It is not unusual for children of famous people to become famous themselves. Some will stay away from the limelight but others will embrace it and even try to strike out to find their own level of celebrity status.
One person who has become famous on her own is Willow Smith. She is the daughter of Jayda Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, and now that she is in her early 20s, she is striking out to set up her own popularity.
Willow became famous at only seven years old whenever she appeared in the I Am Legend Movie with her father. When she was 10 years old, she had a hit single when she sang, Whip My Hair.
Over the years, she has released a number of studio albums, with her sixth album dropping recently. She also is frequently seen in magazines and on social media, and she recently gave an interview that some people find surprising.
Often, children of famous people who become famous themselves are known as ‘nepo babies.’ That phrase, which essentially means that they are famous because of nepotism does not sit well with Willow. She said that she is famous on her own.
Willow said: “I definitely think that a little bit of insecurity has driven me harder because people do think that the only reason I’m successful is because of my parents.
“That has driven me to work really hard to try to prove them wrong. But nowadays, I don’t need to prove s**t to anybody.
“I truly believe that my spirit is a strong spirit and that, even if my parents weren’t who they were, I would still be a weirdo and a crazy thinker.”
She also said that the term nepo baby doesn’t apply to her because she is black and it doesn’t matter who her parents are.
“Being Black in America, even with privilege, which I’m never going to deny that I have, you’re still Black.
“And I love being Black. People would look at me and [say], ‘Okay, well, her parents are this and this and that, but she still is like me. She still has brown skin’.
“And I love being Black. People would look at me and [say], ‘Okay, well, her parents are this and this and that, but she still is like me. She still has brown skin’.”
Jaden, who is the son of Will and Jayda has also managed to seek his own level of fame as well. He appeared in the 2010 Karate Kid Remake with Jackie Chan at the age of 11. He also played his father’s on-screen son in the 2006 movie The Pursuit Of Happyness.
Now, Jaden is enjoying a successful rap career and has his own clothing line. You have to wonder if he considers himself to be a nepo baby.