Emily Mariko is a social media influencer who gained attention in the summer of 2021 for her cooking and lifestyle TikToks, particularly her salmon and rice bowls.[1]

Early life

edit

Mariko was born in Los Angeles.[2] She attended Columbia University in New York City and graduated in 2014 with a degree in neuroscience. She worked at L’Oréal and Facebook before leaving to become a full-time YouTuber.[3]

Social media career

edit

When Mariko pursued social media part-time, she called her YouTube channel “Sharewear” and was focused on fashion and lifestyle content. When she left Facebook, she renamed her channel to her full name.[3] She began posting on TikTok in March 2020, while already a full-time YouTuber.[3] In the summer of 2021, Mariko gained attention for her salmon bowl recipe, which consists of leftover salmon, white rice, soy sauce, kewpie mayonnaise, nori, and kimchi.[4][5][6][7] In videos, Mariko heated the rice in the microwave with an ice cube and parchment paper.[5] At the height of the salmon videos' popularity, Mariko gained a million TikTok followers in several days.[5] Mashable described her account's content as "nearly mundane but soothingly organized".[5]

She frequently posts about exercise, cleaning, and cooking.[5][2]

In 2024, she launched an online shop called Emily Mariko. Its first and only product was a large tote bag that was sold for US$120. Despite attracting attention for its high price, the tote bag quickly sold out.[8]

Personal life

edit

Emily Mariko became engaged to her longtime partner, Matt Rickard, in October 2021.[9] The couple married on July 22, 2023 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California in a venue that viewers recognized as the same venue as Caleb and Julie’s wedding in the television series The O.C.[9][4] Her wedding was widely discussed on social media and was noted for exemplifying "quiet luxury".[8][4] The wedding was hailed as one of the top social media events of 2023 by The New York Times.[10] In December 2023, she announced her pregnancy with her and Rickard's first child.[11][12] Their son was born on June 15, 2024.[13]

References

edit
  1. ^ Kim, Eric (May 18, 2022). "Why Salmon and Rice Go So Well Together (Published 2022)". The New York Times. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Hurst, Millie (November 19, 2021). "Cleaning fans are obsessed with Emily Mariko's stove gap fillers on TikTok". Real Homes. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Gise, Hailey (November 4, 2021). "Has Emily Mariko Found the Recipe for Success? – The Macaulay Messenger". Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Emily Mariko Got Married At This Exact Stunning Church From 'The O.C.'". ELLE. July 25, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e Marcin, Tim (September 30, 2021). "The soothing relatability of Emily Mariko, TikTok's latest food influencer". Mashable. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "The TikTok Salmon Bowl Can't Save Us". Slate Magazine. October 16, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  7. ^ Schroeder, Audra (October 4, 2021). "Emily Mariko's aspirational salmon dish takes over TikTok". The Daily Dot. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Kircher, Madison Malone (January 30, 2024). "A Tote Bag for $120?". The New York Times. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Everything to Know About TikTok Star Emily Mariko's Wedding Wardrobe". Brides. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  10. ^ Kircher, Madison Malone (December 20, 2023). "Top Social Media Trends of 2023: Roman Empire, Grimace Shake, Keith Lee and More". The New York Times. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  11. ^ "TikTok Influencer Emily Mariko Is Pregnant — See the Sweet Announcement!". December 27, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  12. ^ "Instagram".
  13. ^ "TikTok Influencer Emily Mariko Welcomes First Baby, a Boy, with Husband Matt Rickard".