Salma Hayek’s 19-year-old daughter, Valentina Pinault, is facing backlash over her glamorous new Tatler cover, with some social media users branding her a “nepo baby” and questioning whether she deserves the spotlight. Check out the cover here.
Valentina, whom Salma shares with her husband, François-Henri Pinault, has been accompanying her famous parents on the red carpet for a while now, seemingly dipping her toe into their world. And the 60-year-old Oscar-nominated actress couldn’t have been prouder to see her daughter on the cover of Tatler, even if many people on social media didn’t quite feel the same way. Find out more about the cover and the reactions below.
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Salma Hayek Gushes Over Daughter Valentina's 'Tatler' Cover
Valentina appears on the cover of Tatler's December issue alongside English rugby player Henry Pollock, who, unlike Valentina, doesn't have famous parents. The pair jointly top the magazine's Little Black Book list of Britain's 200 most eligible young people, hence why they were chosen to share the cover.
Valentina is wearing a figure-hugging, long-sleeved gold Gucci gown, with her long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders. She stares directly into the camera, resting one hand on Pollock, who is crouching down and looking dapper in a black suit and white shirt. The glamorous cover is just one of several high-fashion looks Valentina models for the magazine, with the accompanying photoshoot also featuring pieces from luxury fashion houses Saint Laurent and Balenciaga.
While this is a huge moment for the teenager, it isn't actually her first magazine cover. She previously appeared alongside her famous mother on the cover of Vogue Mexico & Latin America back in 2022. That didn't stop the House of Gucci star from gushing over her daughter's latest cover on Instagram on Friday, October 23rd, when she wrote: "Ladies and gentleman, the baby that came out of my womb!"
She continued: "Now this gorgeous goddess is on the cover of @tatlermagazine. What makes me the proudest about you Valentina is that you are kind, thoughtful, caring, hilarious and so much fun to be around."
Social Media Users Slam Valentina Pinault As A 'Nepo Baby'
Not everyone shared the Frida alum's enthusiasm, though, as there was plenty of shade on social media about whether "nepo baby" Valentina had earned her place on the cover, particularly alongside Pollock, who has made a name for himself through his rugby career. Some comments also took aim at Valentina's appearance.
"Goddess is a bit of a stretch," wrote one Reddit user, seemingly in reference to Salma's glowing description of her daughter. "Goddess, I think not. Looks pretty average. Salma Hayek in her prime was a goddess," agreed a second. "Mom is 1000% hotter," bluntly commented a third.
"I wouldn't go as far as goddess but hey – a mom's gotta mom…" wrote a fourth. "Valentina is not a 'goddess' she is Francois in a wig," remarked a fifth, as a sixth added: "She looks like an average young woman."
Others focused more on Valentina's famous parents and the opportunities that come with being a so-called nepo baby. "NepoBaby get pre-fabricated life privileges," wrote a seventh. "Hey, new nepo baby just dropped!" quipped an eighth.
And the criticism wasn't confined to Reddit, as Instagram users also questioned whether Valentina had earned her place on the cover. "And how good that her mom is rich and her dad is a billionaire, because she who can, can," wrote one Instagram user. "Hollywood is built on nepo babies," remarked a second.
"Can we stop with admiration of nepo babies? They have done zero to deserve the spotlight that would have gone to others who worked hard to move up and accomplish something. Nicole Kidman's daughter on the cover of German Vogue? Kylie Jenner wearing the ultimate VS prize?" asked a third, referencing other famous offspring.
"The amount of money her parents paid for her to be there sad," claimed a fourth. "When Daddy's a billionaire, you can buy ANY career precious princess wants!" exclaimed a fifth.
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"Giving magazine covers to people just because they have famous, talented parents is well… Aren't we over this?" asked a sixth, as a seventh critic said: "Explain what the girl has accomplished? I'll wait." "Money matters," quipped an eighth, followed by a crying-laughing emoji.
Others were quick to point out that Pollock's place on the cover shouldn't be attributed to nepotism. "Henry Pollock is a rugby player who plays for the England Team, he has worked hard to get to that level. I'm not an England fan but credit where it's due, he is definitely not a nepo baby!" a ninth clarified.
A tenth agreed: "Henry Pollock is most certainly not a nepo baby. He's one of the most talented young rugby stars coming out of England and his parents are certainly not from any sort of fame/money or notoriety."
Of course, there were also plenty of people who simply wanted to praise Valentina's glamorous appearance. "She's gorgeous!" praised an eleventh. "Look at her! So so gorgeous and classy," gushed a twelfth. "Beautiful like her mama," added a thirteenth, followed by a heart-eyes emoji.
