In a world full of celebrity offspring, one person stands out thanks to her sheer creativity, talent, and quirkiness. Sure, Willow Smith is the daughter of the powerhouse couple, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, but she has stepped out on her own, whether she's writing music, tackling acting roles or modeling haute couture. Willow is a force to be reckoned with and she's still just a teenager!
Both Willow and her brother, Jaden, have been in the spotlight since birth. They've blossomed into young adults with their own voices. They use those voices to navigate the entertainment world.
Willow first made a big name for herself when she released her addictive single, Whip My Hair, at the tender age of nine. She has continued to find various ways to express herself.
Here are 20 facts about the famous mogul-in-the-making that may just surprise you!
20 She Was Born On Halloween
Talk about fun birthdays! For her 19th birthday bash, People revealed that parents, Will and Jada, pulled all the stops and threw their daughter an over-the-top, Halloween-themed party. The celebration was complete with creepy performances and an Alice in Wonderland cake.
We can only imagine how much creepier her birthdays will get from here on out!
19 She Had A Run-In With Child Protective Services
When Willow was only thirteen years old, a photo she shared with her friend, the actor Moisés Arias, became a hot topic. In the pic, Arias, who was 20 at the time, was shirtless and he was in a bed with Willow. This photo sparked a slew of negative commentary...and even a visit from child protective services.
Nothing came of it, but the incident left Willow angry, and she stated the following in a Paper interview: "I find that other celebrities, females who aren't Black, who are younger, and who do post things that are way more sexual than that, they don't get any backlash..."
18 She Just Dropped A New Song
Willow is part of a new rock band that just released a single called, Hey You. The band, called The Anxiety, is made up of Willow and Tyler Cole. It's a bit of a stretch from her hit song, Whip My Hair, but if you're up for it, check it out!
17 She's Dating Her Bandmate
Tyler Cole has been linked to Willow for a couple of years now, and the actor/musician reportedly met her through her brother, Jaden, when he hired Tyler to open for one of his shows back in 2018. They are now making beautiful music together, literally.
16 She's On A Show With Her Mother
Red Table Talk is a Web series on Facebook Watch that stars Willow, her mother, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her grandmother, Adrienne Canfield-Norris. The three generations of ladies talk about everything from fame to addiction to their own personal relationships. They invite special guests to appear during each episode. These ladies share so much about their lives with fans.
15 She Used To Self-Harm
During a particularly revealing episode of Red Table Talk, Willow admitted to having cut herself in an effort to deal with the stress of her sudden stardom. This happened after the release of her single, Whip My Hair, back in 2010.
Thankfully, she stopped, but her revelation shocked her mother and grandmother. They apparently had no idea that she had been self-harming.
14 She Has Multiple NAACP Image Awards
Back in 2011, a young Willow took home an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist, after the release of her hit, Whip My Hair, according to LA Times.
In 2019, she received another award, as co-host of Red Table Talk. The web series took home the award for Outstanding Host in a Talk Show News/Information (Series or Special) - Individual or Ensemble.
13 She Does Push-Ups To Battle Anxiety
We all have little rituals we do in order to keep anxious thoughts away, but Willow prefers to push them away with force! According to another excerpt from Red Table Talk, she drops to the ground and does push-ups whenever she feels frustrated or, in her words, "feels manic."
12 She Signed With Roc Nation At 10 Years Old
When Whip My Hair topped the charts, Jay-Z's Roc Nation couldn't wait to sign the young songstress. Who cares if she was only 10 years old? The girl had talent and needed to be promoted. At the time, Willow was reportedly the youngest artist to ever be signed to the label.
11 She Was Supposed To Be Annie
Back in 2014, the classic musical hit, Annie, was set for a remake, with Willow at the helm in the title role. But, as Entertainment Tonight reported, she dropped out, stating, "To be honest, something inside me was just like, 'Don't'...I'm very connected to my intuition." She was replaced by an actress named Quvenzhané Wallis.
