Desiree Gruber

Last updated
Desiree Gruber
Desiree Gruber.jpg
Born (1967-06-25) June 25, 1967 (age 56)
Miami, Florida, United States
Occupation(s)Television producer, entrepreneur, fashion publicist, venture capitalist
Known for Project Runway , Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
Title CEO of Full Picture
Co-Founder of DGNL Ventures
Board member of
Spouse
​
(m. 2002)​
Children1
Website www.fullpicture.com

Desiree Gruber (born June 25, 1967) is an American television producer and entrepreneur. She was the executive producer of the fashion reality television competition Project Runway [1] [2] and the co-creator of Theodora and Callum, "an accessories-based line inspired by world travel." [3] She is also the founder and CEO of a production company, Full Picture. [4] [5]

Contents

Early life and career

Gruber was born on June 25, 1967, in Miami, Florida. [6] [7] [8] [9] In an interview with Daily Front Row , Gruber said that her father was a businessman and a green beret and he had her enrolled in ROTC when she was in college, which helped her build leadership skills. [10]

She started her professional career as an assistant in the A&R department for EMI Records in 1989, and as the general assistant on the New Music Seminar in 1990. [11]

In 1991, she joined the marketing agency Rogers & Cowan as an assistant publicist, later promoted to director of entertainment, and eventually to vice president of entertainment in 1997. During her time there, she helped in the publicizing and branding of Victoria's Secret, The Limited Inc., and Elite Model Management. She also worked on U2's PopMart Tour and Miramax Films. [12] [13] [1] In 1995, she produced the inaugural Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and has since produced the annual events for over 20 years. [1] [14]

In 1999, she left Rogers & Cowan to establish her own production company, Full Picture. [15] [16] In the beginning, her works included Victoria's Secret supermodel Heidi Klum and designer Roberto Cavalli. She developed a reality television series Project Runway along with Klum and Full Picture's executive Jane Cha. [10] She had also done some advising to supermodel Naomi Campbell. [17] [18]

In 2016, she joined Nir Liberboim to co-found DGNL Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund that has invested in brands including Living Proof, Songza, and Fashion GPS (Launchmetrics). [19] [20] [21] [22]

Philanthropy

In 2016, Gruber worked with the former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama on her "Let Girls Learn" campaign. [23] [24]

Gruber currently serves on the New York regional board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. [25] [26] She is also a board member of "God's Love We Deliver", which provides meals for people living with life-threatening illnesses. [25] [27]

Personal life

Gruber and Kyle MacLachlan, 2012 Desiree Gruber Kyle MacLachlan VF 2012 Shankbone.JPG
Gruber and Kyle MacLachlan, 2012

Gruber met and began a relationship with actor Kyle MacLachlan in 1999. [28] [29] They married on April 20, 2002. [9] Their son, Callum Lyon MacLachlan, was born in Los Angeles in 2008. [8] The family has residences in Los Angeles and New York. [30] [31] They have two dogs, Mookie and Sam. [32] [33]

Awards and recognition

Gruber was one of Fortune magazine's Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs of 2010. [34] As an executive producer, Gruber was part of Project Runway , which was nominated for 14 Emmy Awards in Outstanding Reality Television Program, [35] received a Peabody Award in 2007, [36] a GLAAD Media Award, and "has also been honored with over twenty media industry awards." [3] [37]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle MacLachlan</span> American actor (born 1959)

Kyle Merritt MacLachlan is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dale Cooper on the television series Twin Peaks and its film prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama. MacLachlan is also known for his roles as Paul Atreides in Dune (1984) and Jeffrey Beaumont in Blue Velvet (1986), both films were directed by David Lynch. His other film roles include Lloyd Gallagher in The Hidden (1987), Ray Manzarek in The Doors (1991), Cliff Vandercave in The Flintstones (1994), Zack Carey in Showgirls (1995) and the voice of Riley's father in Inside Out (2015).

<i>Do the Right Thing</i> 1989 film by Spike Lee

Do the Right Thing is a 1989 American comedy-drama film produced, written, and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, and Samuel L. Jackson, and is the feature film debut of Martin Lawrence and Rosie Perez. The story explores a Brooklyn neighborhood's simmering racial tension between its African-American residents and the Italian-American owners of a local pizzeria, culminating in tragedy and violence on a hot summer day.

<i>Showgirls</i> 1995 erotic drama thriller film by Paul Verhoeven

Showgirls is a 1995 erotic drama thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven from a script written by Joe Eszterhas and starring Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Glenn Plummer, Robert Davi, Alan Rachins and Gina Ravera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heidi Klum</span> German and American model (born 1973)

Heidi Klum is a German and American model, television host, producer, and businesswoman. She appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1998 and was the first German model to become a Victoria's Secret Angel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicole Richie</span> American television personality, fashion designer, and actress (born 1981)

Nicole Camille Richie is an American television personality, fashion designer, and actress. She came to prominence after appearing in the reality television series The Simple Life (2003–2007), in which she starred alongside her childhood friend and fellow socialite Paris Hilton. Richie's personal life attracted media attention during the series' five-year run and thereafter.

Project Runway is an American reality television series that premiered on Bravo on December 1, 2004. The series focuses on fashion design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elie Saab</span> Lebanese fashion designer (born 1964)

Elie Saab is a Lebanese fashion designer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Richards</span> American actress and television personality (born 1969)

Kyle Egan Richards Umansky is an American actress, socialite, and television personality. Since 2010, she has appeared as a main cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and as of 2022, is the last remaining original cast member on the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Kors</span> American fashion designer (born 1959)

Michael David Kors is an American fashion designer. He is the chief creative officer of his brand, Michael Kors, which sells men's and women's ready-to-wear, accessories, watches, jewelry, footwear, and fragrance. Kors was the first women's ready-to-wear designer for the French house Celine, from 1997 to 2003. On January 2, 2019, Michael Kors Holdings Limited officially changed its name to Capri Holdings Limited. Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, and Versace are the three founder-led brands under Capri Holdings Limited.

<i>Germanys Next Topmodel</i> Model contest on television

Germany's Next Topmodel is a German reality television series, based on a concept introduced by Tyra Banks with America's Next Top Model. The competition is hosted by Heidi Klum who also serves as the lead judge and executive producer of the show. It is currently the longest-airing Top Model adaptation at 18 years and the second Top Model series to have the most cycles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha MacCallum</span> American news host and anchor

Martha Bowes MacCallum is an American journalist and news host for Fox News. She is the host of The Story with Martha MacCallum, broadcast from Manhattan. MacCallum joined the network in 2004. Her interviews with President Barack Obama, General David Petraeus, Arizona Senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain, New Jersey governor Chris Christie, First Lady Laura Bush, and others have been featured on her programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julianna Smoot</span>

Julianna Smoot is an American political aide and fundraiser for the Democratic Party. She served as a Deputy Manager of Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign, having previously served as White House Social Secretary, Deputy Assistant to the President. and Chief of Staff to United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Smoot previously served as a professional fundraiser for the Democratic Party. She was the national finance director for Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign. Under her direction, the campaign raised $32.5 million during the second quarter of 2007 and by election day, more money than any campaign in American history. She was named Social Secretary after her predecessor, Desirée Rogers resigned on February 26, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anya Ayoung-Chee</span> American fashion designer

Anya Ayoung-Chee is a Trinidadian fashion designer, model and television host. She was Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago 2008 and was a contestant in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant. She was the winner of Project Runway's ninth season in 2011. She founded the fashion lines Anya de Rouge and Pilar and the online fashion retailer cANYAval.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mondo Guerra</span> American fashion designer (born 1978)

Armando Thomas "Mondo" Guerra is an American fashion designer who finished as runner-up on Season 8 of Project Runway, and later won the series' first season of Project Runway All Stars. After coming out as HIV positive on the show, Guerra has become a spokesperson for two national HIV campaigns — Merck's Project I Design and Subaru's Dining Out For Life. Guerra was also the first contestant on the show to come from Denver, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halima Aden</span> Somali/American fashion model

Halima Aden is a Somali and American fashion model. She is noted for being the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant, where she was a semi-finalist. Following her participation in the pageant, Halima received national attention and was signed to IMG Models. She was also the first model to wear a hijab and burkini in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

<i>Making the Cut</i> (2020 TV series) American TV series or program

Making the Cut is an American reality television series created and presented by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. The series premiered on March 27, 2020, on Amazon Prime Video. In March 2021, the series was renewed for a second season. The second season premiered on July 16, 2021. In April 2022, the series was renewed for a third season. The third season premiered on August 19, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murder of Alesha MacPhail</span> 2018 child murder in Rothesay, Scotland

On 2 July 2018, six-year-old Scottish girl Alesha Sarah MacPhail was abducted from her bed and murdered by 16-year-old Aaron Campbell. Alesha, from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, was three days into a stay with her grandparents on the Isle of Bute when Campbell entered their unlocked home at approximately 02:00 AM. The teenager had previously bought cannabis from Alesha's father Robert, who lived in the house, and initially went to steal the drug. Upon finding the child asleep, Campbell picked her up, carried her to an abandoned hotel, then raped and killed her by applying pressure to her face and neck. Alesha was reported missing at 06:23 GMT; her body was discovered by a member of the public at 08:54 GMT.

<i>Tesla</i> (2020 film) 2020 film by Michael Almereyda

Tesla is a 2020 American biographical drama film written and directed by Michael Almereyda. It stars Ethan Hawke as Nikola Tesla. Eve Hewson, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jim Gaffigan, and Kyle MacLachlan also star.

<i>Germanys Next Topmodel</i> (season 15) Season of television series

Germany's Next Topmodel, cycle 15 is the fifteenth cycle of Germany's Next Topmodel. It aired on ProSieben in February to May 2020. There is again no jury for this season, each episode has one or more guest judges.

<i>Confess, Fletch</i> 2022 American film

Confess, Fletch is a 2022 American crime comedy film directed by Greg Mottola, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Zev Borow. Based on Gregory Mcdonald's 1976 novel of the same name, the film stars Jon Hamm, Lorenza Izzo, Marcia Gay Harden, Kyle MacLachlan, Roy Wood Jr., and John Slattery. It is the third installment in the Fletch series, following Fletch (1985) and Fletch Lives (1989), and the first not to star Chevy Chase.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Strugatz, Rachel (February 6, 2013). "Desiree Gruber: Under the Radar, On Top of Her Game". Women's Wear Daily . Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  2. ↑ "Desiree Gruber, Co-Founder, DGNL Ventures LP". Bloomberg.com . Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  3. 1 2 "Desiree Gruber | HuffPost". www.huffpost.com. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  4. ↑ Fry, Erika (October 1, 2018). "Why Storytelling Became the Hot New Skill In Business". Fortune . Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  5. ↑ Cuccinello, Hayley C. (2018-06-19). "From Hollywood To Silicon Valley, These Women Are Turning A Movement Into Action". Forbes . Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  6. ↑ Turner, Nathan (November 30, 2014). "Where Jonathan Adler, Simon Doonan, Lauren Graham, and Peter Som go to get away from it all". Architectural Digest . Conde Nast.
  7. ↑ Devaney, James (June 25, 2018). Celebrity Sightings in New York City - June 25, 2018. Getty Images . New York (published June 26, 2018). Desiree Gruber celebrates her birthday with Heidi Klum at El Toro Blanco on June 25, 2018 in New York City
  8. 1 2 "Kyle MacLachlan and Desiree Gruber Welcome Callum Lyon". People . July 28, 2008. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  9. 1 2 "Swoon Over Miami". People . Vol. 57, no. 17. May 6, 2002.
  10. 1 2 Gruber, Desiree (February 8, 2013). "The Kid Stayed In The Picture: Meet Desiree Gruber" (Interview). Interviewed by Eddie Roche. Daily Front Row . Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ Atkinson, Claire (June 3, 2002). "Profile: Gruber now a part of the celeb circuit she represents". PRWeek .
  12. ↑ "Rogers & Cowan ups Gruber". Variety . October 15, 1997.
  13. ↑ "Desiree Gruber". Gawker . Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  14. ↑ Dash, Kristie (February 1, 2018). "Meet the woman who makes the Victoria's Secret Angels glow". Vogue . France.
  15. ↑ Sachmechi, Natalie (June 18, 2019). "Nina Shaw And Aileen Lee On Why Women Need Allies At Work". Forbes . Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  16. ↑ "Desiree Gruber". Tech:NYC . Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  17. ↑ Pantin, Laurel (September 2016). "Desiree Gruber Personal Brand Building Advice". Coveteur. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  18. ↑ Horgan, Richard (May 6, 2017). "Kyle MacLachlan's 2001 Oscar Weekend Whirlwind". Adweek .
  19. ↑ "Our Team". DGNL Ventures. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  20. ↑ "SEC Form D – DGNL Ventures" (xml). 2016 – via U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
  21. ↑ "Nir Liberboim". Wharton Business Radio. Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania . Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  22. ↑ "DGNL Ventures Venture Capital Profile | VentureDeal". www.venturedeal.com. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  23. ↑ Hernandez, Brian Anthony (March 15, 2016). "Diane Warren Explains How Michelle Obama's 'This Is for My Girls' All-Star Anthem Came to Be: Exclusive". Billboard . Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  24. ↑ Zarya, Valentina (March 19, 2016). "Meet the Professional Connector Who Made Michelle Obama's Girl Power Anthem a Reality". Fortune . Retrieved 2019-08-22.
  25. 1 2 Gambichler, Meghan. "14th Annual UNICEF Snowflake Ball" (Press release) – via Riverdale Press.
  26. ↑ Crist, Allison (November 28, 2018). "Ringo Starr Calls on U.S., Britain to "Step Up for the Kids" at UNICEF Snowflake Ball". The Hollywood Reporter .
  27. ↑ "Twenty years of God's Love". Gay City News . March 20, 2008.
  28. ↑ Tozer, Paul (December 10, 2000). "Kyle MacLachlan: I, Claudius". The Guardian .
  29. ↑ Cavendish, Lucy (June 15, 2003). "Kyle reaches new peaks". London Evening Standard .
  30. ↑ Mulkerrins, Jane (June 24, 2012). "This much I know: Kyle MacLachlan". The Guardian .
  31. ↑ David, Mark (September 30, 2014). "Kyle MacLachlan To Let Sunset Strip Pad". Variety .
  32. ↑ Diamond, Wendy (July 27, 2006). "Desiree Gruber And Her Dogs, Sam & Mookie, Are Taking Care Of Business". Animal Fair .
  33. ↑ Gillespie, Katherine (June 27, 2017). "Kyle MacLachlan's Web Series About His Dogs Is Weirder Than 'Twin Peaks'". Vice .
  34. ↑ Sellers, Patricia (September 27, 2010). "Meet the 2010 Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs". Fortune . Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Desiree Gruber". Emmy Awards . Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  36. ↑ "Project Runway". www.peabodyawards.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  37. ↑ Hamilton, Andrea (2017-10-07). "About Desiree Gruber and her Latest Endeavor, DGNL". Medium. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.