Career Timeline of Shay Mitchell: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 18, 2026

Discover the career path of Shay Mitchell, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Shay Mitchell is a Canadian actress, model, and entrepreneur, best known for her breakout role as Emily Fields in the long-running teen drama series Pretty Little Liars. Beyond her successful acting career, which includes prominent roles in projects like You and Dollface, Mitchell has established herself as a significant influencer and business leader. She founded the popular travel luggage brand Béis in 2018, which has seen substantial commercial success. Mitchell has also built a large digital presence, utilizing social media platforms to engage with a global fanbase and document her lifestyle and travel experiences. Her transition from television stardom to successful brand ownership highlights her versatility, as she continues to influence both the entertainment industry and the fashion and travel retail markets.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2009: Early Acting Career and Music Video Appearance

In 2009, Shay Mitchell launched her professional acting career with cameo roles in the Canadian teen series Degrassi: The Next Generation and the police drama Rookie Blue, while also appearing in the music video for the song Hold My Hand by Sean Paul.

Loading Video...

2010: Premiere of Pretty Little Liars

In 2010, Shay Mitchell began her role as Emily Fields in the mystery thriller drama series Pretty Little Liars, which served as a significant milestone in her career.

Loading Video...

2010: Appeared in Aaron Stone

In 2010, Shay Mitchell gained acting experience by appearing in a four-episode arc as the character Irina Webber on the Disney XD television series Aaron Stone.

Loading Video...

2011: Pantene Partnership and YouTube Channel Creation

During 2011, Shay Mitchell signed a contract with Procter & Gamble to serve as the spokesperson for their Pantene Nature Fusion shampoo line and also launched her own YouTube channel to share lifestyle content.

2011: Young Hollywood Award Win

In 2011, Shay Mitchell received a Young Hollywood Award for her breakout role as Emily Fields in the television series Pretty Little Liars.

Loading Video...

2014: End of Support for Somaly Mam Foundation

In 2014, Shay Mitchell concluded her support for the Somaly Mam Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to combating sex trafficking, following the organization's decision to cease its operations.

2015: Publication of Bliss

In 2015, Shay Mitchell made her debut as an author by co-writing the young adult novel Bliss alongside Michaela Blaney.

2016: Feature film debut and comedy appearance

In 2016, Shay Mitchell achieved her feature film debut in the musical drama Dreamland and also appeared in the comedy film Mother's Day.

Loading Video...

2016: Film Career Breakthrough

In 2016, Shay Mitchell achieved significant career milestones by making her feature film debut in the musical drama 'Dreamland' at the Tribeca Film Festival and starring as Tina in the comedy film 'Mother's Day'.

Loading Video...

2017: Conclusion of Pretty Little Liars

The mystery thriller drama series Pretty Little Liars, which earned Shay Mitchell multiple award nominations, concluded its run in 2017.

Loading Video...

September 2018: Premiere of the television series You

In September 2018, the Lifetime television thriller series You premiered, featuring Shay Mitchell as Peach Salinger. The show received critical acclaim and is noted as Mitchell's highest-rated performance.

2018: Role in You

In 2018, Shay Mitchell achieved wider recognition for her performance as Peach Salinger in the psychological thriller series You.

Loading Video...

2018: Launch of BÉIS and release of The Possession of Hannah Grace

In 2018, Shay Mitchell expanded her business ventures by launching the travel brand BÉIS. Additionally, she starred as Megan Reed in the horror film 'The Possession of Hannah Grace', a role that proved challenging due to the intense anxiety Mitchell experienced during the four-week shoot in Boston following her time on 'Pretty Little Liars'. Although the film received mixed critical reviews, Mitchell's individual performance was noted positively and the movie achieved commercial success in 2018.

Loading Video...

2018: Starring role in horror film

In 2018, Shay Mitchell headlined the horror film titled The Possession of Hannah Grace.

Loading Video...

November 2019: Debut in Dollface

In November 2019, Shay Mitchell began portraying the character Stella Cole in the Hulu comedy series Dollface, marking her first leading role in the comedy genre.

Loading Video...

2019: Start of Dollface

Shay Mitchell began her role as Stella Cole in the Hulu comedy series Dollface in 2019.

Loading Video...

2021: Voice Acting Debut in Trese

In 2021, Shay Mitchell made her voice acting debut as the lead character Alexandra Trese in the Netflix animated series Trese.

Loading Video...

2022: Executive Producer Role for The Cleaning Lady

Beginning in 2022, Shay Mitchell took on the role of executive producer for the crime drama series The Cleaning Lady.

Loading Video...

2022: Appearance in Christmas film

In 2022, Shay Mitchell appeared in the Christmas-themed film Something from Tiffany's.

Loading Video...

2022: Production of The Cleaning Lady and Conclusion of Dollface

In 2022, Shay Mitchell finished her run on the series Dollface and began her work as an executive producer for the crime drama The Cleaning Lady.

Loading Video...

November 2025: Launch of Rini Skincare Line

In November 2025, Shay Mitchell partnered with entrepreneur Esther Song to introduce Rini, a Korean-manufactured skincare brand specifically targeted at children aged three and up. The launch faced substantial public criticism regarding the ethical implications of promoting beauty regimens to toddlers.