No mini-mes here! The nepo babies adopting VERY different looks to their famous parents – as a psychotherapist reveals why it’s not about ‘rebellion’
Daughters of Catherine Zeta-Jones, Heidi Klum, Salma Hayek, Courteney Cox, Angelina Jolie and Cindy Crawford raided their famous mothers’ wardrobes for eye-catching combinations.
But Kim Kardashian, who is known to favor body-hugging PVC dresses and leather jumpsuits, is unlikely to see her eldest child North West, 12, rushing to borrow one of her statement outfits.
The daughter of reality TV star-turned-rapper designer Kanye West is making a place for herself in the fashion world, and it’s a far cry from the neutral, beige-heavy wardrobe that made her mother a global style sensation.
Proving she’s far from a carbon copy of her famous family, the 12-year-old eschewed her parents’ trademark monochrome aesthetic for a bold, gothic-inspired look that featured bright blue curls, piercing stickers and custom-made grills.
North isn’t the only nepo baby who chooses to look completely different compared to her famous parents; A psychotherapist explains that the decision often stems from the need to ‘establish autonomy’.
Marygrace Anderson, founder of MG Hypnosis, told the Daily Mail: ‘We see similar patterns in other children of famous people; For example, the sons of Tom Hanks and Will Smith have publicly adopted styles and identities that are quite different from their father’s Hollywood images.
‘This is not necessarily rebellion, but individualization. This is a healthy psychological process in which a teenager separates his identity from his parents to establish autonomy.
‘If a parent has a strong public image, it is human nature for the child to want to establish his or her own identity.
Kim Kardashian, pictured left, attends the red carpet of Disney+’s ‘All’s Fair’ at Teatro Copacabana Palace on November 10, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Right picture, North West
‘So dressing differently, choosing a contrasting aesthetic or adapting to alternative styles can help create this psychological space and help them be seen as their own person.’
The expert added: ‘In fact, in families where the parent is famous, the psychological drive to differentiate may be even stronger. ‘This reflects a young mind learning who they are rather than simply rejecting where they come from.’
One nepo babe who is definitely creating her own space is Jaden Smith, 27, son of Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith; He has a more interesting sense of style than his father, who often wears stylish clothes.
The young actor and rapper, who made history in September when he was appointed as Christian Louboutin’s first Creative Director for the men’s division, is no stranger to outlandish fashion choices.
She was photographed wearing metallic crop tops, oversized puffy hats, and a puff-sleeved tweed top cinched at the waist that looked a lot like a $7,900 coat from Louis Vuitton’s spring 2025 women’s clothing line.
Jaden also likes to accessorize; she often wears necklaces on top of each other and carries a bag while on the red carpet.
Tom Hanks, pictured left, arrives for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 14th Annual Directors Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles on January 9, 2024. Pictured at right is Chet Hanks
Will Smith is pictured on the left. Pictured right, Jaden Smith attends the LVMH Prize during Paris Fashion Week at Avenue Montaigne on March 5, 2025 in Paris, France
Another nepo baby who has adopted a very different look from his famous parents is Tom Hanks’ 35-year-old son Chet, who has 70 large tattoos on his chest, back, arms and legs.
Unlike Forrest Gump star Tom, who regularly looks dapper in a suit and tie, Chet, an actor himself, prefers to show off his ink in short-sleeved T-shirts.
Meanwhile, Reese Witherspoon’s 26-year-old daughter Ava Phillippe has often been called the actress’ mini-me. But in 2024, she ditched the blonde locks she shares with her mother for a brunette look.
Ava, whose father is actor Ryan Phillippe, has opted for a more natural look in recent months, once again bearing a strong resemblance to her famous mother.
But that’s not the case for American actress Leslie Mann, whose 28-year-old daughter Maude Apatow, known for her role in the TV series Euphoria, dresses quite differently from her mother’s sophisticated style.
Indeed, while Leslie regularly opts for elegant combinations, Maude pushes the boundaries with daring, stylish and eye-catching outfits.
Elsewhere, Nicole Richie’s teenage daughter Harlow Madden celebrated her 18th birthday with a new look and name earlier this year.
The natural brunette dyed her hair a jet black shade and now goes by her middle name, Kate.
Reese Witherspoon, pictured left, in West Hollywood, California, on February 12, 2026. Pictured right, Ava Phillippe attends Dior Beauty’s Inside Lip Glow party in London on January 30, 2025
Leslie Mann, pictured left, on day three of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. Pictured right, Maude Apatow attends the Vogue World London 2023 event
Nicole Richie’s daughter Harlow (pictured) now goes by her middle name, Kate, and adopted a new hair color
Kate (pictured far left) is the daughter of Nicole and rocker Joel Madden; Photographed with brother Sparrow and mother in 2024
While it’s unclear how long Kate, whose full name is Harlow Winter Kate Madden, has adopted her middle name, she’s been rocking the dramatic new hairstyle for several months now.
The look and name totally stole the show as Nicole celebrated her daughter’s birthday with a photo of the teenager on Instagram.
In the photo, Kate, who was last seen with honey-colored hair on the red carpet, was now rocking her jet black curls. The socialite tagged her daughter’s Instagram account @katemaddennn.
‘My favorite person in the world is now 18 years old. Happy birthday @katemaddennn. I (heart emoji) you,” Nicole captioned the photo.
