Model Parent: 12 genetic lottery winners who are turning their good looks into real careers
While coming of age for most kids involves obsessing over Ryan Gosling’s abs or donning an ill-fitting mermaid dress to semi-formal, celebrity kids can burn mileage on what we’re calling “family flame fame.” Celebrity kids are genetic lottery winners: hardwired to be talented, ridiculously good looking and sometimes both. Walking a Marc Jacobs runway show before the age of 18? A very real possibility.
At the sprightly young age of 10, Victoria and David Beckham’s son Romeo has gotten a head start on his career by starring in Burberry’s Spring 2013 advertising. Meanwhile, Cindy Crawford’s eleven-year-old daughter Kaia has fronted Versace’s children’s range.
Celebrity kids are certainly modeling earlier these days and while they may not all live up to the stature of their parents, they’ve certainly got enough moxy to gain It girl status. Here are our top 12 favourite model children.
Theodora and Alexandra Richards
Parents: Patti Hansen and Keith Richards
Wearing red lipstick is enough to make any four or five year old feel like a model, but when you add Patrick Demarchelier to the mix and have a model mom like Patti Hansen, it’s beauty bliss. Theodora and Alexandra Richards told Harper’s Bazaar they distinctly remember their first shoot with the venerable photographer and their mom. The socialites and daughters of legendary Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards have been moonlighting as models ever since, booking Tommy Hilfiger as one of their first campaigns. Between the two, they’ve appeared in Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair. To boot, Alexandra currently pays her way with regular DJ gigs for A-list parties worldwide.
Amber Le Bon
Parents: Yasmin and Simon Le Bon
When your dad is Duran Duran lead singer Simon Le Bon and your mom is supermodel Yasmin Le Bon, there’s a strong possibility you’re going to be gorgeous. In the last two years, Amber Le Bon’s career skyrocketed as she booked gigs with Moschino, Pantene, Forever 21 and Myla swimwear. Although she’s 24, she’s still considered an “up-and-comer” on the international circuit, booking a number of coveted spots on New York’s catwalk during fashion week.
Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann
Parents: Isabella Rossellini and Jonathan Wiedemann
With Isabella Rossellini for a mother and Ingrid Bergman as your grandmother, it’s safe to say Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann hit the genetic jackpot. To boot, her father Jonathan Wiedemann is a Harvard-educated Microsoft design manager and former model. Wiedemann started modeling in college and took on jobs with Bill Blass, and fashion mags such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. She’s also a spokesperson for Lancome. While she inherited her mom’s good looks she doesn’t always want to talk about her: “It’s just that when you’re all but 30 and it’s still about your mom, it gets a little … repetitive,” she told New York Magazine. “I am a fan of my mother’s, but I’m not like a fan of my mother’s.”
Zoe Kravitz
Parents: Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz
Zoe Kravitz first made model waves when she replaced Camilla Belle as the face of Vera Wang’s Princess fragrance in 2009. The daughter of Lenny Kravitz and eighties icon Lisa Bonet models for countless fashion magazines and starred in a campaign for Alexander Wang in 2010. Most recently, she collaborated with Swarovski on a line of jewellery that plays with her birthstone, turquoise. Her dad influenced her in more than one way. In 2014 she’ll star as Christina in the Divergent trilogy and time will tell if it outperforms the franchise her father stars in, The Hunger Games.
Lily McMenamy
Parents: Kristen McMenamy and Hubert Boukobsa
Lily McMenamy is one of the biggest names in fashion right now and it’s not just because her mom is legendary supermodel Kristen McMenamy. Lily’s photos consistently get a reaction out of people, with her unconventional beauty front and centre in Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2013 campaign and a Terry Richardson-shot Purple Fashion cover. The girl even made her runway debut for Saint Laurent. The mother and daughter team look up to each other: While Lily told V Magazine she wishes she could be a diva like her supermodel mom, her mom told Grazia she’s inspired by her daughter’s hunger to pursue modeling.
Georgia May Jagger
Parents: Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger
The youngest daughter of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall signed with Elite Model Management in 2008, adding Hudson Jeans, Chanel, H&M, Miu Miu, Versace, Vivienne Westwood and most recently Thomas Sabo to her portfolio. With those (beautiful, might we add) gap-toothed pearls, it’s no surprise she signed with cosmetics company Rimmel in 2009. According to Teen Vogue, former model-turned-mom Jerry Hall told her to be comfortable with herself and “not give a crap” about what people think.
Riley Keough
Parents: Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough
Elvis Presley’s eldest grandchild was the Summer 2013 ambassador for fashion brand Bonds. The campaign centered on the launch of its lingerie line called Hipster Lacies and, of course, noted her “rock royalty” lineage. Previously, she has modeled for Dolce & Gabbana, Victoria Secret and appeared on the cover of Vogue with her mother and grandmother Priscilla Presley.
Ireland Baldwin
Parents: Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger
Ireland Baldwin first gained recognition in 2007 when she was 11, after an angry voicemail message from her father leaked. Naturally, the media prodded into their relationship and Alec Baldwin eventually made a public apology. These days the 17-year-old’s Twitter feed is the main attraction and she’s considered an up-and-comer in the fashion industry. Although she has modeled for DuJour Magazine and Vanity Fair, she eventually wants to act, write and direct.
Dree Hemingway
Parents: Mariel Hemingway and Stephen Crisman
While rock protégée corner a huge market in the fashion industry, Dree Hemingway comes from the literature set, as the great granddaughter of American writer Ernest Hemingway. Not to mention, she’s the daughter of Academy Award-nominated Mariel Hemingway. Hemingway has modeled for Chanel and Gucci and fronted campaigns for H&M, Jean Paul Gaultier and Givenchy. Still, she told Vogue some people are more impressed by her grandfather: “The people who go the craziest when they hear the name Hemingway are my English teachers!”
Tali Lennox
Parents: Annie Lennox and Uri Fruchtmann
The daughter of the iconic singer Annie Lennox has appeared in campaigns for Burberry and Acne and walked the runway for Prada, Missoni and Chanel. Her mother must have raised her to be pretty independent. At only 20, Lennox lives on her own in the East Village, where she goes to castings and shoots.
Lou Doillon
Parents: Jane Birkin and Jacques Doillon
These days France’s Lou Doillon is booking festivals like Osheaga to promote her EP Places, but she’s also a veteran model, booking everyone from Gap to Givenchy. Most recently, you’ll see her in H&M’s ads for Isabel Marant’s much anticipated collection. Doillon’s It girl status is no surprise. France’s wild child is the daughter of Jane Birkin and the half sister of Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Daisy Lowe
Parents: Pearl Lowe and Gavin Rossdale
Although Daisy Lowe began modeling at age two, she wasn’t officially discovered until she was 15. Since then Vogue, Elle, The Sunday Times, French Connection, Louis Vuitton, Marc by Marc Jacobs and runways such as Chanel, Topshop and Vivienne Westwood. What’s more, she modeled for her mother Pearl Lowe’s recent collection of lace dresses. It wasn’t until a 2004 paternity test that Lowe discovered her father was in fact her godfather, Bush singer/guitarist Gavin Rossdale. These days Daisy is photographed from the front row of runways as much as she walks them.
