Rachel Michelle Pizzolato (born January 19, 2004) is an American actress, model, inventor, and social media personality from Metairie, Louisiana. She is best known as a co-host of the Discovery Science Channel series MythBusters Jr. and as the 2026 Miss Swimsuit USA International title holder.
In 2016, MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory honored her by naming a minor planet after her, designated as 33187 Pizzolato.
Who is Rachel Pizzolato?
Rachel Pizzolato is a multi-hyphenate American talent who has built a career spanning science, athletics, modeling, television, and social media. She earned national recognition as a teenage scientist before transitioning into entertainment, becoming one of the most recognizable Gen Z personalities online.
Her nickname, “The Triple Threat,” reflects her exceptional skills across science, athletics, and modeling.
Per IMDb, Rachel is a patent-pending inventor, a National Champion Trampolinist, a published writer and poet, and an actress.
She has competed in national and international science competitions and has also walked international fashion runways. Her combination of academic achievement and entertainment success makes her a genuinely unique public figure.
She is currently pursuing a degree in aeronautical engineering at Louisiana State University Shreveport.
Additionally, Rachel is represented by Natural Models LA, Premiere Models, and the Buchwald talent agency. She is a SAG-AFTRA actress and continues to balance her academic and entertainment careers simultaneously.
Early Life of Rachel Pizzolato
Rachel Pizzolato was born on January 19, 2004, in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. Her parents are Robert and Diane Pizzolato. She grew up alongside her older brother, Robbie Pizzolato, who played college football at Tulane University.
From a very early age, Rachel demonstrated an exceptional interest in science and engineering.
Her passion for flight technology was sparked during a 2012 road trip to Long Beach, California, where she saw a wind turbine up close for the first time. That experience led to her first science fair project on vertical axis wind turbines.
She has credited that moment as the turning point that changed her life and career path permanently.
She also developed a love for gymnastics and trampoline from a young age, eventually competing at national levels.
Rachel grew up in a multilingual environment and has spoken about the values of pursuing multiple passions at once. Her parents and family were described in interviews as supportive throughout her early scientific and athletic pursuits.
Rachel Pizzolato Age
Rachel Pizzolato is 22 years old as of June 6, 2026, born on January 19, 2004. Her Zodiac sign is Capricorn, a sign associated with ambition and discipline. At 22, she holds a major pageant title, multiple science fair grand awards, and an active acting and modeling career.
Rachel Pizzolato Ethnicity and Nationality
Rachel Pizzolato holds American nationality, born and raised in Metairie, Louisiana. Her family background is Italian-American, reflecting Louisiana’s rich Creole and European heritage. She grew up in the Greater New Orleans area and attended school in River Ridge, Louisiana.
Rachel Pizzolato Height and Weight
Rachel Pizzolato stands at 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall. Her weight is approximately 138 lbs (63 kg). Her athletic build is the result of years of competitive gymnastics and trampoline training, which she carried into her modeling career.
Rachel Pizzolato Education
Rachel Pizzolato attended John Curtis Christian School in River Ridge, Louisiana, for her primary and secondary education. She excelled academically while simultaneously competing in science fairs, beauty pageants, and athletics.
Per The Advocate, her school’s science program won significant accolades during her time there.
She later enrolled at Louisiana State University Shreveport, pursuing a degree in aeronautical engineering.
At LSUS, she appeared on both the Chancellor’s List and the Dean’s List. Her goal of studying aeronautical engineering was something she publicly stated as a teenager while on MythBusters Jr.
Rachel Pizzolato Career
Rachel Pizzolato’s career is one of the most diverse among her generation. She has earned recognition as a scientist, athlete, model, television host, actress, and social media creator, often pursuing multiple fields simultaneously.
Scientific Career and Inventions
Rachel began competing in science fairs in middle school. Between 2016 and 2022, she won the Grand Award at the Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair multiple times, including consecutive wins in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Her scientific achievements attracted national and international attention.
In 2016, MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory named a minor planet in her honor, designated 33187 Pizzolato. Also in 2016 and 2017, she was a Broadcom MASTERS Top 30 Finalist, a prestigious national science competition for middle school students.
Furthermore, she competed at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in both 2019 and 2020.
In 2018, she won the AIAA National Champion title for her NASA essay “Astronauts: The Right Stuff Indeed!” In 2022, she placed third at the International Science and Engineering Fair for her invention focused on reducing concussions in NFL helmets. Additionally, she was selected as one of the Top 300 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search.
Her two patent-pending inventions include a vertical axis wind turbine design and an articulating facemask system for NFL football helmets to reduce concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
MythBusters Jr. and Television Career
In 2019, Rachel was selected as one of six young scientists to co-host MythBusters Jr. on the Discovery Science Channel alongside legendary host Adam Savage. She was 14 years old at the time of filming.
The show premiered on January 2, 2019, and ran for 10 episodes.
Her role on the program brought her national television exposure and established her as a young public figure in science and entertainment.
The University of Akron, which had previously recognized her through the Global Polymer Academy’s National Award, also featured her as an alumna of their rubber band contest program after her MythBusters Jr. appearance.
Rachel also appeared in the 2024 independent film Street Trash and the 2025 horror film Round the Decay. She additionally appeared in Divine Soldiers in 2025.
Modeling and Pageant Career
Rachel has built a substantial modeling portfolio alongside her science career. She is signed with Natural Models LA, Premiere Models, and is represented by Buchwald talent agency. She has walked runways for designers including Stevie Boi and has appeared at New York Fashion Week.
She also competed in beauty pageants from a young age.
She won the Miss Pre-Teen New Orleans title in 2018 and placed as 1st Runner-Up at Miss Louisiana Teenage USA 2021. In October 2025, she competed at the Swimsuit USA International World Finals and was crowned the 2026 Miss Swimsuit USA International title holder.
Social Media Career
Rachel launched her TikTok career in December 2019 with a dance video that rapidly went viral. She posts on TikTok under the handle @rachel_pizzolato. Her content spans fashion, beauty, science, and lifestyle.
On Instagram, she goes by @beautyandbrainswithatwist, reflecting her signature personal brand. She also maintains a YouTube channel under the handle @rachelmichellepizzolato, where she posts vlogs and modeling content.
Her YouTube channel reached one million subscribers in October 2024.
Rachel Pizzolato Boyfriend
Rachel Pizzolato has not publicly confirmed any current relationship as of June 2026. She has spoken openly on social media about the unique challenges of dating as a tall woman.
She remains focused on her academic studies, acting career, and modeling work.
Rachel Pizzolato Net Worth
Rachel Pizzolato’s estimated net worth is $1 million as of 2026. She has earned through her television work on MythBusters Jr., modeling contracts with Natural Models LA and Premiere Models, social media sponsorships, her acting credits in multiple films, and pageant-related opportunities.
Her diverse income streams across science, modeling, and entertainment continue to grow.
Rachel Pizzolato Social Media
Rachel Pizzolato is active across multiple platforms. On Instagram, she uses the handle @beautyandbrainswithatwist. On TikTok, she posts as @rachel_pizzolato. She also has a YouTube channel under the username @rachelmichellepizzolato.
Her social media presence spans fashion, science advocacy, lifestyle content, and behind-the-scenes modeling content.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rachel Pizzolato’s net worth?
Rachel Pizzolato’s estimated net worth is $1 million as of 2026. Her income comes from television, modeling contracts, social media sponsorships, and her acting credits including MythBusters Jr. and the 2025 horror film Round the Decay.
How old is Rachel Pizzolato?
Rachel Pizzolato is 22 years old as of June 6, 2026. She was born on January 19, 2004, in Metairie, Louisiana. Her Zodiac sign is Capricorn.
Where was Rachel Pizzolato born?
Rachel Pizzolato was born in Metairie, Louisiana, in the greater New Orleans area. She grew up there and attended John Curtis Christian School in River Ridge, Louisiana.
What is Rachel Pizzolato’s height?
Rachel Pizzolato stands at 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall. She has spoken publicly about the unique experience of being a tall woman in modeling and dating.
What is Rachel Pizzolato best known for?
She is best known as a co-host of MythBusters Jr. on the Discovery Science Channel in 2019. She is also known for her multiple Grand Award wins at the Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair and for winning the 2026 Miss Swimsuit USA International title.
Did MIT name a planet after Rachel Pizzolato?
Yes. In 2016, MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory named minor planet 33187 after her, in recognition of her exceptional achievements in science as a young student. The honor is officially designated as Pizzolato 33187.
The Bottom Line
Rachel Pizzolato’s story is not just about talent. It is about the relentless pursuit of multiple passions at once, and the belief that a person is not limited to a single path in life.
From middle school science fairs to national television, from fashion runways to international pageants, she has consistently refused to pick just one lane. That refusal has resulted in a career and a life few people her age can match.
She continues to inspire young people to dream big and pursue their interests with passion. We hope you enjoyed reading about Rachel Pizzolato. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!