Fans of Modern Family are astounded at how much Aubrey Anderson-Emmons has grown up since the show ended in 2020.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, who stands at 5′3″ (1.60 m), has been seen wearing a wide range of platform shoes and heels to elongate her height, like this elegant pair of black open-toe heels she styled with a form-fitting lace dress at the Unforgettable Gala, celebrating Asian American achievements in entertainment.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons looked sophisticated in a long black lace dress paired with classic black open-toe heels at the Unforgettable Gala on December 14, 2024, in Beverly Hills (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Modern Family was everyone’s favorite TV show, including Michelle Obama, and Anderson Emmerson’s character, Lily, was truly iconic.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons didn’t just step into a popular sitcom—she redefined it with sass and comic timing well beyond her years.
Whether she was shutting down freeloading guests with “You can’t live here. Get out. It’s weird. You’re a big boy,” or deadpanning “Cry me a river… should I call you a wahmbulance?” Lily quickly became the queen of one-liners.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons showed off a neat nude-toned pedicure in classic black platform open-toe heels (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
She stole the show with her sarcastic lines and spunky attitude, and has now gone viral as a TikTok star.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons as Lily Tucker-Pritchett, looking unimpressed during a card game scene on ABC’s hit sitcom Modern Family, where she became a fan favorite for her witty lines and expressive reactions (Credit: ABC)
From Sitcom Star to Style Icon: Aubrey as Lily on Modern Family
The American actress uses she/they pronouns and first appeared on Modern Family as a four-year-old. Lily Tucker-Pritchett’s character is the adopted Asian daughter of gay dads Mitchell Pritchett and Cameron Tucker.
She began portraying the character in 2011 as a four-year-old. The ABC states that her character “increased cultural diversity awareness as an Asian American playing a trans-racial adoptee of gay parents.”
At just 4 years old, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons made history as the youngest recipient of a Screen Actors Guild Award for her standout role as Lily on Modern Family (Credit: ABC)
At the age of four years, Anderson-Emmons was the youngest nominee and recipient of a Screen Actors Guild award for her portrayal of Lily on Modern Family. She spent eight years as a regular on the series.
All Grown Up: Red Carpet Looks and Shoe Style Evolution
Anderson-Emmons went viral in Jan 2021 when she posted a moody video of herself lip-syncing to “Bound 2 (Slowed + Reverb)” by Kanye West.
The video showed off her trendy curtain bangs and startled fans with how much she has grown up since Modern Family ended in 2020.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, who turned 14 in June 2021, showcased her bold personal style in flared jeans, a sheer black top, and vibrant floral slip-on shoes at The DiscOasis VIP Night at South Coast Botanic Garden on July 21, 2021 (Credit: DFree / Shutterstock)
She went viral overnight, and her followers and views have only increased. Anderson-Emmons can’t understand the sudden fascination with her social media, jokingly stating, “Why is everybody suddenly realizing that I’m on TikTok? I’ve been on TikTok since 2019!”
When the iconic series ended, she was 12, and fans had a lot to say about her grown-up appearance.
In the final season, she is said to have made $70,000 per episode and now has an estimated net worth of $6 million as of May 2025. Aubrey’s salary per episode for the first few seasons was $35,000.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons attended the premiere of Cirque Du Soleil’s “Volta” at Dodger Stadium on January 21, 2020, in Los Angeles, glowing in a black floral-print blouse and hoop earrings that added a youthful yet polished touch to her look (Credit: DFree / Shutterstock)
One fan stated, “She’s turning into Hayley,” referencing Sarah Hyland’s teenage character in the series. Another fan commented, “I was about to say that you look like Lily from Modern Family,… then I realized.”
Going Viral: TikTok Fame and Gen Z Fashion Influence
As of May 2025, she has amassed over 1.5 million followers on Instagram and over 2.5 million followers on TikTok, where she shares lip-sync videos and TikTok videos of her making mac and cheese.
She has posted several videos featuring lip-syncing and dancing to “How you feel is not my problem” from Willow Smith’s “Female Energy.”
In another video, she gives fans a tour of her room. A video of her mouthing the words “you’re a one in a million/ There ain’t no man like you” from Doja Cat’s “Streets” while heating Mac and cheese earned her hundreds of thousands of views on a single video. Other TikToks and reels have reached over a million views.
Her social media continues to captivate people, just as her acting skills did in Modern Family. Although she had not taken an acting role before her casting as Lily, performing is in her blood. Her mom is a stand-up comedian, actress, and manager.
The mother-daughter pair spends a lot of time together and created a YouTube channel called “FoodMania Review” in 2015.
What She’s Doing Now: Activism, Social Media, and Teen Style
Her TikTok profile states, “I once played Lily. I’ve always been Aubrey.” She certainly is being Aubrey, and fans are loving it. She uses her platform to fight for justice, and equal rights, including the Black Lives Matter movement.
Another important cause that is closest to her heart is immigrant rights. Her mom is an immigrant, born in Korea, so she knows how difficult it can be to be an immigrant in America.
A young Aubrey Anderson-Emmons shares a joyful hug with her Korean-American mother, Amy Anderson, at the Disney Channel’s premiere party for Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess on November 10, 2012, at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California (Credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock)
When she’s not busy being Gen Z’s latest social media star, she spends her time being a teenager, capturing selfies, playing with her dogs, and taking trips with friends.
The Original Lily: Who Aubrey Anderson-Emmons Replaced
If you didn’t already know, Anderson-Emmons was not the original actor who played Lily.
Lily was initially portrayed by twins Ella and Jaden Hiller. In an interview, their father, Doug Heller, shared, “We saw an ad on Craigslist looking for identical Asian girl twins. We sent in a picture, and they were cast. It was crazy.”
Anderson-Emmons replaced the twins in 2011, whose parents noticed they were not enjoying the filming. Although the parents were offered a significant increase per episode, they decided to withdraw the adorable twins.
Modern Family cast members Ed O’Neill, Sarah Hyland, Eric Stonestreet, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, Rico Rodriguez, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ariel Winter, and Nolan Gould attend the “Modern Family” Fan Appreciation Day hosted by USA Network at Westwood Village on October 28, 2013, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)
It was exciting to see their baby girls interacting with their onscreen dads, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
However, in an interview with Woman’s Day, Michelle Heller explains why the girls couldn’t remain on the show: “Halfway through Season 2 their personalities had started to develop, and it was really clear to us that they weren’t enjoying their time on set.”
They pulled the pair, putting the money the kids had earned into college funds, and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons portrayed Lily for the remainder of the show.
Staying Close: Modern Family Bonds and Cast Reunions
Modern Family is an Emmy award-winning series that created a decade’s worth of favorite TV viewing for fans. The cast was incredibly close while filming the series and remained so after the show had ended.
Modern Family’s Aubrey Anderson-Emmons stepped out in a floral maxi dress, olive green jacket, and black lace-up boots for the opening night performance of Jersey Boys at the Ahmanson Theatre on January 21, 2022, in Los Angeles (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
During the early seasons, the cast even made a pact to only submit themselves for supporting roles for awards, as the cast is an ensemble.
Sarah Hyland even revealed during the farewell featurette that her fiancé, Wells Adams, not only asked her parents for a blessing on their marriage, but also her TV parents, Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell.
The offscreen bond is tight in the Pritchett household, as Anderson-Emberson and her onscreen dad, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, showed with a “daddy-daughter” date night at the Los Angeles Theater.
Julie Bowen, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, and Sarah Hyland of “Modern Family” pose in the press room at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium on January 29, 2012, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)
The pair took in a performance of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, preceded by a viewing of A Christmas Carol, a month before. Ferguson captioned an Instagram post titled “Father-daughter date night #theygrowupsofast” to commemorate the occasion.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons had a great start to her acting career with the award-winning role of Lily.
While she is currently enjoying her teenage years, the talented actress will likely continue to wow audiences with her acting skills in the years to come.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons Steals the Spotlight at the 2013 SAG Awards
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons in a pretty ruffled dress at the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 27, 2013 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
In January 2013, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, the little girl who played Lily Tucker-Pritchett, Mitchell and Cameron’s adopted Vietnamese daughter in the hit comedy Modern Family, attended the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards.
The little actress looked adorable in her ruffled dress.
Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons looks cute in a silver ruffled dress, sparkly white tights, and black patent Mary Jane shoes on the red carpet, charming fans with her youthful elegance
Stepping Out in Style: Modern Family Stars and Their Iconic Footwear
The cast of Modern Family has not only entertained audiences with their on-screen performances but also impressed fashion enthusiasts with their stylish footwear choices. Here are some memorable shoe moments from the show’s stars:
Sarah Hyland’s Glamorous Red Carpet Appearances
- Event: Elle Women in Television Celebration
- Outfit: Sarah Hyland wore an intricately embroidered lace dress by Zimmermann, featuring a Victorian-style ruffled high neck and fringe trim.
- Footwear: She paired the dress with cream leather Giuseppe Zanotti ‘Harmony’ sandals, known for their minimalist three-strap design and towering stiletto heels.
- Read more: Sarah Hyland Channels Vintage Glam in a Cream Lace Zimmermann Dress
Sofia Vergara’s Statement Heels on America’s Got Talent
- Event: America’s Got Talent Season 18 Qualifiers
- Outfit: Sofia Vergara dazzled in a rhinestone-embellished corset crop top paired with wide-leg blue pants.
- Footwear: Though concealed by her pants, she likely wore her signature platform heels to complement the ensemble.
- See her look: Sofia Vergara Shines in a Rhinestone Corset and Wide-Leg Pants
Elizabeth Banks’ Elegant Ensemble at Venice Film Festival
- Event: Premiere of A Bigger Splash at the Venice Film Festival
- Outfit: Elizabeth Banks wore a form-fitting lace gown from Marchesa’s Resort 2016 collection, featuring floral appliqués and a plunging neckline.
- Footwear: She completed the look with strappy nude Jimmy Choo ‘Fenzy’ sandals, adding a touch of elegance to her ensemble.
- Discover more: Elizabeth Banks Dazzles in Marchesa and Jimmy Choo at Venice Film Festival
Sarah Hyland’s Barbiecore Moment in Pink
- Event: Seminole Hard Rock’s New Era in Florida Gaming Event
- Outfit: Sarah Hyland embraced the Barbiecore trend in a bubblegum pink ensemble by Mach & Mach, featuring a pink wool jacket and matching mini skirt.
- Footwear: She elevated her look with metallic silver Christian Louboutin ‘So Me Spike’ sandals, known for their thin straps and gleaming spike embellishments.
- Explore her style: Sarah Hyland Goes Braless in Barbie Pink Jacket and Mini Skirt
These fashionable moments highlight the Modern Family cast’s flair for stylish footwear on and off the red carpet.