In an industry where family names often hold a lot of importance, Willow Smith, the daughter of Hollywood stars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, is finally making her feelings known.
She doesn’t want to be called a ‘nepo baby,’ a term used for people in the entertainment world who get big opportunities because of their famous last names.
Willow Smith is determined to clarify things once and for all. Keep reading to find out more.
Willow Smith, the daughter of Hollywood legends Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, was already familiar with being in the spotlight. But in 2010, when she was just nine years old, she released her first single, “Whip My Hair,” stepping out from her family’s shadow and showing that she could shine on her own.
The song, with its powerful message of self-expression, inspiring lyrics, and that memorable hair-whipping hook, quickly became a cultural hit that connected with people of all ages.
It also launched Willow – the youngest of Smith’s three children – into fame, and she began touring around the world with Justin Bieber.
However, for a young girl, all the attention became overwhelming.
“There was a time where it was really, really dark. I was trying to run away from it in every single way that I could,” she shared in an interview with Allure in May 2024.
And, she responded by shaving her head.
The energy that your hair carries throughout your life, including all your sadness, happiness, and confusion, stays with you forever. When you cut it off, it feels like you’re a bit exposed. It’s like you have to start fresh now.
Willow once said she “really regretted” calling her first song an “embarrassment,” but later told Billboard News that as she grew up, she appreciated what she learned after putting out “Whip My Hair.”
“There were a lot of fun moments. Back when I was a teen, I thought, ‘No way, trauma… there were things that hurt me and things I didn’t get!’ But now, I see that yes, there were tough times and things I didn’t understand, but my main message hasn’t really changed!”
She continued, “[The song] is all about being yourself, living loudly, not worrying about what others think, and expressing who you are!” said the 24-year-old Grammy nominee. “That message hasn’t changed. I really believe that ‘Whip My Hair’ is just the base for everything that has come after… It was so much fun. I’m really thankful – I wouldn’t change a thing.
Even though her first single showed her as a pop star, Willow quickly moved away from what people expected. Instead of just going along with pop fame, she explored alternative and experimental music, creating her own unique style.
“I’ve tried to escape it. I’ve said, ‘No! I’m not a musician, I’m going to do something different,’ but guess what? It keeps coming back!” said the co-writer of “Black Shield Maiden,” a historical fantasy about an African warrior in a Viking setting. “That’s how you know something really matters to you. If it brings you pain and discomfort but you still want to do it? I trust that feeling inside. Even when it’s tough, you think, ‘I have to stick with this.’”
In May 2024, the model released her sixth studio album.
Even though Willow comes from a wealthy family, she – who starred in the 2007 movie I am Legend with her dad – has had to find her own identity in the spotlight.
She also says she’s not a nepo-baby, which is a term for stars who get their jobs because of their famous parents. While some people are proud of that label, others, like Willow, don’t like being seen as if they didn’t earn their success.
“I really believe that I have a strong spirit and that even if my parents weren’t famous, I would still be a unique and creative thinker,” she shared with Allure. “I think a bit of insecurity has pushed me to work harder because people assume I’m only successful because of my parents. That makes me want to prove them wrong. But now, I don’t feel like I have to prove anything to anyone.”
Willow Smith is way more than just Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s daughter. Through her music, acting, and activism, she has shown that she is a powerful presence in the entertainment world.
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