Oftentimes, in our society, we use the term “nepotism baby” (or nepo baby) with an underlying negative connotation. Usually, when this term is used online, it refers to someone who is the child of famous parents, hence the reason they are known and/ or loved by the public. According to the New York Times, a nepotism baby can be described as “children born into rich, famous and otherwise powerful families who have a leg up in life, inheriting monarchies, business empires, wealth and star power.”
So why are nepo babies looked at so negatively? In most cases, these stars aren’t hated for who they are but what they represent. Many people will argue that these people simply have everything handed to them and that they didn’t have to work for any of their fame or success, which many people work their whole lives for. An example of this is the Kardashian family. It is a widely known theory that they are only famous because of their late father, and it is believed that they use that to their advantage to get deals and remain well-known. Other nepo babies are a little less well-known because of their efforts to make a name for themselves. Sofia Richie is the perfect example of this.
Sofia Richie is the 25-year-old daughter of one of America’s greatest musicians, Lionel Richie. Many believed that Sofia would become a superstar musician like her father. Because of his fame, she grew up in his shadow, along with the shadow of her adopted sister, Nicole Richie. This put Sofia in the same social circle with notable ‘A list’ celebrities. She has made some noteworthy connections with many of these celebrities, such as Paris Hilton, Kylie Jenner, and even had a romantic relationship with Kourtney Kardashian’s ex-husband, Scott Disick. Sofia opened up to The News International in August of 2023, stating that “she took a lot of time ‘trying to find’ her place in the world as she didn’t want to be called a ‘nepo baby’.” Making a name for herself was very important to her. She didn’t want to be living her whole life in the shadows of her famous relatives. Sofia decided that it was finally time to do what she knew was right, just be herself.
Sofia Richie caught the public’s eye once again during her star-studded wedding in April of 2023. The wedding took place in the South of France, and it was certainly worth the hype. She shocked the masses when she wore a trio of custom Chanel dresses. One remarkable characteristic of her wedding was her style. She wore countless chic, classy, and timeless outfits, which sums up the tone of her wedding overall.
Sofia joined the app TikTok on April 20th, just two days before her wedding. This is where she documented parts of her wedding that fans wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise. She quickly gained popularity on the platform for being funny, relatable, and, most of all, herself. She was finally getting recognized for who she was, not because of who she knew.
Months following the wedding, Sofia still has a large following on TikTok, where she posts lifestyle, beauty, and fashion content. Now, it is easy to say that her platform has grown into people who like her for who she is and what she posts. She has become a classic inspiration for all things relating to beauty and fashion, and she is wholesome and relatable. She has certainly become a staple “it” girl for this generation. As she continues to post content, fans are reminded why they fell in love with her in the first place.
Sofia has proven that she is the new it girl by consistently showcasing her timeless style, which continues to impress fans. Her humbleness is admirable, and many other nepo babies could take some pages out of her book. Her ongoing love and support for her family is something that fans praise and look up to. After finding her place in this world, Sofia has gained quite the fanbase, and it is safe to say that they won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.