Rachel Parrish is the fourth born of Edwin and Magnolia and the older twin. Rachel doesn't like being compared to her twin, but she can't imagine life without her. She is the less moral of the two, following her wants more than her upbringing. Rachel (and her sister) studied dance from a young age and both girls showed an aptitude and talent for it. They stuck with it and rather than going to college or normal high school both girls studied at a dancing academy and became professional dancers upon their graduation at age 18. Rachel studied more forms of dance than her sister, differentiating into other branches, like ballroom, jazz, tap, etc. She took more to flamenco than any other form and often takes opportunities to dance it when she can get away from ballet.

It was Ingrid's idea after a few years at an American ballet company to travel Europe and work stints as guest dancers (something of an excuse to go spend time in foreign pastures and party like rock stars. Whether or not Renee knows it, Rachel has been having an on again, off again affair with her older sister's husband Erick Vanderbilt. Rachel was more than happy to come home under the guise of helping Paul and Amelia, in order to renew her secret relationship with Erick. She didn't really want to go on this vacation but eventually decided to follow her sister to get her to stop nagging.