Then and Now: Iconic Black Celebs and Their Doppelgänger Children

One of the biggest trends in pop culture is looking back on the nostalgia of the 2000s, ’90s, and even earlier, with fashion trends, film remakes, and TV show reboots constantly being made. Yet what better way to see the passage of time than by watching Hollywood kids grow up before our eyes alongside their legendary parents—from Denzel Washington and his sons, John David and Malcolm Washington, to North West becoming an outspoken fashion icon like her dad?

Here is a nostalgic look back on celebrity parents and kids who have grown up together over the years.

Diana Ross and Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross used to appear beside her mom, Diana Ross, on television specials before she made a name for herself in Tinseltown as a hilarious comedic actress. Now, fans might not immediately realize that Tracee comes from Hollywood royalty, but the two stars not only look alike, but they have also built powerful legacies.

The Smith Family

Jaden and Willow Smith have been hitting red carpets with their parents ever since they could waddle, but they are no longer the adorable siblings posing beside Jada Pinkett and Will Smith. They have become icons in their own right: Willow has a successful music career, while Jaden leads operations as the Men’s Creative Director at Louboutin.

Related: Black Celebrities You Didn’t Realize Have Famous Parents

Kanye and North West

Kanye West has always been known for being outspoken, a generational musician with impeccable fashion taste, and North West has followed in her father’s footsteps. The 13-year-old is always experimenting with her fashion and already showing off her music-producing chops.

The Carters

Folks have been obsessed with Blue Ivy ever since she appeared on stage alongside her mom and dad as a 2-year-old, and now the youngster is showing up with her parents at the Met Gala. Her internet aunties are definitely holding back tears.

Thandiwe Newton and Nico Parker

Before building an acting career of her own, Nico Parker used to appear beside her mom, Thandiwe Newton, at all types of Hollywood events, and now she is playing co-lead in the hit 2025 live-action remake “How to Train Your Dragon” and its upcoming sequel.

Lisa Bonet and Zoë Kravitz

In the ’80s, Zoë Kravitz was hanging on Lisa Bonet’s waist as she carried her wherever she went, but now the mother-daughter pair are both superstars across TV and cinema, and their resemblance is striking, too.

Usher, Usher V and Naviyd

Usher can be proud of the legacy he has built within music, but he also has more reason to be proud of the two young men, Usher “Cinco” V, 18, and Naviyd, 17, who have gone from the cute toddlers climbing over his head in photoshoots to carving out their life paths. Cinco is at Howard University, and Naviyd is a social media star with a budding music career.

Brandy and Sy’rai Iman Smith

Brandy’s baby girl, Sy’rai Iman Smith, is all grown up now, and not only does she have the exact same smile as her R&B icon mother, she is also building a music career of her own with singles like “Late Night,” “Bad Guy,” and “On My Own” already under her belt.

Niecy and Dia Nash

Niecy Nash must feel like she is staring into a mirror every time she looks at her daughter, Dia, because the resemblance between them is scary similar, and Dia showed off her acting chops in Lifetime’s “Sister Wife Murder” as the lead.

LeBron James and LeBron James Jr.

Nothing shows the passage of time more than LeBron James Jr. going from visiting his dad on the basketball court to playing alongside him on the Lakers for a brief time. If you looked up the word legacy in the dictionary, their picture would come up.

Kimora Lee, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee Simmons

Kimora Lee Simmons is fashion royalty, so it only makes sense that her daughters, Ming and Aoki Lee, who grew up in the world of glitz and glam, would become stylish queens themselves, carrying on the Baby Phat torch.

Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade and Kaavia Union Wade

As a baby, Kaavia Union Wade always had folks laughing at her hilarious facial expressions, which often became memes, but now she has grown into an adorable young girl, slaying on the red carpet beside her parents and still rocking matching outfits with her mom, Gabrielle Union.

Denzel Washington, John David Washington and Malcolm Washington

Denzel Washington was joined by his sons, John David and Malcolm, when he was cementing, literally, his place in Hollywood in 1998 with a hand-and-footprint ceremony in Los Angeles. Cut to almost three decades later, and those young boys are now grown men making their own moves in cinema.

The Jolie Family

Angelina Jolie took Hollywood by surprise when she decided to adopt multiple kids into a gorgeous blended family, and now those kids have grown to have a strong bond with their mom, with the confidence to build their own life paths, with Zahara Marley being a Spelman sister.