Rachel Ako

Rachel Ako achieved critical and commercial recognition as a best-selling author with her impactful book, ‘Rise: True Stories of Triumph in the Face of Adversity,’ published in 2015. This publication quickly ascended to best-seller status across multiple key categories, including Non-Fiction, Self-Help, and Inspirational. Her profile gained further national prominence in 2016 as a contestant on CBS’s Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X (Season 33), where her experience included navigating a historic evacuation due to a tropical cyclone.

Professionally, Ako applied her business acumen as a recruiting director for New York Life Insurance Company, demonstrating her leadership and strategic capabilities within a major corporate environment. Ako’s dynamic presence and widespread appeal have also translated into significant success in the entertainment industry, particularly through modeling and commercial endorsements. She has lent her image to a range of prominent hospitality and entertainment brands, including comprehensive campaigns for Aria Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Circus Circus Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, and Pala Resort and Casino in Palm Springs, California. Her commercial work extends to national visibility with appearances for Wal-Mart, alongside domestic campaigns for regional businesses such as Eldorado Casino in Reno, Nevada, showcasing her ability to connect with diverse consumer markets.

Beyond her varied professional accomplishments, Rachel Ako is deeply committed to philanthropic initiatives, utilizing her platform to foster positive social impact. She passionately advocates for confidence and self-expression, with a particular focus on empowering Asian Pacific Islanders. Ako maintains an active and influential public presence, regularly engaging audiences as a speaker and thought leader who shares invaluable insights drawn from her extensive life and career experiences, continuing to inspire individuals towards triumph and resilience.