Rachel L. Graves

 

Rachel casting her vote in the Chilean national election.

Hailing from the land of Chile, known for its rice and fresh cilantro, Rachel (meaning: fragrance) always stood out from her surroundings - - in more ways than one. Her exact birthplace / birth date are debated, but does it really matter people? She’s beautiful and you know you love her.

To really understand Rachel and all her glory, we’re going to have to trek back to the beginning….

Rachel’s father, Jean Claude Van Graves – originally from the U.S. of A. – was an important Comanche chief and the last leader of the powerful Quahadi band before they surrendered a battle at the Great Plains. This unforeseen loss caused Jean Claude to uproot his family, consisting of five wives and 25 children, and move to a small Chilean village in the Andes Mountans, where they resided for a number of years. While there, he and his family taught the natives all they needed to know about America: pizza, soccer and Pogs.

Rachel has two older blood-related siblings, both of whom are models and/or actors. Her brother Pecos (pecan) and sister, Topsana (prairie flower) played a large role in Rachel’s development and soon all Rachel talked about was “making it big” in America. The siblings formed a comedic trio and quickly outgrew their weekly gypsy gatherings. Within a week, Rachel convinced her family to leave to the village and swim back to America.

Being the most passionate and vocal member of the family, Rachel led the excursion carrying only a box of matches, a Hello Kitty notebook and pickles. “Life’s essentials,” as she called them. 

Unfortunately, Rachel took a wrong turn and ended up in Mississippi instead of California. Realizing the entire state had absolutely nothing to offer, Rachel immediately left her family and moved to Nashville. She began her career as a child fashion model before making her motion picture debut in Disney's 1998 remake of "The Parent Trap" at the age of 11. Unfortunately, her fame grew faster than her maturity level and her career was abruptly derailed a few years later with two DUIs and three visits to drug rehabilitation facilities.

In an effort to regain her artist spirit, Rachel travelled the world as merchant and rickshaw driver from 2007 to 2009. She often found herself in Bolivia and Thailand selling coin purses made of plastic bags, touting her trade as a campaign against the “unnecessary use of plastic bags.” 

Resuming her career in 2010, she guest starred in hit the TV series "Flavor of Love" and as an extra in the critically acclaimed drama, "August Rush." Feeling that she needed a little more out of life, she moved to New York City where she currently sits in parks as a form of art.