The New Face of Fashion: When Fame is Inherited

In today’s fashion landscape, a new wave of talent is emerging, though not necessarily through traditional paths of hard work and perseverance. From prestigious runway shows to high-profile campaigns, the children of celebrities—the now infamous “nepo babies”—are dominating the industry in unprecedented ways. This 2025 takeover features young individuals from Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and even Gen Beta (some barely out of diapers) who are landing coveted opportunities largely due to their famous lineage rather than years of dedicated effort. It’s nepotism in its most visible form, and while these rising stars continue to shine brightly in fashion’s spotlight, not everyone is celebrating their swift ascent to prominence.

The latest to join this elite circle is Apple Martin, the 21-year-old daughter of Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay’s Chris Martin. The Vanderbilt University junior recently announced her collaboration with fashion house Self-Portrait through Instagram Reels, following in the footsteps of her famous parents and grandmother, actress Blythe Danner. However, her announcement was met with a mixed reception online, with some critics leaving comments like “Nepo baby. No thank you” and “Think we missed the mark on this one.” Despite this backlash, Apple and her peers continue to secure prestigious positions within the industry, seemingly undeterred by social media criticism. Among them is Romeo Beckham, the 23-year-old son of David and Victoria Beckham, who embodies both his father’s athletic charm and his mother’s fashion sensibility. Romeo has become the face of sportswear brand Champion and starred in Balenciaga’s recent handbag campaign. He was also recently featured as “Fall’s Most Wanted” on the cover of VMan magazine—an appropriate honor for the son of “Posh Spice.”

The nepotism extends beyond modeling into influential industry positions, as demonstrated by Chloe Malle, the 39-year-old daughter of actress Candice Bergen, who has been named Anna Wintour’s successor as Vogue magazine’s new editor-in-chief. Unlike some who shy away from acknowledging their privileged beginnings, Malle describes herself as a “proud nepo baby” while recognizing her advantages. “There is no question that I have 100% benefited from the privilege I grew up in,” she told the New York Times, adding, “It’s delusional to say otherwise. I will say, though, that it has always made me work much harder.” The trend isn’t limited to adult children of celebrities—even the youngest generation is participating. Dean Lee Jagger Sedlick, Mick Jagger’s grandson, represents Gen Beta babies (born in 2025 and beyond) in a Zara Kids campaign alongside his mother, Georgia May Jagger, continuing the Rolling Stones frontman’s legacy in an entirely new arena.

The fashion world has also embraced Sunday Rose Kidman-Urban, the 17-year-old daughter of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, who recently graced the cover of Nylon magazine’s “It” series and modeled for Italian fashion house Miu Miu. Similarly, Zaya Wade, the 18-year-old daughter of NBA legend Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union, made her runway debut at Miu Miu’s Paris show and appears in MAC’s “Born Famous” makeup promotion alongside other celebrity offspring. Amelia Gray Hamlin (24), daughter of Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin, and Francesca Scorsese (25), daughter of filmmaker Martin Scorsese, have also found success in the MAC campaign, with Amelia even appearing alongside her reality star mother. The younger set includes 13-year-old Luca Cruz Comrie, son of Hilary Duff and former hockey player Mike Comrie, who modeled for Zara Kids this summer—likely the first of many fashion opportunities for the teenager.

The runway has become a particular playground for celebrity children. Henry Samuel, the 19-year-old son of Heidi Klum and Seal, walked for Kith’s fall 2025 show in Noho and made his runway debut at Lena Erziak’s haute couture show in Paris earlier this year. The towering 6-foot-5 teen appears to be following in his model mother’s footsteps. Kai Schreiber, the 16-year-old daughter of Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, impressed in Valentino during Paris Fashion Week, prompting her mother to “squeal with pride” and share numerous photos on social media. Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old son of the late Steve Irwin, took a different approach by posing in underwear for Australian brand Bonds, incorporating his family’s wildlife legacy by featuring snakes, spiders, and lizards in the campaign. Meanwhile, Ísadóra Bjarkardóttir Barney, the 22-year-old daughter of Icelandic music icon Björk, showcased designer collections at Copenhagen Fashion Week, though she has pushed back against the nepotism label, claiming, “Financially, sure, it can get you super far, but in terms of one’s own personal journey… it doesn’t help you very much.”

As this trend continues to reshape the fashion industry, the debate around merit versus privilege grows louder. For every critical comment online, there’s a proud parent like Oscar-winner Brendan Fraser, who was spotted beaming and filming from the front row as his 21-year-old son Holden Fletcher walked the runway at Todd Snyder’s fall 2025 show during New York Fashion Week. While these famous offspring undeniably bring media attention and built-in audiences to fashion brands, questions persist about opportunities potentially lost for aspiring models and industry professionals without famous surnames. Yet despite the controversy, the fashion world’s love affair with celebrity children shows no signs of cooling down, suggesting that for better or worse, the era of the “nepo baby” is here to stay—at least until the next generation emerges to claim their inherited spotlight.