Zahara Jolie-Pitt Is All Grown Up & It Shows In Her Fashion, Relationships, & More
Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt was seven months old when Angelina Jolie adopted her. The actor visited an Ethiopian orphanage with her son Maddox (whom she adopted in 2002), and it was precisely Maddox who influenced the star's decision to expand the family. "When Maddox looked at the baby, he blew a kiss as if he was saying that was the girl who he wanted for his sister," Sister Lete Brham, who worked at the orphanage, told All Star magazine in 2005. Zahara was subsequently adopted by Angelina's at-the-time partner, Brad Pitt, in 2006. "'Adoption' and 'orphanage' are positive words in our home," Angelina told Vogue in 2020. "With my adopted children, I can't speak of pregnancy, but I speak with much detail and love about the journey to find them and what it was like to look in their eyes for the first time."
Fast forward to almost two decades after her adoption and Zahara has changed a lot over the years, just like the rest of her family. The adorable toddler we would see traveling the world with her famous parents and five siblings is now a strong young woman who has a very bright future ahead of her. And while she tends to stay out of the spotlight, there's no denying that Zahara will leave a mark on this world in her very own way.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt loves going back to Ethiopia
Even though Zahara Jolie-Pitt left Ethiopia in 2005 when Angelina Jolie adopted her, she has never been estranged from her homeland. "My daughter is from Ethiopia, one of my children ... And I have learned so much from her," Angelina admitted during a 2020 Time 100 Talk. "She is my family, but she is an extraordinary African woman and her connection to her country, her continent, is her own and it's something I only stand back in awe of."
Angelina ensured Zahara continued visiting Ethiopia even after adopting her. Zahara is well known in the East African country, where she even met with Sahle-Work Zewde, Ethiopia's first female president, in 2019. According to People, during the visit, they talked about pressing issues in the country — sanitary pads for women and education only being some of them. Apart from Zahara, Angelina brought Shiloh, as well as Knox and Vivienne, along for the Ethiopia trip.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt is a student at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia
In 2022, Zahara Jolie-Pitt started college, opting to go to Spelman College, a well-known "historically black liberal arts college for women," as the official website explains. Angelina Jolie gushed about her daughter's choice on Instagram by captioning a photo of Zahara with other freshmen, "Zahara with her Spelman sisters! Congratulations to all new students starting this year. A very special place and an honor to have a family member as a new Spelman girl."
In 2023, Zahara joined the college's Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which, according to the MIT Black History Project, is "the oldest Greek-lettered organization established by African-American college-educated women." Some of the sorority's most famous alumni include Maya Angelou, Alicia Keys, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Rosa Parks. In an Instagram video shared by Essence, the student can be seen yelling, "My name is Zahara Marley Jolie!" during the initiation ceremony. "And I landed all the way from the Golden State in the city full of angels: Los Angeles, California." Not much is known about Zahara's college life, as she tends to keep a very low profile — just like the rest of her siblings.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt underwent medical issues
Angelina Jolie revealed that Zahara Jolie-Pitt underwent two months of medical surgeries in 2020 when she was just 15 years old — not specifying what they were related to. In an International Women's Day essay that Angelina wrote for Time magazine in 2020, she opened up about just how much strength she saw in her daughter, and in younger daughter Vivienne, who underwent hip surgery that year. "They know that I am writing this, because I respect their privacy and we discussed it together and they encouraged me to write. They understand that going through medical challenges and fighting to survive and heal is something to be proud of," Angelina revealed.
The Hollywood star also admitted that their siblings played a major role in their recovery. "Their brothers were there for them, supportive and sweet," she said. "But on this International Women's Day, writing from the hospital, I find myself focusing on my daughters for a moment, and all that I have learned from them and other young girls I have met around the world." It's clear that Zahara (and her siblings) have always been very mature for their age, and Angelina frequently admitted that they taught her a lot. Of course, going through any type of medical issue is tough, but it's safe to say that Zahara handled it like an adult (even though she was just a teen at the time).
She designed her own jewelry line
In 2019, when she was just 14 years old, Zahara Jolie-Pitt began working on a jewelry line together with jeweler Robert Procop. At the time, People magazine reported that the collection would be available at a few Saks Fifth Avenue department stores. And to no one's surprise, Zahara decided to donate all of the earnings from the line to charity. "All proceeds from the Collection will benefit the Los Angeles-based House of Ruth Shelters, which provided transitional housing for battered women and children," a statement provided to People revealed.
Zahara wore simple pieces from her own collection to the "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" Los Angeles premiere. For the occasion, she decided to go with a matching set consisting of earrings, a bracelet, and a ring. Per an Us Weekly report, Zahara rocked an "emerald-cut citrine suite from the eponymous 'Zahara Collection': a bracelet and three-tiered earrings, paired with a matching ring." All of the jewelry pieces were also made of 18-carat yellow gold. Procop is a family friend of Angelina Jolie, which certainly makes this collaboration less surprising. In fact, in 2010, he and Angelina released their own collection, "Style of Jolie," whose proceeds were donated to Education Partnership for Children in Conflict.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt is a style icon
With style icon Angelina Jolie being her mother, it doesn't come as a surprise that Zahara Jolie-Pitt grew into a very fashionable young woman. With Zahara, it all comes down to authenticity and wearing what she feels drawn to — whether we're talking about her street style or red-carpet fashion. In fact, all of Angelina Jolie's children have distinct styles, which tells us their parents allowed them to express themselves from an early age. At a 2021 premiere for Angelina's movie "Eternals," Zahara even went shopping in her rich mom's closet, going for an Elie Saab Couture dress that the actor rocked at the 2014 Academy Awards. "My kids are all mixed with vintage, and in my old Oscars dress. We did all vintage and upcycled my old stuff," Angelina revealed to Entertainment Tonight.
In 2023, Angelina Jolie launched Atelier Jolie, a collaborative place for creatives. In an interview with Vogue, Angelina admitted that Zahara has been of major help when it comes to Atelier Jolie. "I can be very impulsive, but Zahara is so grounded, decisive, and thoughtful," Angelina explained. "When she agreed, I felt we were both decided," the Hollywood star said of the downtown New York space they agreed upon for the company. Zahara also influenced the brand's collection. "Obviously, as a white woman, I've never had this experience," Angelina said of her daughter's struggle to find inclusive shades when it comes to nude clothing. "It never crossed my mind until we went shopping together and I saw that there's so much room for improvement." Even back in 2012, it was no secret that Zahara adores fashion. "Zahara is becoming a mini-fashion diva and Angie couldn't be prouder," a source revealed at the time (via Her World).
She inspires her siblings
One thing that anyone who knows anything about Angelina Jolie's children has certainly noticed is just how close they are. While they have all developed into inspiring and kind individuals, their sibling bond is undeniable. And with that bond also comes quite a bit of influence. In fact, a source for Life & Style admitted that Zahara Jolie-Pitt has a wonderful relationship with her younger sister, Shiloh. And that relationship is part of the reason why Shiloh showcased a more prominent interest in fashion in recent years.
"Shiloh loves music, dance, acting and lately, thanks to her sister Zahara, fashion. It wasn't always like that, but now she loves dressing up in her mom's clothes," a source told Life & Style, "Zahara is the real fashionista in the family." Angelina Jolie has always been clear on just how contagious Zahara's personality is, so it's no surprise Shiloh is taking after her sister. "She is one of those people who laughs with her whole body. Completely open and full of joy," Angelina said of Zahara (via Vanity Fair). The family has a very strong bond, and Zahara's older brothers Pax and Maddox made sure to attend her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority initiation ceremony, even though they both have busy schedules of their own.
"They're pretty great people," Angelina gushed about her kids to People in 2021. "And because there's so many of them, I think they've had a very significant effect on each other. It's not like I'm the head of anything. I'm very honest with my kids. And I'm very human with my kids." It's clear that Angelina created an environment for her children in which they are supportive of each other, and that has definitely allowed Zahara (and her siblings) to flourish.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt decided to drop her father's last name
Even though they were one of Hollywood's most beloved couples, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt didn't last. Having met in 2004 on the set of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," the two began a relationship after Brad's separation from actor Jennifer Aniston. Soon, Brad adopted Angelina's children, and the couple had three biological kids. In 2014, the two stars tied the knot, but in 2016, things started going downhill. After a violent incident on a flight, Angelina filed for divorce, seeking custody of their six children. "This decision was made for the health of the family," her divorce lawyer revealed (via People).
And just like that, one by one, their kids seemed to remove "Pitt" from their last name. During her sorority introduction, Zahara Jolie-Pitt introduced herself as "Zahara Marley Jolie," omitting "Pitt." Similarly, Shiloh has filed a legal petition to change her name, while Vivienne was credited for her work on the musical "The Outsiders" as just "Vivienne Jolie." Zahara's decision to stand with her mother after the divorce showcases her strength and resilience, as well as her dedication to fight against violence — which is what Brad has been accused of. "Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face," and he also "grabbed [Angelina] Jolie by the head and shook her," per the complaint (via Euro News). Having experienced this behavior firsthand undoubtedly shaped Zahara (and the rest of the Jolie kids), in part also by robbing them of their childhood naivety and innocence.
She has already worked in the entertainment industry
Even though it doesn't seem like Zahara Jolie-Pitt will follow in her parents' footsteps by becoming an actor (at least not for now), the young star has already worked in the industry. In fact, Zahara already has two major projects under her belt. In 2014, she had a very brief cameo in Disney's "Maleficent," which stars her mother as the infamous villain. Apart from Zahara, Angelina's daughter Vivienne and son Pax also had roles in the project.
In 2016, Zahara once again contributed to a project her mother was involved in — this time, it was the animated family hit "Kung Fu Panda 3." In it, Angelina Jolie voiced the Master Tigress, while Zahara lent her voice to Meng Meng. Once again, this was a family affair, with Pax, Knox, and Shiloh also lending their voices to characters. However, it seems as if Zahara and the rest of her siblings prefer minor projects here and there, as they haven't voiced that they want to become Hollywood stars. "None of my kids want to be actors," Angelina told People in 2019. "[They're into] business, humanitarian affairs, things like that." The Hollywood star has never forced a career in the industry on them, in fact Angelina has been open about simply being there for them without influencing their choices. "We're supposed to help them figure out who they are. And you can't figure out who they are if you don't enthusiastically develop with them," the actor told People in 2021.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt is multilingual
While there's no doubt that the children of Hollywood stars have access to the best education, it's safe to say that not all of them make the best of it. Angelina Jolie's children definitely don't fall into that group, as two of them have already decided to go to college, and even if they hadn't, their skills are already impressive. Having traveled the world from a young age and experienced different cultures certainly left a mark on all six of them, and it's surely one of the reasons they love learning foreign languages.
Apart from English, Zahara Jolie-Pitt also speaks Amharic, one of the languages spoken in Ethiopia. This, of course, allowed her to have closer ties with her home country and explore her heritage even more. In 2016, Angelina Jolie opened up about the languages her children are learning during her interview on "Women's Hour" by BBC Radio 4. "I asked them what languages they wanted to learn and (Shiloh) is learning Khmer, which is the Cambodian language, Pax is focusing on Vietnamese, Mad has taken to German and Russian, (Zahara) is speaking French, Vivienne really wanted to learn Arabic and Knox is learning sign language," the actor gushed. This means that as a teenager, Zahara was already fluent in three languages, and something tells us she isn't going to stop there.
She is big on humanitarian work
The older Zahara Jolie-Pitt has gotten, the clearer it is that she wants to do humanitarian work like her mother. In fact, Angelina Jolie has given her children a chance to see the world without hiding its suffering from them — allowing all of her children to learn about philanthropy. "They're better than me, because you want your children to be. Of course I'm the mother, and hopefully that safe place for them and that stability," Angelina told Vogue in 2023.
In her interview on "Women's Hour" by BBC, Angelina also revealed that her children learn a lot from personally meeting refugees. "I want them to meet people around the world and have so much admiration and respect for people suffering different realities and surviving them with such grace and dignity." Angelina added, "I just introduce my children to these people and these people are so extraordinary and these families are so wonderful and they've taught me so much and so, my children, I just bring them into this environment and they've asked to be in the environment."
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In 2022, Zahara accompanied her mother to Washington, D.C., where the Hollywood star met up with lawmakers in hopes of improving the protection of crime victims. "While in D.C. advocating on issues concerning abuse with those who've been affected, Zahara and I were glad to also celebrate love and the security the Respect for Marriage Act provides," Angelina told People. And while it's hard to tell what the future holds for Zahara Jolie-Pitt, it's safe to say that thanks to her mother, humanitarian work will always hold priority for her.