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Willow Smith has responded to critics who affirm her success is the result of her famous family.

During an interview with Allure, the 23-year-old, who’s the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, said she doesn’t think she fits the nepo baby mold.

“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,” Willow said.

The term nepo baby (short for nepotism baby) refers to the child of a famous person (or people) who follows their parent(s) into the creative industries and benefits from their fame or connections.

Image credits: willowsmith

Other celebrities with famous parents, like Zooey Deschanel and Dakota Johnson, have previously spoken out to reject the label.

Willow entered the industry at a young age, starring in the 2007 film I Am Legend alongside her father before appearing in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl the following year.

The California native launched her music career with her iconic single Whip My Hair, which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2010 and went platinum in the US.

The 23-year-old is the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smit

While she’s well aware that she’s been given the nepo baby tag on countless occasions, Willow says she uses the criticism as fuel to push herself further.

“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.”

“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,” the actress and singer said

The term “nepo baby” refers to the child of a famous person (or people) who follows their parent(s) into the creative industries and benefits from their fame or connections
Image credits: willowsmith

Those who attribute her success to her famous parents inspire her to work “very hard to try to prove them wrong,” Willow said

Another reason why she rejects the nepotism label is that, despite her parents’ global stardom, she has faced discrimination in the industry for being a Black woman in America.

“There have been some experiences where I went into a place that I have worked in the past, and my picture could even be up on the wall, and they treat me like, ‘This is a little bit out of your price range’ or ‘You don’t really belong here,’” the Transparent Soul singer said.

Willow entered the industry at a young age, starring in the 2007 film I Am Legend alongside her father
Image credits: allure

She continued: “Being Black in America, even with privilege, which I’m never going to deny that I have, you’re still Black. 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 doesn’t exempt you from anything, and that’s a place of connection.”

Willow recently announced her sixth studio album, Empathogen, which will be released on May 3, 2024.

“Willow Smith is the only valid nepo baby ever,” someone commented