So, let's talk about the internet’s obsession with Ashley Cruger’s age. It's wild. One day you’re a successful professional in Chicago, and the next, half the world is debating whether you were born in the late 80s or the mid-90s just because you married a TV star.
Ashley Cruger officially became Mrs. Taylor Kinney in April 2024. They had this tiny, super private ceremony in Chicago. It was low-key. No massive red carpet, no paparazzi frenzy—just them. But as soon as the news broke, the "how old is she?" questions started flying like crazy.
The Age Confusion: 27 or 35?
Here is where it gets kinda messy. When major outlets started reporting on the wedding, the numbers didn't match. Daily Mail and Geo News cited her age as 27. Meanwhile, E! News and Capital FM were dead set on 35.
That’s an eight-year gap. In the world of celebrity gossip, that’s an eternity.
Honestly, the 27 figure seems to stem from her graduation date. Ashley graduated from the University of Iowa in 2017. If she was a traditional student, she would have been around 21 or 22 then. Math says that puts her right around 28 or 29 now in early 2026.
But then you have the sources claiming she was 35 back in 2024. If that were true, she would have been a non-traditional student graduating in her late 20s. It’s possible! People change careers all the time. But the discrepancy has basically turned her birth year into a minor internet mystery.
Who is Ashley Cruger Anyway?
She isn't just "the wife." Not by a long shot. Before the Chicago Fire fans even knew her name, she was building a real career.
- Journalism Roots: She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. That's not nothing. It explains why she’s usually pretty savvy with her social media presence, even when fans get a little... intense.
- The Corporate Grind: She didn't just jump into modeling. She worked in IT for General Motors. Later, she moved into sales and marketing for El Bandido Yankee Tequila Company.
- The Pivot: Currently, she’s a business development manager for Eagle Six Properties. She does this while also being signed with BMG Models.
It’s a lot to juggle. Most people think she’s just a model because of the photos, but her LinkedIn tells a story of someone who knows how to close a business deal.
That Chicago Fire Cameo
If you blinked, you missed it. Ashley actually popped up in the Season 11 premiere of Chicago Fire. She was an extra in a bar scene.
You’ve gotta love the meta-commentary there. Her husband, Taylor Kinney, plays Kelly Severide, and she’s just hanging out in the background of his fictional life. She even joked about it on X (the artist formerly known as Twitter), saying she managed to "sneak on" the show.
It was a fun Easter egg for the die-hard fans. It also signaled that she was becoming a permanent fixture in Kinney’s world. He’d been famously private after his engagement to Lady Gaga ended in 2016. Seeing him share photos of Ashley at nail salons or ski trips was a huge shift for him.
Dealing with the Spotlight
Being the partner of a fan-favorite actor isn't always sunshine and roses. Ashley has had to develop some thick skin.
In late 2023, things got a bit heated on Instagram. Some "fans" were being pretty nasty, claiming Taylor was only with her for her looks. She didn't just take it. She actually clapped back, turning their insults into weird compliments.
She basically said she wasn't going to let "hate comments" become her whole personality. Smart move.
Why the Age Gap Matters (To Some People)
Taylor Kinney was born on July 15, 1981. He's 44 now. If Ashley is indeed in her late 20s, there’s about a 15-year gap. If she’s 36 or 37, it’s closer to seven or eight years.
People love to project their own baggage onto celebrity age gaps. But if you look at their public appearances—from the Monte Carlo TV Festival to charity golf tournaments—they just look like two people who really enjoy each other’s company. They both love motorsports. They both love dogs. They both seem to love the city of Chicago.
Life as a Kinney
Since the wedding, the couple has stayed relatively quiet. They aren't the type to sell their wedding photos to the highest bidder or post every meal on Instagram Stories.
📖 Related: Is Meghan Markle Pregnant? The Truth About Those 2026 Rumors
Ashley still posts travel photos—Italy, Scotland, various ski slopes—but she keeps the intimate details of their marriage under wraps. It’s a delicate balance. She’s navigating the transition from a private citizen to a public figure with a lot of grace, even when the internet can't decide how old she is.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you're trying to pin down the exact "truth" about Ashley Cruger's age or background, keep these things in mind:
- Check the University Records: Her 2017 graduation from the University of Iowa is the most solid "anchor" date available for her timeline.
- Professional Identity: She is active in the real estate and business development world in Chicago; she isn't just a social media influencer.
- Media Reliability: When you see "27" versus "35," remember that many celebrity databases scrape unverified info. The 2017 graduation date strongly suggests the younger end of that spectrum is more likely, but she has never publicly confirmed her birth year.
- Social Nuance: She is more accessible on Instagram than Taylor is, but she has limited her comments in the past to avoid toxicity.
The reality is that whether she's 28 or 36, she’s a career-driven woman who managed to find a stable relationship in the middle of the Hollywood (and Chicago) spotlight.