10 Things to Know About Reese Witherspoon’s Lookalike Daughter, Ava Elizabeth Phillippe

On September 9, 1999, Hollywood stars Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe became parents for the first time when they welcomed their daughter, Ava Elizabeth Phillippe, to the world. Now, more than two decades later, their little girl has blossomed into a talented and outspoken model, who also happens to look like a carbon copy of her mom.

Naturally, Witherspoon couldn’t be happier about their striking resemblance. She told InStyle in 2021, “I love being mistaken for her because it makes me feel so young. I'm so proud of her. She really rolls with it. I'm sure it's not easy looking exactly like your mother.”

The proud mom also gushed about Ava’s “down-to-earth” personality, noting that the 24-year-old “wants to do great things in the world.” Witherspoon added, “She's studying and learning and trying to find herself. It's a big thing in life to try different things and figure out what is really your path.”

Sounds like Ava has a bright future ahead of her. But aside from her strong genes and her ever-growing social presence, what else is there to know about the young model? Keep reading for the most surprising facts about Ava Elizabeth Phillippe.

1. She Is Named After Ava Gardner

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While appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2008, Ryan broke down the meaning behind his daughter's name.

Per People, he said, "My daughter's name is Ava...[like] Ava Gardner, because to me she was the only woman who could break [Frank] Sinatra. So the idea of that name to me is very classy and strong."

2. She Dealt with Anxiety as a Teenager

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Earlier this month, in an Instagram Q&A, Ava revealed that she struggled with anxiety. After clarifying that there's no one-size-fits-all solution, she offered some advice on how to cope with it.

Ava told her followers, "I've dealt with anxiety for as long as I can remember, and it was especially intense for me as a kid and teenager."

She advised, "Don't invalidate your feelings. You have every right to feel however you do, even if it seems weird to others, and being hard on yourself won't help you feel better or find a solution."

Another tip she recommends? Checking in on your five senses and taking deep breaths. "Note 1-3 things you can smell, touch, hear, etc… in the moment," she said. "And remember, this feeling will pass, even if you have to ride it out for a while."

3. She Helped Her Dad Cope with His Divorce from Her Mom

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When he appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2007, Ryan addressed his split from Witherspoon in the previous year and revealed that Ava was helping him cope, even though she was just 7 years old.

"Going through something like this, as difficult as it is, my daughter has been the inspiration," he told DeGeneres. "She is beyond, in terms of like conscientiousness and maturity, and she has gotten me through this. I know it sounds pathetic—I'm a 32-year-old guy, but my 7-year-old daughter is getting me through the toughest time in my life, and that's beautiful too."

4. She Previously Dated Fellow UC Berkeley Student Owen Mahoney

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Ava reportedly started dating Mahoney, a fellow student at UC Berkeley, in June 2019. She kept their romance mostly private and occasionally shared rare photos with him on social media. However, in 2021, she removed all of their photos together.

Ava hasn't publicly confirmed the breakup, but we do know their relationship spanned at least two years.

5. She’s Attracted to All Genders

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In 2022, when a fan asked Ava if she liked boys of girls on social media, she spoke out about her sexuality on her IG story and said, "I'm attracted to...people! (Gender is whatever)."

Following her response, Ava shared a message to her followers that read, “I can [and] will block profiles commenting bigoted/hateful messages under my posts. My Instagram profile is not a place for cruelty/hate speech [and] I intend to keep it that way.”

6. She’s Quite the Artist

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One look at her Instagram feed will tell you that Ava is seriously talented in the art department. She has shared a number of stunning portraits and sketches, including animals, nature and more.

7. She’s the Fashion Expert in the Family

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While chatting with Us Weekly in 2016, Witherspoon dished about her daughter being one of her biggest fashion inspirations.

She said, “She’s so much cooler than I am! She’s very cutting-edge, and she knows a lot about fashion, and she has her own sense of style, which is amazing.”

The actress also mentioned that she seeks her daughter's expertise when it comes to putting her own looks together. She added, “We try to kind of confer about new styles. She tells me whether or not I can wear things.”

8. Beyoncé Hired Her as an Ivy Park Model

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While promoting her brand's Holiday 2021 collection, Halls of Ivy, Beyoncé enlisted the help of none other than Ava and her brother, Deacon (19). Although this project marked their joint modeling debut, the pair looked like total pros.

On Instagram, Ava shared three snaps and wrote, "This was a dream of an invitation from the legend that is @beyonce & her first-class team of creatives. Their dedication to every detail & genuine kindness on set was so special to witness. This was a truly awesome experience made even better having my brother by my side. A big thank you to @weareivypark & everyone involved with this project for making it all so memorable & fun."

9. Ava & Her Mom Have Random Twinning Moments

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If you've been keeping up with their social feeds, you may have noticed that the mother-daughter duo have very similar tastes when it comes to fashion. (Hence all the twinning pics.) And in 2022, Ava opened up about how they rock the same styles, even when they're apart.

She told People, "When we're separated, we're like, 'What are you wearing? Oh! That's weirdly similar."

10. Ava Has Been Mistaken for Her Mom on the Red Carpet

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Given their similar features and sense of style, this one comes as no surprise. When Ava was just 17 years old, she was mistaken for her mom when they attended the red carpet premiere of Witherspoon's movie, Sing.

In 2017, the Oscar winner told Entertainment Tonight, "I had a premiere for that movie Sing over Christmas, and the head of the studio went up to Ava and congratulated her on the movie. But I just love her. I'm so lucky to be her mom, and I just love having her in my life and getting to go everywhere with her. It's a great honor."

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