Willow Smith
was born Willow Camille Reign Smith in 2000, the third child of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Of course, Willow grew up in a household filled with music and entertainment, and knew from an early age that she wished to follow in her parents’s footsteps.

Her first film role was alongside her Dad, Will Smith, in the film I Am Legend (2007.) Immediately after, she appeared in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl, a role that garnered Willow her first award, a Young Artist Award. The following year, she lent her voice to the character of Gloria in the film Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Within a few years, however, Willow expressed a desire to foray into music as well, and with the support of her parents she embarked on a career as a singer.

Willow’s first release was the single “Whip My Hair,” which immediately performed quite well, shooting to the top of the charts and reaching platinum status. “21st Century Girl” followed, and soon Willow Smith found herself opening for Justin Bieber on his tour of Europe. Next came “Fireball,” alongside Nicki Minaj, and then “Do it Like Me (Rockstar).”

For such a young star only just beginning a career, Willow Smith has already earned some critical acclaim and recognition for her talents. Aside from her Young Artist Award, she has also earned nods from the NAACP Image Awards and the BET Awards. In addition to planning for a future album release, Willow Smith has joined her older brothers in a partnership with Hasbro as ambassadors for Project Zambia, which seeks to support young children in the country who have been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic.