In an industry where family names often carry significant weight, Willow Smith, daughter of Hollywood stars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, is finally making something clear.
She does not want to be labeled as a ‘nepo baby,’ an infamous title granted to those in the entertainment industry who have gotten big breaks because of their famous last names.
But Willow Smith wants to set the record straight once and for all. Keep reading to know more.
Willow Smith, the daughter of Hollywood icons Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, was already used to the spotlight. But in 2010, the nine-year-old released her debut single, “Whip My Hair,” and stepped out from under her family’s shadow, proving she was a star in her own right.
The song, a fierce anthem of self-expression, empowering lyrics, and that iconic hair-whipping hook, quickly became a cultural sensation that resonated with listeners of all ages.
It also catapulted Willow – the youngest of Smith’s three kids – into the spotlight, and she hit the road, touring internationally with Justin Bieber.
But for a young girl, the attention was too intense.
“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 told Allure in a May 2024 interview.
And, she responded by shaving her head.
“The energy that your hair holds through your whole life, all of your sadness and your happiness and your confusion, your hair is on you forever. And when you shave it off, you’re kind of naked. You’re kind of like, you need to be new now.”
Previously admitting that she “really regretted” the time she called her debut song an “embarrassment,” Willow later shared with Billboard News, that as an adult, she’s grateful for the experience she had after releasing “Whip My Hair.”
“There were a lot of fun things about it. When I was a teenager, I was very like, ‘Uh, no, trauma…there were things that hurt me and things I don’t understand!’ And now, I’m like…obviously, there were things that hurt you and things that you don’t understand, but, overall, my message hasn’t really changed!”
She adds, “[The song] is like, ‘be yourself, live out loud, don’t care what anybody thinks, express yourself!’” said the 24-year-old Grammy nominee. “That hasn’t really changed. I really feel like ‘Whip My Hair’ is just a foundation for everything that has come later…It was a lot of fun. I am so grateful – I would never take it back.”
Genre-defying artist
While her debut single showcased her as a pop artist, Willow quickly distanced herself from mainstream expectations. Instead of riding the wave of pop stardom, she delved into alternative and experimental music, carving out her own niche.
“I’ve tried to run away from it. I’ve tried to be like, ‘No! I’m not a musician, I’m gonna do something else,’ and then, guess what? It just keeps coming back!” said the co-author of “Black Shield Maiden,” a historical fantasy about an African warrior in a Viking world. “That’s how you know something is really important to you. If it causes you pain and discomfort and you’re still wanting to do it? I trust that inner drive. Even through the discomfort, you’re like, ‘I gotta stick with this.’”
In May 2024, the model released her sixth studio album, “Empathogen,” a mix of jazz, Indian raga, and Gregorian chant.
Proving people wrong
Despite her privileged background, Willow – who appeared in 2007’s I am Legend alongside her dad – faced the challenge of defining herself independently in the public eye.
And she denies that she’s a nepo-baby, a term that refers to celebrities who owe their careers to their famous parents. While some wear the label as a badge of privilege, others, like Willow, have pushed back against the assumption that their success is unearned.
“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 told Allure. “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 sh**t to anybody.’”
Willow Smith is much more than just the daughter of Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith. Through her music, acting, and activism, she has proven herself as a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry.
