The story of Georgina Rodríguez and Cristiano Ronaldo is often portrayed as a modern-day fairy tale: a humble shop assistant meets one of the world’s most famous footballers, and her life transforms overnight.
But beneath the glossy headlines and Instagram posts lies a question that has sparked curiosity and debate: Was Georgina Rodríguez a cleaner before meeting Ronaldo?
Georgina Rodriguez’s early life
Georgina Rodríguez Hernández was born to an Argentine mother and a Spanish father on January 27, 1994, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
When she was one year old, her family relocated to Spain, settling in Jaca, a small town in the province of Huesca in northern Spain.
Growing up in Jaca, Georgina was raised in modest circumstances, with her family reportedly struggling financially at times. From an early age, Georgina harboured dreams of becoming a dancer.
She has spoken openly about her passion for classical dance, telling Forbes España in a 2024 interview, “Since I was a child, my dream was to be able to go to Madrid to study classical dance, although my life goal was always the Royal Ballet in London.”
This ambition drove her to pursue opportunities beyond her small hometown, setting the stage for her eventual move to the Spanish capital. But before she could chase those dreams, she needed to support herself.
Her early years in Jaca were not without challenges. In her Netflix docuseries I Am Georgina, she reflects on her difficulties, including living in cramped conditions after moving to Madrid.
“My arrival in Madrid was tremendous. I was looking for many cheap apartments for 300 euros. And I ended up sleeping in an apartment that had been a storage room,” she revealed.
Was Georgina Rodriguez a cleaner?
The cleaner narrative stems from the Netflix docuseries I Am Georgina. In Season 1, Georgina discusses her pre-Ronaldo life, saying, “I worked in many places… I did what I had to do to get by.”
While she does not explicitly say “cleaner,” a 2022 Daily Mail article ties this to cleaning, stating, “She worked as a cleaner while pursuing her dreams as a dancer.”
A 2024 Pulse Sports piece adds, quoting her: “A boy ridiculed me… saying, Oh, no, sorry, you’re dedicated to cleaning bathrooms in Graus.”
The Pulse Sports article cites an interview with Forbes España, in which Georgina was featured on the “30 under 30” list—a prestigious recognition of her success as a model, influencer, and entrepreneur.
However, a close reading of the original Forbes interview reveals no direct mention of her working as a cleaner.
Instead, she discusses her pride in her hard work and ability to balance her professional and personal life with Ronaldo and their children.
Georgina Rodriguez’s career before meeting Ronaldo
Before meeting Ronaldo in 2016, Georgina held several jobs. After leaving Jaca, she moved to Madrid to pursue her dance dreams but quickly realized she needed to support herself financially.
Her first documented job in the capital was as a sales assistant at a Massimo Dutti store, a mid-range fashion retailer.
Eager to improve her prospects, Georgina ventured to Bristol, England, where she worked as an au pair and a live-in nanny while learning English.
Upon returning to Madrid in 2016, she landed a job as a sales assistant at a Gucci store on the upscale Calle Serrano. Here, she would cross paths with Cristiano Ronaldo—a meeting that would change her life forever.
