Shay Mitchell

April 10, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Shay Mitchell, born on April 10, 1987, is a woman of many talents. Since she was a child, she had an inclination toward performing arts. She also talked to her parents about her desire to become an artist. She began her career as a model and dancer. Over the years, Mitchell has emerged as a renowned actress, author, and entrepreneur. She rose to fame as Emily Fields in the hit series “Pretty Little Liars.” Let’s jump in and learn more about her.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Shannon Ashley Garcia Mitchell

Nickname:

Shay, Shay Lo

Birth date:

April 10, 1987

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Aries

Height:

5' 8"

Relationship Status:

In a relationship

Net Worth:

$8 million

Background

Shay Mitchell was born on April 10, 1987, and was brought up in Ontario, Canada to parents Mark Mitchell and Precious Garcia. Her mother is a Filipina, while her father has Irish and Scottish descent. Mitchell is also a cousin of Lea Salonga, a famed musical theater actress and singer. Growing up, Mitchell attended Rockridge Secondary before transferring to the West Vancouver Secondary School. By her late teenage years, she had modeled for several companies around the world. She traveled to Barcelona, Bangkok, and Hong Kong, ultimately returning home to Toronto and studying acting.

Her first acting stint took place in 2009 when she made a cameo appearance in “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” That same year, she appeared in a music video for the famous singer Sean Paul. Thereafter, she soon got her big break and was cast in “Pretty Little Liars” as Emily Fields. The actress garnered praise and widespread recognition for her performance on the show, with many commending the characterization Mitchell applied to the role. She also went on to earn numerous accolades for her work. She made her debut in feature films in 2016 with the movie “Dreamland.” In 2018, she played Peach Salinger in the hit thriller series “You.”

The actress is also known for her philanthropy. She supported the Somaly Mam Foundation, which was a non-profit organization to fight sex trafficking. She was a part of their efforts until the organization ended its operations in 2014. Moreover, Mitchell has teamed up with the NOH8 Campaign and The Trevor Project.

Career timeline

2009

Her Rise to Prominence

She joins the cast of “Pretty Little Liars” as Emily Fields.

2011

A Major Win

She receives the ‘Young Hollywood Award’ and wins nominations for the Teen Choice Awards and People’s Choice Award.

2014

The Sexiest Woman

“Esquire” magazine names her the ‘Sexiest Woman Alive.’

2018

She Receives Acclaim

She earns critical acclaim for her role in “You.”

Why We Love Shay Mitchell

An icon for solidarity
Shay Mitchell believes in women’s solidarity as is evident in her kinship with her “Pretty Little Liars” co-stars. Her best friends are female, which goes on to shatter the old age stereotype that women always compete with each other and simply cannot be friends.
Her love for animals
The actress often talks about the significance of adopting animals. Her Instagram also includes several shots of her cuddling dogs, which we think is aww-some!
She is a positive role model
Mitchell is a role model, especially for teenagers, who often have body image issues. The actress has been vocal about her struggles with body image and eating disorders in the past. However, she has managed to overcome her hardships and now embraces a healthy attitude toward her food habits and self-image.

5 Surprising Facts

She auditioned for another role
Shay Mitchell originally auditioned for the role of Spencer Hastings in “Pretty Little Liars.”
Her love for skydiving
The actress loves to skydive and has skydived several times.
She is a karaoke pro
In an interview, Mitchell revealed she is very good at karaoke.
Her best friend
She is pals with Ashley Benson, her co-star in “Pretty Little Liars.”
She co-wrote a novel
She, alongside her friend Michaela Blaney, wrote a novel named “Bliss.”