If you’ve spent even five minutes watching The Five on Fox News, you know Jessica Tarlov isn’t exactly a shrinking violet. She’s the lone liberal voice usually sandwiched between a phalanx of conservatives, holding her own with a mix of rapid-fire data points and a dry, New York wit. But lately, the chatter isn't just about her political takes. People are obsessed with her age, her height, and how she manages to look like she’s still in her late twenties while juggling a PhD, a high-stakes media career, and two young kids.
How old is Jessica Tarlov, really?
As of right now in January 2026, Jessica Tarlov is 41 years old. She was born on March 9, 1984. She'll be hitting the big 42 in just a couple of months. It’s funny because, in the world of cable news—where everyone is shellacked in HD makeup and studio lighting—it’s easy to lose track of time. But Jessica’s been a fixture on our screens for over a decade now, and her "origin story" is a lot more academic than you might expect for a TV personality.
The Manhattan Roots of a Liberal Firebrand
Jessica didn't just stumble into a TV studio. She’s a "tall Jewish girl from Tribeca," as she once told the Los Angeles Times. Growing up in the heart of Manhattan shaped her. Her father, Mark Tarlov, was a pretty big deal in his own right—a film producer and director who worked on movies like Copycat and Simply Irresistible. He sadly passed away in 2021, but his influence is all over Jessica’s career. Her mom, Judith Roberts, is a screenwriter.
Basically, the Tarlov household wasn't exactly quiet.
She didn't take the easy route to fame. After getting her BA in History from Bryn Mawr, she packed her bags for London. She didn't just do a semester abroad; she stayed for six years. We’re talking a Master’s and then a PhD in Government from the London School of Economics.
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Think about that for a second. While most of us were figuring out how to pay rent in our twenties, she was writing a dissertation on how political scandals affect electoral outcomes. It’s that deep academic background that makes her so hard to "trap" in a debate. She isn't just reading talking points; she’s literally an expert on how voters think.
Why the "How Old Is Jessica Tarlov" Search Trend Never Dies
Honestly, part of the reason people keep Googling her age is because her life has moved at warp speed the last few years.
There was this huge surge of interest when she married Brian McKenna in 2021. Brian is a hedge fund executive, and the story of how they met is peak pandemic: they were next-door neighbors who started dating during the lockdowns.
Since then, it's been a whirlwind:
- Marriage: May 2021.
- First Baby (Cleo): December 2021.
- Promotion: Named a permanent co-host of The Five in January 2022.
- Second Baby (Teddy): April 2024.
When you see someone go from a "contributor" to a "co-host" and have two kids in the span of three years, you naturally wonder how old they are. People expect a "Dr. Tarlov" to be in her fifties, but she’s been doing this since her early thirties.
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The Height Factor
You can't talk about Jessica without mentioning the height. She is 5'11". On a TV set where people are often sitting behind a desk, it’s not always obvious, but when she stands up next to her co-hosts, it’s a "whoa" moment. She’s joked before that she never drank coffee as a kid because she was afraid it would stunt her growth. Clearly, that wasn't an issue.
More Than Just a Talking Head
What a lot of people miss is that Fox News isn't her only job. She’s actually the Senior Vice President of Research and Consumer Insight for Bustle Digital Group (BDG).
It’s a bit of a double life. By day, she’s analyzing data on what Millennials and Gen Z want to buy or read. By evening, she’s debating Greg Gutfeld and Jeanine Pirro. It’s a grueling schedule. Most 41-year-olds would be exhausted just thinking about it, but she seems to thrive on the friction.
She's also an author. She co-wrote America in the Age of Trump with her mentor Doug Schoen back in 2017. She’s been in the trenches of Democratic polling for a long time, having worked for big names like Mike Bloomberg.
Dealing With the "Haters"
Being the "liberal" on Fox isn't for the faint of heart. Jessica gets it from both sides. Conservatives get annoyed when she pushes back on their narratives, and progressives sometimes get mad at her for even being on the network in the first place.
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But she’s been very clear about why she does it. She told The New York Times that she wants to show people that "ideological foes can get along." It’s a bit of an uphill battle in 2026, but she’s stayed remarkably consistent. Whether she’s 41 or 61, that kind of thick skin is a rare commodity in media.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you're following Jessica's career or looking to emulate her path, here's the "secret sauce" you can actually use:
- Education is a Shield: Part of why she survives on The Five is that she has the credentials (the PhD) to back up her claims. If you want to be a commentator, don't just have an opinion—have the data.
- The "Zig-Zag" Path: She didn't go straight into TV. She worked in polling, she lived abroad, and she worked in digital media. Diverse experiences make you a more interesting speaker.
- Authenticity Matters: She doesn't try to hide her New York roots or her height or her family life. Being a real person makes people trust you more, even if they disagree with your politics.
Jessica Tarlov is proof that you can be a "numbers person" and a "TV person" at the same time. At 41, she's arguably at the peak of her influence, and given her track record, she’s probably just getting started. If you're looking to follow her work more closely, checking out her segments on The Five or listening to her podcast Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway is a great place to see that PhD-level brain in action.
Next Step: You can look up her latest research papers or her columns on Bustle to see the data-driven side of her career that usually doesn't make it into the 6:00 PM TV clips.