A lot of the public was confused as to the inclusion of Lila Moss in the show, as she doesn’t really fit the height or calibre (note: also unrealistic!) standards of the usual Victoria’s Secret models. This led to a number of people questioning: was she only included in the show because of the influence of her mother?
It begs the question of how many others have lost out on opportunities because they didn't have the social background to boot.
It's a hard question to ask, but it’s one that keeps cropping up about Lila Moss’s career, alongside a number of other models with notable parents. Kaia Gerber, Kendall Jenner, and Lily-Rose Depp are to name but a few others, all from wealthy families that undoubtedly provide the connections, bank account and notoriety to get them started. Again, I’m not saying models like this aren’t beautiful in their own right, but it begs the question of how many others have lost out on opportunities because they didn’t have the social background to boot.
Lily-Rose Depp was quoted in an interview with Elle about her ‘nepo baby’ status as the daughter of Johnny Depp, saying, “Maybe you get your foot in the door, but you still just get your foot in the door. There’s a lot of work that comes after that.” Hence, the flip side of the question – can you take away from the work 'nepo baby' models have put in - the numerous shows walked and magazine covers shot - to earn their right as a household name, just because of their family?
However, others didn't take Depp’s comments well. Supermodel Anok Yai, born to a South Sudanese refugee family in Egypt, responded, “If you only knew the hell we go through just to be able to stand in the same room that you were born in” - spotlighting the reality for thousands of aspiring models. But does this pose more questions about the bias of the industry rather than nepo babies? It seems we can only hope for inclusivity standards to continuously raise in the future.
