19 Celebrity Kids on Their First Red Carpet

Before they were famous, they just had very famous parents.

You know them as celebrities of their own accord now, but when these kiddos (and teens) first showed up in Hollywood, they were usually holding the hand of a famous parent. Years before Dakota Johnson wowed at the Fifty Shades of Grey premiere or Brooklyn Beckham walked a runway, they were plus ones to events by virtue of their family names. They were also adorable. So we went back into the archives to find shots of celebrity kids on their first red carpet (or, at least, one of their firsts). Keep clicking to see these tiny stars-to-be and for young performers who've also come a long way, check out The Biggest Child Actors Ever, Then and Now.

Dakota Johnson

Don Johnson with Jesse and Dakota Johnson
Tsuni/USA/Alamy Stock Photo

Dakota Johnson, daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, had a major breakthrough when she was cast as Anastasia Steele in the feature adaptation of the aforementioned romance trilogy. But red carpets and photographers were already old hat to her. Here she is with her dad and big brother Jesse Johnson at a People's Choice Awards ceremony in the '90s. And for the most popular celeb from your adolescence, check out This Was the Most Popular Teen Idol the Year You Graduated.

Jaden and Trey Smith

Jaden, Jada Pinkett, Will, and Trey Smith at the Wild Wild West premiere
REUTERS/Alamy Stock Photo

Jaden Smith made his acting debut alongside his dad Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness when he was eight years old. But he made his red carpet debut when he wasn't yet two, accompanying his dad, mom Jada Pinkett Smith, and older brother Trey to the premiere of Will's Wild Wild West. He even dressed the part!

Miley Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus 2006
PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy Stock Photo

Little Miley Cyrus attended the premiere of Over the Hedge with her country star dad Billy Ray Cyrus the same year that her series, Hannah Montana, premiered on the Disney Channel. Little did either of them know how much she was about to blow up. To see how some of her Disney colleagues are doing these days, check out The Biggest Disney Channel Stars, Then and Now.

Kaia and Presley Gerber

Rande Gerber, Presley Gerber, Kaia Gerber, and Cindy Crawford in 2003
Tsuni/USA/Alamy Stock Photo

It seems safe to say that Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber's kids, Kaia and Presley Gerber (with a friend above), enjoy being photographed a little bit more these days. Despite the super-cute costumes, these future models don't seem that psyched about the flashbulbs at this 2003 Halloween event.

Ava and Deacon Phillippe

Reese Witherspoon and kids 2015
DFree/Shutterstock

Reese Witherspoon brought her and Ryan Phillippe's kids, Ava and Deacon Phillippe, as her dates when she was honored by American Cinematheque in 2015. Since then, Ava's been working on a modeling career, while Deacon is dabbling in music. And for more of mom's greatest hits, Relive Reese Witherspoon's Last 25 Years in Hollywood, in Photos.

Lourdes Leon

Madonna and Lourdes Leon 2009
Everett Collection/Shutterstock

A 13-year-old Lourdes Leon attended the 2009 premiere of the movie Nine on the arm of her mom, Madonna, in an outfit that pays homage to the Material Girl's signature '80s look.

Frances Bean Cobain

Nirvana with Frances Bean Cobain 1993
Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

Baby pictures don't get any cooler. Here's Frances Bean Cobain with dad Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana on the red carpet of the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards. Mom Courtney Love was there too.

For the big songs you still can't stop singing, here are 20 One-Hit Wonders Every '90s Kid Remembers.

Lila Grace Moss

Lila Grace Moss and Kate Moss
WENN Rights Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo

Today, she's a model following in the footsteps of her legendary mom Kate Moss, but at the 2015 premiere of PaddingtonLila Grace Moss was just a casual kid.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Blythe Danner and Gwyneth Paltrow 1991
Barry King/Alamy Stock Photo

At 19, budding actor Gwyneth Paltrow was mom Blythe Danner's date to the premiere of the romantic drama, The Prince of Tides. This was the same year she appeared in her first two feature films: Shout and Hook.

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Rashida Jones

Rashida Jones and Peggy Lipton 1990
Barry King /Alamy Stock Photo

While the rest of us 14-year-olds were hanging out in our friends' basements, Rashida Jones was at the 1990 Emmy Awards with mom Peggy Lipton.

Colin Hanks

Colin and Tom Hanks 1995
Barry King/Alamy Stock Photo

Okay, it's not quite a carpet but it's still a pretty impressive event. At 18, Colin Hanks sat next to dad Tom Hanks at a lunch honoring the astronaut Jim Lovell, who the elder Hanks portrayed in Apollo 13.

Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham

David, Romeo, and Brooklyn Beckham 2011
Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock

All of the Beckham boys—dad David and sons Romeo and Brooklyn—were looking dapper in 2011 at the The Sun Military Awards. Mom Victoria Beckham wasn't there with them, but we're guessing that she approved the looks before they headed out the door.

Rumer, Tallulah, and Scout Willis

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore with daughters Rumer, Tallulah, and Scout in 2001
REUTERS/Alamy Stock Photo

All of the daughters of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis are involved in the arts in some way. And it's not hard to see how Rumer, Tallulah, and Scout Willis all ended up in the business, considering that family outings included flashy premieres, like this one for Bruce's 2001 movie Bandits.

Sage Young
Sage Young is the Deputy Entertainment Editor at Best Life, expanding and honing our coverage in this vertical by managing a team of industry-obsessed writers. Read more
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