Have you ever been so impressed by the performance of an actress or actor that, out of curiosity, you Google them and then find out that their parents are famous? Yes, that is a Nepo baby right there.
It is a concept fully referred to as “nepotism baby” where celebs are known or revealed to have parents in the same industry who have chalked success in the past.
This idea of “Nepo” artists is something that has sparked a lot of frustration on social media, causing people to wonder if the kids of famous actors, writers, directors, or models have a much easier path into the industry because of their last names.
Even though these nepo stars—from Jaden, to King Princess, to Clairo—have their parents putting them in the public eye, sometimes they have to work for it. But let’s face it, some nepo-babies are so recognizable that we don’t give a damn about their parents; we might even be appreciative of the media for bringing them to our attention so quickly. Here are a few of such nepo stars.
Clairo
Owing to the fact that her father is master marketer Geoff Cotrrill, Clairo has probably been wise enough to avoid being labeled as a “nepo baby” for the most part. Clairo is undoubtedly a true star; however, while inheriting a marketing machine might help one’s music career, true stars are made of more than just their viral campaigns and TikTok ads. The pop singer’s 2021 album Sling, which Happy Mag called “one of this year’s most affecting records,” was the reason behind her success.
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Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish has consistently eluded claims that she is an “industry plant,” a moniker that is akin to “nepo artist.” Eilish, a screenwriter and voice actress, grew up in an unquestionably Tinseltown setting. But if it weren’t for Eilish’s incredible ascent to stardom, which seemed to have happened overnight after the release of her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, it’s unlikely that either of her parents would be well-known.
Lily Allen
Lily Allen’s parents are well-known enough to merit their own Wikipedia entries, even though they aren’t exactly household names. The pop star’s father, Keith, has a long list of film credits to his name, and mother, Alison Owen, is an Emmy-winning film producer. Although it’s sufficient to get a start in the entertainment industry, Allen’s notoriety stems more from her unique musical style and clever lyrics than from a sideways connection to the spotlight.
Willow
Willow, the daughter of one of the most well-known actors in Hollywood history, has put a lot of effort into setting herself apart from her parents, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. However, considering that she appears at the top of almost every nepo baby chart available, this task might seem nearly impossible. The 22-year-old’s voice is so unique on her 2022 album Coping Mechanism—which pretty much started the pop-punk movement in the music industry—that it is deserving of praise on its own.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus, the goddaughter of Dolly Parton and the daughter of Billy Ray, undoubtedly comes from a family of established rock stars. Although Cyrus’s Hall of Fame family tree helped her get her start in the business, the pop sensation has since established herself as a household name thanks to her 13 top ten hits on the Billboard Charts and her orchestration of several stunts that are now part of popular culture.
Maya Hawke
Making a name for yourself can be challenging when you’re the daughter of Hollywood nobility Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, but Maya Hawke succeeded with her debut album Blush. With the 2020 album, the Stranger Things castmate chose a more subdued debut with what Happy Mag called “a thoughtful, tender folk-rock album,” defying the conventional pop paths taken by lesser actresses turned musicians.
King Princess
Oliver Strauss, the father of King Princess, is a well-known recording engineer and the proprietor of the Brooklyn-based Mission Sound recording studio. That kind of access might lead to an excessively lengthy discography that prioritizes quantity over quality for a lesser musician, but not for King Princess. King Princess, who has only released two albums, is more concerned with maintaining a consistent sound than filling her father’s studio to the brim.