From Gigi Hadid To Kate Hudson: 29+ Celebs Who Followed in Their Famous Parents Footsteps

We've certainly found ourselves wondering what it's like to be the child of a celebrity from time to time. Well, some of our favorite stars struggled to live in the public eye, but eventually followed in their parents' footsteps on their own terms.

Hailey Bieber

Hailey Bieber's made headlines as a model and influencer over recent years, but she wasn't the only member of her family to wind up in the spotlight. Her father, Stephen Baldwin, is an actor, but he didn't push Hailey into the public eye.

"I'm lucky that I was raised so normally in a suburban town," Hailey revealed. "If I didn't have that normal childhood before I started doing this, I don't know - I think things would be different." Lucky for us, this stunner decided to pursue a modeling career on her own and has amazed us every since.

Dakota Johnson

Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson's been acting since age 10, as she grew up around the rich and famous. Daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, Dakota landed her first movie part in Crazy in Alabama and has been on a roll ever since. Growing up with famous parents also gave Dakota a unique perspective.

She said that she often witnessed her parents getting cozy on screen in some of their roles, something that most kids probably couldn't even imagine. And how exactly did she feel about that? "I lost my mind!" Dakota admitted. "I couldn't deal with that at all."

Willow and Jaden Smith

Willow and Jaden Smith are indeed following in their parents' footsteps, but they weren't necessarily pushed to do so as kids. Willow revealed that she didn't view her parents as just Hollywood stars, as they were so much more than that. "Growing up, all I saw was my parents trying to be the best people they could be," she said.

Willow explained that both Will and Jaden strived to be role models because of their positive impact on the world rather than their famous music. She said that her parents never put themselves on a pedestal; They focused on being their best selves and raising their children to do the same, even in Hollywood.

Margaret Qualley

Margeret Qualley worked hard as a ballerina and actress to get to where she is today, but she said that having a famous mother, Andie MacDowell, gave her an advantage. "I do sometimes think I don't deserve the life that I have," Margaret admitted. This is something that's always stuck with her.

"I was given opportunities from a very young age that I would not have otherwise had," Margaret added. "While I would like to believe that working hard will make it so that I can continue to do this, I'm well-aware doors have been opened for me," she said. Over the years, she's appeared in The Nice Guys, Death Note, and more.

Lila Grace Moss Hack

18-Year-old Lila Grace Moss Hack appears to be following in her mother's footsteps straight down the catwalk. Daughter of British supermodel Kate Moss, Lila recently debuted her modeling career. In January, the mother-daughter duo walked the runway together for the first time in the Fendi show at Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris.

Lila revealed that her mom's given her some incredible advice over the years to help prepare her for the modeling industry. "I think the best lesson she has taught me is to work hard, be polite to everyone I meet, and to always make sure you're comfortable with whatever you're doing," said Lila.

Nicole and Sofia Richie

Both Nicole and Sofia Richie followed in their father, Lionel Richie's footsteps, and have looked up to the musical icon ever since they can remember. "He's my creative go-to," said Sofia. "He's so weird, and he can take my mind places that I probably wouldn't go to, and he opens me up to so many different thoughts."

As for actress and TV personality Nicole? "When your father is Lionel Richie, you grow up with some pretty famous people around the house," she said. "From what I remember, it was pretty normal for me." The Richie girls may not have pursued music like their father, but they've indeed entered the spotlight and are both thriving.

Dylan Penn

Daughter of actors Sean Penn and Robin Wright, Dylan Penn took a slightly different path but still wound up in the spotlight. Dylan planned to study film at the University of Southern California, but she quickly realized it wasn't her thing, and she dropped out. Her parents cut her off, and eventually, Dylan began modeling.

She revealed that both of her parents influenced her in different ways. As for Dylan's mom? "I've always said she taught me 'less is more,' which I tend to stick by most of the time." And when it comes to the infamous Sean Penn, "We're both like very opinionated and... sometimes confident in a way that could be annoying," Dylan shared.

Brooklyn Beckham

David and Victoria Beckham have been living in the spotlight ever since they made their relationship official, so their four beautiful children practically grew up in the public eye. Their eldest son, Brooklyn, is now a successful model, but he revealed that growing up with famous parents wasn't always easy.

"I had a lot of pressure on me," said Brooklyn about continually being surrounded by cameras and tabloids. "Every time I made a mistake, everyone was looking at me. I just wanted to go in on my own direction." However, he eventually took matters into his own hands and established himself in the world.

Billie Lourd

Scream Queens star Billie Lourd comes from a long line of celebrities, being the daughter of actress Carrie Fisher and granddaughter of the late actress Debbie Reynolds. "I've always kind of lived in their shadows, and now is the first time in my life when I get to own my life and stand on my own," said Billie.

"I love being my mother's daughter, and it's something I always will be, but now I get to be just Billie." Her father, Bryan Lourd, has also made a career for himself in Hollywood as a talent agent. Indeed, Billie was exposed to a certain level of fame from the start but chose to pave her own way to success.

Amelia Gray Hamlin

You might recognize Amelia Gray Hamlin as Scott Disick's girlfriend, but this model was born to be in front of the camera. Her mother, Lisa Rinna, is a model and TV personality and has helped lead her to success. "The biggest lesson I've learned from my mom is that hard work pays off," Amelia said.

"And that the application of oneself will get you further than you could ever imagine. Also, that it's all up to you and in your hands." As for her dad? Harry Hamlin is a noteworthy actor, as he starred in numerous films, including Clash of the Titans. Lucky for this famous family, they've all supported each other along the way.

Alexa Ray Joel

When you're raised by two influential figures such as singer Billy Joel and model Christie Brinkley, chances are, you'll get some incredible genes. So, it didn't come as much of a surprise when Alexa Ray Joel debuted her very own singing career. However, she wasn't always sure this was the path she'd want to take.

"It took me a minute - being the daughter of such iconic figures, it took some growing into," Alexa explained about her childhood. "You're exposed to the spotlight at such a young age, and that, of course, can be challenging... But I made it through." As for today? Alexa's been going strong since releasing her album Sketches in 2006.

Emma Roberts

You might already know that actress Emma Roberts has an ultra-famous aunt, Julia Roberts, but her father's a Hollywood icon too. Emma's dad, Eric Roberts, is a Golden Globe-winning actor and starred in various films and TV shows, including Star 80. Looking up to these famous faces taught Emma an important lesson.

"I think it's important to choose... to make decisions for yourself," Emma said. "And that's part of growing up in any career you have. I think you need to know what you like and what you don't and how you want to build a career." And evidently, she had a passion for acting and only pursued it because it felt right to her.

Colin Hanks

Tom Hanks has certainly made his mark on Hollywood, but he isn't the only man of his family to do so. Tom's son, Colin Hanks, is also an established actor, producer, and director. And Colin says that his father's been incredibly supportive every step of the way, encouraging him to pursue any career he desired.

"My dad has been extremely supportive in every decision I've made and much more interested in me picking what I wanted to do," said Colin. He also revealed that when he gets a chance to catch up with his dad nowadays, the last thing they'll talk about is work. "When we see each other, we talk about other things," said Colin.

Kaia Gerber

It's no secret that supermodel Cindy Crawford radiates with beauty, so when she welcomed her daughter into this world, fans could only imagine what this mother-daughter duo would look like down the road. Today, Kaia Gerber's also a successful model, but truthfully, she wasn't aware that she was being raised by such an icon for a while.

"I think it was only on my eighth birthday, at Disneyland, that I started to understand what was going on," Kaia said of her mother's fame. "I wanted to take pictures with the princesses, and everyone wanted to take pictures with her!" Kaia eventually realized the reputation her mother withheld, and today, they look like twins!

Elle King

Elle Schneider, better known as Elle King, is a singer, songwriter, actress, and TV personality. She's also the daughter of actor and comedian Rob Schneider. Elle revealed that growing up with a famous father didn't quite make her life any easier. "I got kicked out of school in eighth grade," she explained. "

"When you grow up in New York with famous parents, you kind of end up running into other kids with famous parents," King continued. She's done some acting, given her father's success, but eventually discovered her passion for music. Today, Elle's an award-winning country artist known for her songs Ex's & Oh's, Shame, and more.

Gigi and Bella Hadid

It's no secret that Gigi and Bella Hadid thrive in the fashion industry, which didn't come as much of a surprise, considering their mother, Yolanda Hadid, was also a supermodel back in the day. But Yolanda didn't push her daughters into modeling; She let them find that path on their own, later in life.

"I think the biggest thing that my mom did for my career was make me wait until I was 17 to sign to an agency," said Gigi. "Being able to pay attention to my sports, go through school, and know myself before I was in the industry that can be very judgemental, was the best thing that she could have done."

EJ Johnson

Former NBA star and businessman Magic Johnson's son also established a career in the spotlight but in a far different industry. EJ's a TV personality and influencer who got his start on the show Rich Kids of Beverly Hills in 2014, and he's been on the rise ever since. "I've always wanted to come into the spotlight, said EJ.

However, "it's important to break out of the shadow of your parents," he shared. "I always had dreams and plans of doing my own thing and creating my own image." And that's exactly what he's done. EJ does his best to express himself through fashion while "breaking boundaries," as he put it.

Kate Hudson

As a child, Kate Hudson looked up to the ultimate Hollywood power couple, her mother, Goldie Hawn, and stepfather, Kurt Russell. And Kate sees them both as incredible role models. "There's a misconception that if you come from famous parents, you're seeking fame for the sake of fame," explained Kate.

"I see it as the opposite: Growing up with parents who were in the spotlight - it was almost like, wow, if I didn't love to create characters, I would run as far away from fame as I could get. But I love performing." Ultimately, Kate only pursued acting because she shared that passion, not because she was born into it.

Lily Collins

Emily in Paris star Lily Collins is no rookie when it comes to acting, or fame, really. As the daughter of singer-songwriter Phil Collins, Lily's used to the Hollywood lifestyle, but she revealed that having a famous father didn't necessarily guarantee her a successful career.

"There's this common misconception that having a famous last name is all you need," Lily explained. "A surname may get you a meeting, but if there's no talent, you won't get the part." So, when she landed her debut role in The Blind Side in 2009, that was a result of Lily's hard work and determination, not her last name.

Zoë Kravitz

Divergent actress Zoë Kravitz was raised by her famous parents, musical icon Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. But during her childhood, Zoë refused to let her family define her identity. "When I was younger, I really wanted to prove to people I was a normal human being, that I was cool, chill," she explained.

"When kids were mean, the first thing they'd say is, 'She thinks she's so cool because her dad is famous.' I just wanted to fit in," said Zoë. For years, she was unsure whether she was landing jobs because of her talent or her name. "I now finally feel like I'm in a place where I'm able to say 'I deserve this,'" Zoë shared.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus has been gracing our TV screens since she starred in Hannah Montana in 2006, but that wasn't her first exposure to fame. Daughter of country artist Billy Ray Cyrus and producer Tish Cyrus, it wasn't much of a surprise when Miley debuted her career young. But her Disney Channel role actually hurt her in the end. 

"Talk about an identity crisis," Miley shared. Later on, though, she focused more on the music she takes pride in. And she said she's been given plenty of words of wisdom from her father, including, "when you eliminate the way that doesn't work, you're a step closer to the way that's going to work."

Rumer Willis

Daughter of actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, Rumer Willis eventually followed her parents' lead and began acting. However, she noticed that she was treated differently than her peers because of her famous family tree. "Just because I was their kid, I started getting attention before my own work got recognition," said Rumer.

This lifestyle meant that Rumer had to make many compromises, as she frequently missed out on numerous school events and milestones as a kid. "I've traveled to some really incredible places, but my basic math skills are horrendous," the actress explained. "It's an interesting trade-off."

O'Shea Jackson Jr.

O'Shea Jackson Jr., also known by OMG in the music industry, discovered his passion for rapping after watching his father, Ice Cube. "I went on a world tour with him, and we were in Japan and Australia, and people were telling me all the way out there how his rapping in L.A. had affected them," OMG recalled.

"That's when I started to really get an idea that he touches people all over the world and that it's a big deal." He and his younger brother, Darrell, were featured on some of their father's songs, including She Couldn't Make It On Her Own and Y'all Know How I am, and eventually, O'Shea dropped his own album, Jackin' for Beats.

Riley Keough

Actress Riley Keough grew up looking up to not one, not two, but at least four Hollywood icons. She's the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, granddaughter of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, and even had Michael Jackson as a stepfather at one point. So, she's no stranger to the attention and questions that this family tree brings up.

"People always ask, 'How crazy is it that your grandpa was Elvis and your stepdad was Michael Jackson?'" Riley revealed. "The reality is that I know as much about my grandpa as you'd know about a grandpa you never met." Ultimately, Riley established her career herself; She just had some iconic family members who beat her to it.

Sosie Bacon

Actress Sosie Bacon first got in front of the camera as a young girl since she was raised by actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. However, Sosie eventually realized that she's only started acting because of her parents, and it may not be the right path for her.

"I'd been acting since I was little, but I always had this idea that I wanted to do something else," she said. "I was sort of a little bit resilient to it - almost in a typical teenage rebellious way." But Sosie didn't give up on it just yet, and once she got a little older, "I realized that it's just what I love," she recalled.

Kelly Osbourne

Kelly Osbourne's no stranger to the spotlight, as she was practically born a household name. Her father, Ozzy Osbourne, is a former member of the band Black Sabbath, and her mother, Sharon, is a well-known TV personality. So, Kelly adjusted to the life of fame at a young age and is now a thriving TV personality herself.

"I've been famous since the day I was born within the rock 'n' roll world, and I've been famous since my teens because of The Osbournes," Kelly said of her family's reality show. "I woke up one day and was one of the most well-known 16-year-olds in the world, and it scared me - it literally happened overnight."

John David Washington

John David Washington, son of the legendary Denzel Washington, somewhat resented his father's reputation during his childhood. "I've had the acting bug since I was, like, five," said John David. "But growing up, I saw how people treated me differently when they knew who my father was, even the stuff I did on the field."

He played in the NFL for a little while but eventually followed in his father's footsteps and pursued a career in acting, starring in Tenet, All Rise, and other films. John David was incredibly proud to learn that Denzel was named the greatest actor of the 21st century by The New York Times, publicly sharing his praise.

Tracee Ellis Ross

From the moment Tracee Ellis Ross was born, she was exposed to the life of the rich and famous, being the daughter of a musical icon. But even with the constant tours and other Hollywood gigs, Diana always made time to be a mom. "I was beyond spoiled with love," Tracee shared. "My mother us a mother first and foremost."

"She really instilled in all five of her children, family first, care for other people, go after your dreams, and never be afraid of authority figures," Tracee added. In the end, she followed in her mother's footsteps, becoming a renowned actress, singer, and TV host, and she never fails to the audience entertained.

Maude Apatow

Ever since she was a child, Maude Apatow's appeared in various movies alongside her mother, Leslie Mann, including Knocked Up and This is 40. But her mom's not the only one who guided her through the acting world; Maude's also the daughter of film director and comedian Judd Apatow.

"My dad knows my true potential and capabilities better than anyone else," Maude revealed. "He's taught me everything I know." Aside from establishing herself in Hollywood, she's also strived to make her dad proud. "I definitely put more pressure on myself because it's so important for me to do a good job for my dad," said Maude.

Eva Amurri

Eva Amurri evidently didn't mind growing up around the cameras. "My childhood was wonderful," said Eva. "We had a lot of great experiences, we were able to travel a lot, and I feel really grateful for that." Her mother, Susan Sarandon, is a Hollywood icon, as she starred in Thelma & Louise, Blackbird, and countless other films.

She followed in her mother's footsteps, as she eventually got into acting herself. Eva also has a famous father, Franco Amurri, an Italian filmmaker. "At the end of the day, we grew up like any other kids with ups and downs that any family has," she explained of her childhood.