Kayden Kross, born Kimberly Nicole Rathkamp on September 15, 1985, in Sacramento, California, is a 40-year-old American adult film director, writer, and former actress. Standing 5’5″ (165 cm) and weighing approximately 121 lbs (55 kg), she maintains a slim, athletic frame with measurements of 32D-22-34 inches. Her fair Swedish complexion, signature blonde hair, and blue eyes created the classic all-American aesthetic that defined her on-screen presence. Raised in the foothills between Sacramento and Placerville, she began stripping at age 18 in Rancho Cordova before an agent recruited her into magazine modeling.

She signed her first adult film contract with Vivid Video in November 2006 while attending California State University, Sacramento, later becoming a free agent and signing with Adam & Eve. She was named Penthouse Pet of the Month for September 2008 and became a Digital Playground contract girl in January 2010. Over her performing career, she won multiple AVN and XBIZ awards and was inducted into both the AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame. Since 2012, she has been in a relationship with performer Manuel Ferrara, with whom she shares a daughter born in 2014. Now primarily working as a director and writer, she was named Adult Empire’s 2025 Director of the Year, continuing her evolution from performer to filmmaker.