Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ journey started with an on-screen-to-real-life love story.
It all began on the set of the hit soap opera “All My Children” in the ‘90s, where their love blossomed amidst a world of shocking betrayals, vengeful surprise offspring, and murder. Fast forward to the present, and the couple has long since traded that chaotic world for a slightly more laid-back gig hosting “Live with Kelly and Mark.”
In April 2023, Consuelos officially replaced Ryan Seacrest as his wife’s co-host, and the dynamic duo has been winning hearts ever since. Ripa has never been shy about sharing her personal life with viewers, constantly talking about her husband and kids on the show.
And when Consuelos takes over as co-host, he, too, shares amusing stories about their children, making viewers feel like they are part of the family.
In 2023, Michael Consuelos, the eldest child of Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, reminisced with People about being on the set of the iconic soap opera as a child, where he watched his parents film a fire rescue scene.
Michael revealed he had no concept of television and was convinced his dad had heroically saved his mom from a burning building. Many years later, the Consuelos kids have become a well-known unit, with Lola and Joaquin joining Michael on “Live” for a hilarious game of “Who Knows Mom Best?” that became the viewers’ choice moment in 2023. Their funny argument over their mom’s real hair color (Lola insisting that she’s a natural blond) was a hit with fans, but it’s far from the only reason why Ripa and Mark have every reason to be proud of their offspring.
The Inspiration Behind the Consuelos Kids’ Names
During a 2018 episode of “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” Kelly Ripa revealed the sentimental inspiration behind the names of her three children with Mark Consuelos.
Michael Consuelos was initially supposed to be named Joaquin, but they decided to honor Mark’s grandfathers, who had passed away while Ripa was pregnant, by giving him their names. Michael has grown up to be a kind and wonderful person, according to Ripa.
Lola Consuelos, on the other hand, got her name in an unusual way. While in labor, “Copacabana” by Barry Manilow was playing in the cab, and the first line of the song mentions a showgirl named Lola. Ripa suggested the name to Mark, and it stuck. Lola has shown incredible talent and skill in various sports and activities, including horseback riding, skiing, ice skating, and bike riding.
Their youngest child, Joaquin Consuelos, was named after the name that they initially wanted to give Michael. Ripa has playfully joked on “Live” about Joaquin looking like Judge Judy when his hair gets long. However, she also mentioned that he has a strong sense of justice and fairness, which could make him a great lawyer or judge in the future.
Kelly Ripa’s Prom Picture Predicament
In 2018, Kelly Ripa faced a dilemma that many parents can relate to: her daughter Lola Consuelos had been invited to prom, and she wanted to share photos of the big night with the world. However, Consuelos was not on board with this plan and forbade her mom from posting the pictures on Instagram or sharing them with the “Live with Kelly and Ryan” audience.
Ripa was undeterred, however, and used her negotiation skills to attend pre-prom with her daughter. Eventually, Consuelos relented and allowed Ripa to post the pictures on Instagram with the condition that she could choose the captions. Ripa was amused by her daughter’s choice of “Prom night 2018,” but was happy to be able to share the pictures with her followers.
The following year, Consuelos turned the tables on her mom and made her beg for a prom picture to post on Instagram. She also altered her prom dress without getting her mom’s approval, leading Ripa to joke that “the girls are fully on display.”
Kelly Ripa’s Children Chose Their Own College Paths
In spite of Kelly Ripa’s hopes and preferences, two of Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa’s children made their own choices regarding where to attend college.
During a 2019 appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Ripa revealed that her oldest son, Michael Consuelos, had chosen to attend New York University, which is close to their home. Ripa had hoped her children would live far from their hometown in order to become more independent.
In an “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” interview, Ripa admitted that she had even hoped her children would attend college on the West Coast so she could visit there more often.
When Lola Consuelos visited Tulane University in New Orleans with her mother in 2018, Ripa was excited about the school. However, she ended up attending NYU like her brother.
The youngest Consuelos, Joaquin, made a different choice and enrolled in the University of Michigan, which did not align with Ripa’s dream of spending Thanksgiving in a warm, sunny location.