Everyone knows Hailey Bieber. She’s the face of Rhode, a runway staple, and basically the queen of that "clean girl" aesthetic. Because she’s so successful in the industry, people naturally assume she’s following in her mother’s footsteps. It makes sense, right? Usually, the daughters of major supermodels end up on the cover of Vogue—just look at Kaia Gerber or the Hadid sisters.
But when it comes to the question of was Hailey Bieber's mom a model, the answer is actually a lot more interesting than a simple yes or no.
The truth about Kennya Baldwin’s career
If you're looking for Kennya Baldwin on old 90s catwalks, you’re going to be looking for a long time. Unlike her daughter, Kennya was never a professional fashion model. While she has the looks for it—and let’s be real, the cheekbones are clearly hereditary—she chose a completely different path.
Kennya Deodato Baldwin is actually a graphic designer.
She’s a creative, but she prefers the world of digital art and layout over the glare of paparazzi flashes. Born in Brazil, she moved to New York to study at the Parsons School of Design. That’s a serious art school. It’s not the kind of place you just breeze through; it’s where some of the biggest names in fashion and design get their start.
✨ Don't miss: Ed Begley Cause of Death: What Really Happened to the Hollywood Icon
Honestly, it’s kinda cool that Hailey grew up in a house where her mom was focused on fonts and color palettes instead of casting calls. It gave Hailey a different perspective on the industry. Even though her dad, Stephen Baldwin, was a massive movie star, her mom provided a grounded, artistic anchor.
Why do people think she was a model?
It’s easy to see why the confusion happens. First off, look at her. Kennya is stunning. Even today, when she pops up on Hailey’s Instagram, she looks like she could step onto a set and kill it.
Then there’s the family tree. The Baldwin name is basically synonymous with "famous and photogenic." When you have Alec Baldwin as an uncle and a dad who was in The Usual Suspects, people just assume everyone in the family is in front of the camera.
Also, Hailey’s older sister, Alaia Baldwin, is a professional model. So you have a famous actor father and two model daughters. Most people just fill in the blanks and assume the mom must have been the original muse. But Kennya was always the one behind the scenes, keeping the family steady while the world obsessed over the Baldwin brothers.
A legacy of Brazilian artistry
Kennya didn't just bring design skills to the table; she brought a rich cultural heritage. Her father—Hailey’s grandfather—is the legendary Eumir Deodato.
He’s a Grammy-winning Brazilian pianist, composer, and producer. We’re talking about a guy who worked with Kool & the Gang and Björk. He’s a massive deal in the music world. So while Kennya wasn't a model, she was the daughter of a world-renowned artist. Art and creativity literally run through her veins.
This background is probably why Hailey is so focused on the aesthetic and branding of her own company. She didn't just hire someone to make Rhode look pretty; she grew up watching her mom master the art of visual communication.
How Kennya influenced Hailey’s career
Even though she wasn't walking runways, Kennya had a massive impact on Hailey's "model" life. Hailey has often credited her mom for her obsession with skincare.
In several interviews, Hailey mentioned that her mom and grandmother were the ones who taught her how to take care of her skin. In Brazil, skincare is almost like a ritual. Kennya passed down those "less is more" beauty secrets that eventually became the foundation for Hailey’s entire brand.
💡 You might also like: Kendall Jenner Met Gala 2025: Why Her Gray Suit Look Matters
"My mom is Brazilian, and I grew up in a household where she and my grandma always used very simple, natural products," Hailey told Refinery29.
So, while Kennya wasn't the one teaching Hailey how to walk in six-inch heels, she was the one teaching her how to keep her skin glowing after a twelve-hour shoot. That’s arguably a more valuable lesson in the long run.
Life away from the spotlight
Kennya is famously private. You won't see her doing "Tell-All" interviews or trying to land a reality show. She and Stephen have been married since 1990. In Hollywood years, that’s basically several lifetimes.
They met on a New York City subway in 1987. Imagine that. A future movie star and a Brazilian design student meeting on the train. It sounds like a movie script. They’ve stayed together through a lot of ups and downs, including some very public financial struggles and Stephen’s pivot toward becoming a born-again Christian.
Throughout all of it, Kennya remained the "rock" of the family. She’s often described as the person who keeps everyone's feet on the ground. When Hailey started getting famous at 17 or 18, Kennya was the one making sure she didn't lose herself in the Hollywood bubble.
💡 You might also like: What Really Caused Joan Rivers' Death: The Truth Behind the Tragedy
Does she ever model now?
Sometimes you’ll see Kennya in a campaign for Rhode. Hailey loves to include her mom in the brand’s imagery because it reinforces that "generational beauty" vibe.
But does she consider herself a model? No.
She’s a mom, a grandmother now (thanks to Hailey and Justin’s son, Jack Blues Bieber), and a graphic designer. She seems perfectly content letting her daughters have the spotlight while she enjoys her privacy.
What we can learn from Kennya’s "non-model" path
The takeaway here is that you don't have to be a model to raise one. Kennya’s influence on Hailey proves that a parent’s professional title matters way less than the values they pass down.
- Creativity matters: Kennya’s background in graphic design likely helped Hailey understand the importance of branding and visual identity early on.
- Cultural roots are a superpower: Hailey’s connection to her Brazilian heritage, through her mom, gave her a unique edge in a crowded industry.
- Privacy is a choice: Even in one of the most famous families in America, Kennya proved you can live a relatively quiet life if you want to.
So, next time someone asks if Hailey Bieber’s mom was a model, you can tell them the truth. She was something arguably much cooler: the artistic, Brazilian backbone of the Baldwin-Bieber empire.
If you’re interested in the Baldwin family tree or how celebrity parents influence their kids' brands, take a closer look at the credits on some of Hailey’s projects. You can see the "design-first" mentality everywhere. You might want to research Kennya’s father, Eumir Deodato, to see where that musical and creative spark really started—it’s a rabbit hole worth jumping down.