It started with a birdcage. Back in 1991, a teenage Vanessa Paradis swung on a trapeze for Chanel, covered in black feathers and looking like a gothic dream. Fast forward a few decades, and you've got her daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, basically doing the same thing but for a whole new generation. People love to compare them. It's the easiest narrative in the world: the French "It Girl" passing the torch to her lookalike child.
But honestly? If you actually look at their careers right now in 2026, the "carbon copy" thing is kinda falling apart.
Sure, they have the same cheekbones. They both have that specific gap-toothed French charm that makes fashion editors lose their minds. But where Vanessa was the ultimate "Lolita" of French pop—a girl who became a national icon at 14 with Joe le Taxi—Lily-Rose has taken a much darker, weirder path. She’s not trying to be the "sweetheart" of anything.
Vanessa Paradis and Lily-Rose Depp: Different Kinds of Famous
Vanessa was a prodigy. By 18, she already had a César Award for Noce Blanche and a Victoire de la Musique. She was the face of France before she was even legally allowed to drive. Her fame was built on a mix of ethereal music and a very curated, private mystique. She lived through the peak of the paparazzi era with Johnny Depp, yet somehow managed to keep her dignity intact.
Lily-Rose grew up in that shadow, but she didn't just walk through the door her mom opened; she kicked it down and painted it neon.
👉 See also: Patricia Neal and Gary Cooper: The Affair That Nearly Broke Hollywood
Think about The Idol. Or more recently, her role in Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu. Vanessa never did "unhinged" quite like that. While Vanessa’s career feels like a long, beautiful sunset—consistent, prestigious, and deeply respected—Lily-Rose’s career is more like a lightning storm. It’s polarizing. Some people find her performances "fearless," others find them "melodramatic," but nobody is calling her "just a model" anymore.
The Chanel Connection
We have to talk about the tweed. It's the one thing that truly binds Vanessa Paradis and Lily-Rose Depp in the public eye.
- The 1991 Coco Campaign: Vanessa as the bird in the cage. It's legendary.
- The 2015 Handover: Lily-Rose becomes a Chanel ambassador at 16.
- The 2025/2026 Shows: Seeing them sitting front row together at the Grand Palais.
It’s almost like a royal succession. But if you've been paying attention to the 2025 fashion cycle, Lily-Rose is leaning into a "vampy" aesthetic that is way more Los Angeles than Paris. At the 2025 Oscars, she wore a custom Chanel lace dress that took over 500 hours to make. It wasn't the "Bohemian French" look her mother pioneered; it was pure Old Hollywood glam with a gothic twist.
Why the "Nepo Baby" Label Doesn't Stick Anymore
People love to throw around the term "nepo baby." And yeah, having Vanessa Paradis as your mom and Johnny Depp as your dad is basically like starting a video game with all the cheat codes enabled.
✨ Don't miss: What Really Happened With the Death of John Candy: A Legacy of Laughter and Heartbreak
But here’s the thing: privilege gets you the audition, but it doesn't get you the reviews.
In the last year, Lily-Rose has been more vocal about this. She’s basically said that she knows why people think she’s there, but she’s decided to just work harder. It's a pragmatic approach. Vanessa, on the other hand, has always been her daughter’s fiercest defender, though she does it in that quiet, classy way. She doesn't do Twitter rants. She just shows up at the premieres and smiles.
The Music Gap
This is where they diverge the most.
Vanessa is a musician first for many. Her 2025 album, Le retour des beaux jours, proved she still has that "whisper-singing" magic. She’s worked with everyone from Serge Gainsbourg to Lenny Kravitz. Music is her soul.
🔗 Read more: Is There Actually a Wife of Tiger Shroff? Sorting Fact from Viral Fiction
Lily-Rose can sing—we heard it on The Idol soundtrack—but she doesn't seem to want to be a "pop star." She uses music as a tool for her acting. She’s not interested in the tour bus life. She’d rather be on a film set in Prague for four months.
What You Can Learn from the Paradis-Depp Dynamic
Watching these two navigate the industry is actually a masterclass in brand evolution.
- Authenticity over Imitation: Lily-Rose didn't try to release a French pop album. She went for gritty, R-rated TV and horror movies.
- Legacy as a Foundation, Not a Ceiling: Vanessa didn't try to keep her daughter "safe" or in the French indie circuit. She let her go global.
- Privacy is Power: Both women are notoriously private. They post on Instagram, but you don't actually know them. That's why people are still interested after 30 years.
If you’re looking to follow their trajectory, the move is to embrace the "French Girl" aesthetic—think messy hair, minimal makeup, and high-quality staples—but mix it with the daring choices Lily-Rose makes. Don't be afraid to be the person in the room who's doing something "too much."
Next time you see a photo of them together, look past the matching eyes. You'll see two completely different artists who just happen to share a last name and a love for Chanel No. 5.
To really nail the look and vibe they've pioneered, start by investing in vintage silhouettes rather than fast-fashion trends. Focus on "character work" in your own style, just like Lily-Rose does with her wigs and makeup. Most importantly, keep your personal life offline; the less people know, the more they want to find out.