How hard is it to make it in Hollywood? Social media will have you thinking it’s easy — but only if your parents have their own stars on the Walk of Fame. 

The term “nepo baby,” short for “nepotism baby,” refers to a person who has parents who are either famous in their own right, or are industry insiders with connections to give their children a leg up in their careers.

 This concept has recently been at the center of social media discussions, but nepotism in the entertainment industry is nothing new. 

Many of the top models, actors, singers and other celebrities come from famous and influential families — Bella and Gigi Hadid, Hailey Bieber and the Kardashian-Jenners are some of the most well-known examples, all of whom have been accused of boosting their fame through familial connections.

“I doubt Kendall Jenner would be one of the world’s top models if she weren’t part of the very famous Kardashian-Jenner family,” Palo Alto High School sophomore Hannah Abrams said. “Having connections and access to resources benefits any individual. I believe that a portion of a nepotism baby’s success can always be attributed to their inherited wealth and fame, which makes me feel like they are less deserving of their success.”

The nepotism debate in Hollywood is relevant in Palo Alto due to the prevalence of legacy students, as well as students who have benefitted from their parents’ jobs or statuses.

According to an anonymous opt-in survey of 175 Paly students, 47.7% of respondents reported that their family’s careers or statuses have given them an advantage when looking for jobs or internships.  

Isabella, a sophomore whose name has been changed to protect her privacy, has legacy at Stanford because her mom attended the university. She said that legacy shouldn’t be a factor in college admissions, despite the fact that Stanford heavily values legacy. 

For Stanford’s undergraduate Class of 2023, the acceptance rate for legacy students and children of donors was 16.2% while their overall acceptance rate was only 4.34%, according to data from Stanford’s 2020 annual admissions report.

“Being a legacy is definitely comparable to nepotism,” Isabella said. “Letting someone into a school, regardless of their own achievements, as a reward to their family seems really unfair and incredibly biased. I think people should get into colleges based on who they are, not who their parents are.” 

Sophomore Riley, whose name has been changed to protect their privacy, is a legacy of Harvard University and the University of Rochester, and shares Isabella’s perspective that legacy students should not be given an advantage.

“I think it [legacy] can be looked at as an insight into more of them [parents] as people,” Riley said. “I don’t think it should be a big thing at all. And yes, they [legacy and nepotism] are completely comparable. I’m a giant nepo baby.”