News of Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger’s engagement made headlines yesterday. It also led to a surge of searches on Katherine. While everyone knows Chris Pratt, Katherine has managed to lead a private life, in spite of her familial background. Her last name is of course familiar. She’s the daughter of actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. But what you might not know, is that she’s the great niece of John F. Kennedy. Her mother, Maria Shriver, is actually the daughter of Eunice Kennedy, the former US President’s sister. Not to mention, Maria’s father Sarge Shriver, served as U.S. Ambassador to France and even ran for Vice President in the 1972 US election.
While that’s an interesting fact, she’s definitely much more than her family name. She’s not just the daughter of an action star, or the descendant of a Kennedy, or even Chris Pratt’s fiancée. Katherine Schwarzenegger has her own merits and she is her own person. To save you the trouble, we’ve listed down here other little-known facts about her.
Communications and Journalism graduate
Unlike her brother Patrick Schwarzenegger who became an actor like their dad, Katherine chose to follow in the footsteps of her mom, who was a former NBC correspondent. In May 2012, Katherine earned her degree in communications at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Since then, she has worked as a contributor to several publications, and appeared on popular media outlets such as The View and The Today Show. Like Maria, she also became a correspondent. Working for Entertainment Tonight gave her the chance to interview big names, like Michelle Obama.
Lifestyle blogger
Speaking of Michelle Obama, Katherine also wants to leave a positive impact on the world and become a role model. One way she tries to do that is through her own blog. Covering everything from “recipes and reviews, to advice and inspiration,” Katherine aims to “speak to and speak for her generation of young women.” In her site, she shared why she believes in the significance of her platform. “People my age have an important role to play across the board in our society and I want to use my voice for positive change,” she wrote.
A published author
Another way Katherine seeks to make a change is through her books. The 28-year-old has actually published not one but three books. Her first was published in 2010 titled Rock What You’ve Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty from Someone Who’s Been There and Back. In it, she strives to help young women develop a healthier relationship with their bodies while confiding her own journey of dealing with body-image issues and how she overcame them.
Her next book came four years later. Like its title, I Just Graduated . . . Now What? insinuates, it’s a self-help book for people who are feeling lost post-graduation. It was inspired by her own personal struggles of trying to find her way right after she earned her degree from USC.
Unlike her first two self-help books, Katherine’s most recent one is a children’s book titled Maverick and Me. Released in 2017, it’s inspired by her rescue dog Maverick and how he came into her life. She shared that with the book, she wanted to “shine a light on all the amazing animals that are in need of homes.”
ASPCA Ambassador
From her latest book, you might already have deduced that Katherine is obsessed with pets. If you’ve stalked her on Instagram, you’ll know just how big of an animal-lover she really is. In addition to being a firm advocate for pet adoption, she’s also an ambassador for the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Art by Marian Hukom
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