Willow Smith Says the “Nepo Baby” Label Has Driven Her to Work Harder

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Willow Smith has a few thoughts on the whole “nepo baby” label placed on her and why she feels like her success goes beyond just who her parents are. As the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow has been in the spotlight since she was a little kid — much like other famous nepo babies like Hailey Bieber, Maya Hawke, and Kaia Gerber.

At just 9-years-old, Willow released a hit single, “Whip My Hair” and was the world's first introduction to her as a musician and creative. Willow and her brother Jaden have also been part of the larger conversation about Hollywood nepotism, which includes young celebrities who got a leg-up in the industry because of their powerful relatives. In a recent interview with Allure, Willow explained how the “nepo baby” conversation has followed her her whole life, but that she feels as a young Black woman, nepotism looks different for her.

Willow said that she's had experiences where she goes to places and still is treated like, “'This is a little bit out of your price range’ or ‘You don't really belong here.'"

“Being Black in America, even with privilege, which I'm never going to deny that I have, you're still Black," Willow said. "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 we all know that that doesn't exempt you from anything, and that's a place of connection.”

While having two big stars as parents comes with its major privileges, Willow said people have often attributed her talents to Will and Jada's status in Hollywood, and that sometimes those negative comments about her not being good enough on her own get through to her.

“But that's just because I'm reflecting the fears and the things that people have said to me,” Willow continued. “Not necessarily my own thoughts. I'm wrongly internalizing the negativity from the outside."

Willow Smith has worked as a musician for several years, releasing six solo studio albums, multiple collaborations, and other hit singles. Her songs have gone viral on TikTok and beyond and she's played huge live shows including Coachella in 2023. Willow said she's “driven” by comments that claim she's only successful because of who her parents are “to work really hard to try to prove them wrong.”

“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 continued.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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