Willow smith says her success has nothing to do with her famous parents

Willow Smith, daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, has shared her thoughts on the ongoing “nepo baby” debate in Hollywood. The 23-year-old singer and actress believes her success isn’t solely due to her famous parents.

Willow’s career began at a young age. At seven, she acted alongside her father in “I Am Legend” and gained widespread attention at ten with her hit song “Whip My Hair.” Since then, she has released five studio albums, with her sixth, “Empathogen,” coming out this weekend.

During an interview with Allure magazine, Willow addressed the perception that her achievements are linked to her family’s fame. “Some people think my success is just because of my parents,” she admitted. “That insecurity has pushed me to work harder to prove them wrong.”

However, Willow explained that she no longer feels the need to prove anything. “Now, I know my spirit is strong. Even if my parents weren’t who they are, I’d still be me—a weirdo and a crazy thinker.”

Willow also feels that being a Black woman makes the “nepo baby” label less relevant to her. “Even with privilege, being Black in America means you’re still Black,” she said. “I love being Black. People see my skin and relate to me, despite my parents’ fame.”

She added that this shared experience of being Black creates a connection with others. “Having brown skin doesn’t exempt you from challenges, and that’s something we all understand.”

Willow isn’t the only child of Will and Jada to have built a career. Her brother, Jaden Smith, also rose to fame at a young age. At 11, he starred in the “Karate Kid” remake with Jackie Chan. Before that, he appeared in “The Pursuit of Happyness” alongside his father when he was just eight years old.