fans. Long before her breakout role in the infamous "Blurred Lines" music video or her acclaimed performance in the David Fincher thriller Gone Girl, Ratajkowski was just a burgeoning 18-year-old actress named Tasha, the surprisingly stylish and coveted girlfriend of the show’s most bizarre character, Gibby.

Emily O'Hara Ratajkowski: Complete Biography and Profile

Emily Ratajkowski's journey from a young actress in a children's sitcom to a major cultural figure—a model, entrepreneur, author, and activist—is one of the most unique in modern celebrity. Here is a detailed look at her profile and career timeline.

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• Full Name: Emily O'Hara Ratajkowski
• Date of Birth: June 7, 1991
• Place of Birth: Westminster, London, England
• Nationality: American (Born to American parents)
• Early Life: Raised primarily in Encinitas, California, near San Diego.
• Parents: John David Ratajkowski (Painter and Art Teacher) and Kathleen Balgley (Professor and Writer).
• Education: Attended UCLA for one year before leaving to pursue modeling full-time.
• Modeling Debut: Signed with Ford Models at age 14.
• Breakout Role (Modeling): Appearance in the music video for Robin Thicke’s "Blurred Lines" (2013).
• Feature Film Debut: Andie Fitzgerald (Mistress) in David Fincher's Gone Girl (2014), starring Ben Affleck.
• Notable Filmography: Gone Girl, We Are Your Friends, Entourage, I Feel Pretty.
• Literary Work: Author of the essay collection My Body (2021), a New York Times bestseller.
• Entrepreneurship: Founder of the clothing and swimwear line, Inamorata.

The Unexpected Origin: Who Was Tasha on iCarly?

The role of Tasha, played by an 18-year-old Emily Ratajkowski, is one of the most surprising celebrity cameos in iCarly history. At the time of her appearance in 2009, Ratajkowski was a relatively unknown actress and model, years away from the fame that would follow. Her character was introduced as the seemingly too-good-to-be-true love interest of Gibby Gibson, the eccentric, shirtless-prone friend of Carly and Freddie.

Tasha was not a main cast member but a recurring guest role. She appeared in two episodes of the original series, both during Season 3:

• "iSpeed Date" (Aired September 26, 2009): This episode marks Tasha's debut. Gibby, played by Noah Munck, is trying to impress a girl, and Tasha is introduced as his girlfriend. The episode features a speed-dating event organized by Carly Shay and Sam Puckett.
• "iEnrage Gibby" (Aired May 14, 2010): Tasha returns in this later Season 3 episode. The plot revolves around Gibby becoming enraged when he suspects that Freddie Benson, played by Nathan Kress, is trying to steal Tasha from him. This episode highlights the unusual nature of their relationship, as many characters, including Sam, often question why the attractive Tasha is dating Gibby.

The irony of a future global supermodel and sex symbol playing the girlfriend of the show's comedic relief character is not lost on fans, which is precisely why the cameo continues to generate so much discussion today. The appearance is a fascinating footnote in Ratajkowski's career, showcasing her early efforts to break into the acting world before she shifted her focus to high fashion and modeling.

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From Tasha to "Blurred Lines": The Pivot to Global Stardom

Ratajkowski's two-episode stint on iCarly was part of her initial push into acting, which included auditioning for various roles on both Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. However, her true career trajectory took a sharp turn into the modeling and high-fashion world.

The pivotal moment came in 2013 with the release of the music video for Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines." Her controversial and highly publicized appearance in the video instantly catapulted her into the global spotlight, making her a household name almost overnight. This sudden surge in notoriety was a stark contrast to her wholesome, albeit brief, role on the family-friendly Nickelodeon show. The "Blurred Lines" video led directly to her landing a major supporting role in David Fincher's critically acclaimed 2014 film, Gone Girl, where she played the mistress of Ben Affleck's character.

This period marks the definitive shift from the aspiring actress seen in "iCarly" to the international supermodel and burgeoning film star. The contrast between these two roles—the innocent Tasha and the provocative model—is a compelling narrative about the duality of image and the rapid evolution of a celebrity's public persona. It’s a testament to her versatility that she seamlessly transitioned between the worlds of teen sitcoms and high-profile, adult-oriented projects.

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Emrata's Current Perspective on Her Acting Past

The relevance of Ratajkowski's iCarly role has been kept alive by her own recent reflections and commentary on her early career. In recent years, Ratajkowski has been very vocal about her experiences in Hollywood and the reasons she ultimately stepped away from full-time acting to focus on writing and modeling.

In a February 2023 interview, Ratajkowski revealed that she had quit acting, stating that she felt "like a piece of meat" in the industry and that "Hollywood is f---ed up." She described the constant scrutiny and feeling of being judged and objectified, which led her to seek control over her own image and narrative through her writing and her book, My Body. This candid perspective adds a deeper, more mature layer to her early work on shows like iCarly, framing it as part of a challenging journey in a demanding industry.

Furthermore, Ratajkowski herself acknowledged the fan fascination with her early Nickelodeon role. In an October 2022 social media post, she shared a clip of Tasha and Gibby, jokingly captioning it, "Did ya'll know I was Tasha on iCarly?" This moment of self-awareness and nostalgia not only delighted her followers but also confirmed the authenticity of the surprising cameo, ensuring that the character of Tasha will forever be linked to the global phenomenon that is Emily Ratajkowski.

The Legacy of Tasha: An Iconic Cameo

While her appearance was brief, the role of Tasha is now considered an iconic celebrity cameo, often listed alongside other surprising guest stars on iCarly like One Direction, Emma Stone, and Michelle Obama. The fact that an unknown actress from a Nickelodeon show would go on to become a cultural figure of Ratajkowski's stature makes her two episodes particularly notable.

The character of Tasha is a perfect example of a minor role gaining massive significance in retrospect. For fans of the show, she is Gibby's surprisingly attractive girlfriend who caused a brief rift with Freddie. For fans of Emily Ratajkowski, she represents the nascent stages of a career that would soon explode onto the world stage.

The entire arc of Tasha, from the "iSpeed Date" introduction to the "iEnrage Gibby" confrontation, serves as a fun, early-career entity for Ratajkowski. It’s a nostalgic look back at a time when she was simply another young actress trying to make her mark, unaware of the immense fame and controversy that awaited her in the worlds of modeling, film, and literature. Her willingness to embrace this past, even sharing it with her millions of followers, ensures that the story of Tasha, Gibby’s girlfriend, will continue to be a beloved piece of pop culture trivia for years to come.