Who Is the AT&T Girl?

When people search for the  AT&T girl, it’s usually Lily Adams they’re thinking of – that witty, friendly saleswoman from AT&T’s TV ads. But few people know that the actress behind Lily is actually  Milana Vayntrub, a performer with a career that goes way beyond the phone shop.

The Story Behind Milana Vayntrub

Milana Vayntrub was born on March 8, 1987 – a pretty ordinary birth date, but it’s what followed that was anything but ordinary. Actress Milana Vayntrub, who plays Lily Adams in AT&T’s commercials, has also got a talent for comedy. She’s got a life story that includes being a child refugee from Uzbekistan and starting out in showbiz at a very young age, all of which helped to shape her journey in the entertainment industry. And she’s used those experiences to fuel her activism and connect with people.

She’s had roles in all sorts of TV and digital projects, from “This Is Us” and “Other Space”, to starring in ‘Project Hail Mary’ which is due out in March 2026.

Who is the AT&T girl?

The  AT&T girl is Lily Adams, a fictional store assistant who was the face of the brand’s ads from 2013 to 2016 and then re-appeared in 2020. You have to wonder why she was such a hit. I think it was because she came across as real – quick with a crack, warm and not too pushy. It was this tone that made the ads work, and it’s no surprise that Lily became a bit of a pop culture reference. The fun and lighthearted vibe of the spots definitely played a big role in her popularity, though.

Who Is the AT&T Girl? Meet Lily Adams and the Actress Behind the Ads

Get to Know Milana Vayntrub

Milana Vayntrub was born in Uzbekistan and she moved to the United States as a kid. She started acting young, picked up some comedy training and has worked on loads of TV and digital projects. You might know her from things like “This Is Us”, “Silicon Valley” and “Other Space”, or maybe from her voice roles as Marvel’s Squirrel Girl in some of their animated stuff.

One thing that stands out about Milana is her ability to connect with people and make a lasting impact – not just on screen, but through her activism too.

Her influence extends far beyond the entertainment world.

The Commercials That Made Her Famous

Lily Adams was in loads of AT&T commercials during the core run, and when Milana came back in 2020, she not only reprised Lily but started directing some of the spots too. That comeback showed just how closely people linked the brand to her character.

The response from fans was overwhelmingly positive, which just goes to show how strong the connection between Milana and the audience is.

Using a Platform for Good

Why Did the AT&T Girl Go Viral?

The internet played a big part in spreading her clips all over the place – YouTube, Reddit and TikTok all helped get the word out. And alongside the hype, Milana was talking openly about the online harassment she was facing – including all the comments about her body being a bit of a hot topic. So in response to all that, she made a conscious decision to hide her body and regain control over her image. She used that boundary as a way to shift focus to her philanthropy, and in doing so, turned the tables on the people who were hassling her. Her response – firm, humane and clear – addressed the issue of body autonomy and got a massive amount of support, which kicked off a wider conversation about how women in ads and entertainment get treated online.

Milana’s Career Beyond AT&T

• Television: roles in This Is Us and Silicon Valley.
• Comedy: loads of experience in improv and sketch work.
• Voice acting: Marvel Rising, Robot Chicken, and loads more.
• Directing: step behind the camera on some of the AT&T spots.

Milana’s activism is rooted in her own family story as refugees. In 2016 she helped set up Can’t Do Nothing, which raises support for people displaced by conflict. She’s also been linked to OnlyPhilanthropy, a platform that connects causes with backers. It’s a natural fit – using her visibility to make a practical difference.Milana Vayntrub started up her OnlyPhilanthropy as a way to raise cash for charity, and to be honest, she used her own social media accounts – be it TikTok or not – to get the word out there about her first go at raising money. She posted up about her charity photoshoots and fundraising campaigns on social media too, sharing updates and basically begging people to join in. The cash she raised went towards some good causes, like families hit by the LA wildfires, and a single LA mum who’d lost everything in the blazes. She even threw in some special photos and what not to get people to donate, donating all the cash raised to good causes like disabled families and a single mum who lost her pad in the fire.

Then there were her charity photoshoots and fundraising campaigns all over social media. One of her campaigns, for instance, was to help out families in need – and she managed to use OnlyPhilanthropy photos and selfies to get people to donate and get involved. It was like she was saying to the world that even something as simple as a fun photo shoot can be used to help those in need. And it seemed to work out pretty well too, with loads of families in LA getting some support.

After this first big fundraising effort, Milana carried on with another photo shoot – mainly because she wanted to make sure she raised enough cash to help as many families as possible who were affected by the fires. Her campaigns actually made a real difference – and loads of her fans were super stoked about how she used fun, flirty pics to raise money for charity.

Using OnlyPhilanthropy, she demonstrated that if you can think outside the box a bit and use creativity to raise cash, you can really make a difference to families who need it. And if there’s another chance to lend a hand, you can bet Milana’ll be all over it.

Where is the AT&T girl now?

As of 2025, Milana is doing a bit of acting, some voice work, and keeping busy with all sorts of other things. She might not be as front and centre with the AT&T ads as much as she used to be, but the AT&T girl isn’t forgotten – and people are still super interested in what Milana’s up to.

Next up for her, who knows? Maybe it’ll be something related to acting, or maybe she’ll be getting stuck in with some more activism.

FAQs about the AT&T girl

Who is the woman in the AT&T adverts?

That’s Milana Vayntrub, the actress who plays Lily Adams, aka the AT&T girl.

What’s the AT&T girl’s real name?

Her real name is Milana Vayntrub, no surprises there.

Why is the AT&T girl a big deal?

Lily Adams is a cultural icon, mainly because people can relate to her funny personality and because she’s been in the AT&T ads for so long.

Is Milana the AT&T girl still now?

Yeah, she came back in 2020 and is still very closely linked with the AT&T girl thing.

What good causes does she support?

She’s been linked to some groups which focus on helping refugees out, and she’s also been involved with OnlyPhilanthropy – where she uses her social media presence to get fans to donate to important causes. As part of that, she’s done some really cheeky photoshoots for charity, using those to raise money for disaster relief and help families who need it.

ATT girl, who is she?