Ashley Fuller Olsen and her twin sister, Mary-Kate Olsen were born June 13, 1986 in Sherman Oaks, California to David and Jarnette Olsen.  They are American actresses and entrepreneurs.  Both have appeared in television and films since infancy.  Since then, they have continued in the industry through numerous television programs, films, interviews, as well as commercial endorsements.  Although they look similar in appearance, they are genetically different fraternal twins.

She and Mary-Kate Olsen began their acting career in 1987 at 9 months old when they were chosen to play the role of Michelle Tanner on a new TV series, “Full House.”  Both sisters played the character taking turns during the tapings to do so, in order to comply with strict child labor laws regarding child actors.  For the first year, Ashley would cry when she was brought on set to do a scene, so Mary-Kate had more screen time in the first season.  The show became a hit with books, dolls, and other merchandise being sold to promote it, and during the years the show was on the air, the Olsen twins had a TVQ (popularity rating) second only to Bill Cosby.

The twins continued to share the role through the show’s end in 1995 at the age of 9.  During the years of “Full House,” they teamed up with Robert Thorne and created Dualstar, their production company.  Because the producers did not want viewers to know that the twins played Michelle, the sisters were originally credited as “Mary Kate Ashley Olsen”, but in the last season and most of season one, they were credited as separate people.

Soon they had recorded an album titled Brother for Sale and a music video called Our First Video (1993) (V).  In the years that followed they starred in three straight to video movies, To Grandmother’s House We Go (1992) (TV), Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (1993) (TV), and How the West Was Fun (1994) (TV).  They also created their own video series called The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley, in which they were pint size detectives who would “solve any crime by dinner time.”  They also have another successful video series; You’re Invited to Mary-Kate and Ashley’s and both video series continue to be popular today.  In 1995 they made their big screen debut in It Takes Two (1995) and in the next few years they continued to make videos in their series.  In 1998, they returned to TV in the short-lived series, “Two of a Kind” (1998).  They made a few more TV movies, appeared on many talk shows, and began work on a new TV series titled “So Little Time” (2001).

They have an older brother named Trent and a younger sister named Lizzie. Their parents have since separated and their dad remarried.  They have a stepbrother Jake and a stepsister Taylor.  Their step-mom is Mackenzie.  When David got remarried Ashley did not attend the wedding.

They have made 13 movies, put out 169 books, and have 5 TV shows.  They are hoping to make many more movies in their time.  They currently live in California with their mom, older brother Trent and younger sister Lizzie.  They visit their dad, step-mom, Mackenzie and step siblings, Taylor and Jake.  As the sisters have matured, there has been greater interest in their fashion choices, with the New York Times declaring Mary-Kate a fashion icon for pioneering her signature (and now popular among celebrities and fans alike) “homeless” look.  Mary-Kate and Ashley have a clothing line in Wal-Mart stores across North America for girls ages 4 – 14 as well as a beauty line called “Mary-Kate and Ashley: Real fashion for real girls”.

Ashley Olsen Photo Gallery

Twin actresses and clothing designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are awarded the top spot on US Vogue’s best dressed list gracing the cover of the fashion magazine’s newest best dressed issue.  The list highlights the world’s most stylish siblings, with Kate and Pippa Middleton at number 9, Elle and Dakota Fanning at number 2, and Beyoncé and Solange Knowles at number 7.  The widely-read edition which was unveiled on Thursday will hit newsstands on November 15.

Also getting special mention inside the pages are the French Courtin-Clarin foursome, granddaughters of Clarins cosmetics company founder, Jacques Courtin-Clarin.  Vogue Fashion News Director and Editor of the best dressed issue, Mark Holgate said that it has been a year of sisters, most famously with Catherine and Pippa Middleton.

Holgate credits the Middletons with popularizing their own mid-thigh length of dress which is short enough to be impossible for an older-generation royal to wear, long enough to be decent when sitting or bending down to talk to a child.  however, it was the Olsen twins who rose to fame as child stars on US TV and as adults founded two successful high-end clothing labels who were picked for the prestigious cover.  Holgate called the choice kind of a no-brainer noting that there are no more chic, stylish, cool and original sisters than Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.  He added that they are incredibly stylish twins.

The fact they have appeared on worst dressed lists in the past, including an annual one from late fashion critic Mr. Blackwell, is actually a positive thing, said Holgate.  Holgate explained that they get it right a lot of the time and then sometimes they do not get it right adding that it is actually great because it shows that it is their hands reaching into their wardrobes.  He also said that they do not have someone telling them what they should be wearing but it comes from within them and it is instinctual.

The issue also highlights sisters with contrasting styles, such as the Maras — actresses Rooney of the upcoming “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and Kate, currently seen on TV’s thriller series “American Horror Story.”  The magazine notes that Rooney Mara looked like a goth Pippi Longstockings at a recent Rodarte fashion show while Kate Mara exudes the glamour of bygone screen sirens.  According to Holgate, there was just something interesting about seeing how siblings’ style can be so different and unique adding that they started thinking about all of the great sister acts who are around right now who look really good  together but also look good apart.

The colorful Solange Knowles, younger sister of pop superstar Beyonce, is known for taking style risks including shaving her head, donning afro wigs and mixing prints and colors.  However, she told Vogue in an interview that both their tastes are evolving and bridging the gap between their styles.  According to her, she never borrowed clothes from Beyonce when they were growing up but now her style is a little more tamed and her sister’s is a little more adventurous.