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“My daughter’s name is Ava…[like] Ava Gardner, because to me she was the only woman who could break Sinatra. So the idea of that name to me is very classy and strong,” actor Ryan Phillippe told Jay Leno of his daughter’s name. Ava Phillippe wasn’t just named for Hollywood royalty, however. As the child of Phillippe and Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, Ava is Hollywood royalty herself. But Ava isn’t content to coast on her parents’ fame and fortune. She is also a successful model, talented artist, and committed activist with a bright future of her own. 

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While most people may think of Ava Phillippe in the context of her famous parents, this college student is also making a name for herself thanks to her many gifts and talents -- not to mention her growing Instagram presence in excess of 750,000 followers. Read on to learn more about Ava Phillippe’s path from celebrity offspring to celebrity in her own right.

From Cruel Intentions to Happy Childhood

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Ava Phillippe was born in Santa Monica, California on September 9th, 1999. She is the firstborn child of Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon and actor Ryan Phillippe, who met and fell in love on the set of the movie, Cruel Intentions. The two divorced in 2008, after which they shared joint custody of Ava and her younger brother,  Deacon Reese Phillippe. Ava also has a younger half-brother, Tennessee, from her mother’s second marriage to talent agent Jim Toth, as well as a half-sister, Kailani, from Phillippe’s second marriage to Pitch Perfect actress Alexis Knapp. 

Witherspoon has publicly spoken about Ava’s special relationship with her siblings, especially Tennessee. She told Southern Living, “Ava is like another parent to Tennessee, like his other mother. I think sometimes he even gets confused -- he told Ava ‘Happy Mother’s Day!’”

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And despite the fact that her mother and father boast net worths of $120 million and $30 million, respectively,  Ava has not led the life of excess and luxury you might expect. In fact, she’s worked as a hostess at a local pizza restaurant during the summers because her parents believe that it builds character. And there’s no fancy car for Ava, either. She’s known for driving a Volkswagen Jetta. An insider told Us magazine, “She’s so down-to-earth. Even the nanny has a Lexus to drive, but Ava desperately wants to be unassuming.” 

Ava has also spent time volunteering at Malibu’s Camp Harmony, which works with underserved kids. “Ava doesn’t want to just be known as Reese’s daughter. She wants her own identity,” continued the source. 

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All the Makings of a Celebrity

Ava’s work ethic helped her lay claim to another accomplishment. Not only did she get into prestigious UC Berkeley, but she also landed a sponsored content deal with Amazon for its “Off to College” home decor campaign. Her first Instagram post for the campaign was “liked” by her mom, who commented, “Love your style!”  

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This support doesn’t mean her mother didn’t struggle with Ava leaving home. During a television appearance, she told Ellen Degeneres, “It’s hard. I might have gone into her empty room, laid down on her bed and cried when she went to college.” 

While Ava hasn’t shown signs of wanting to follow her parents into the acting business, she has enjoyed a successful career as a model. In addition to being the face of Draper James, her mother’s clothing and lifestyle brand, she’s also recently appeared in the Fall 2018 collection lookbook for Rodarte. She was in good company alongside Marvel stars Tessa Thompson and Danai Gurira. 

Ava has creative interests as well, including photography, sketching and clay sculpting. She often shares her work on social media and has earned a reputation as an influencer. Ava's dog, Pepper, has also made plenty of appearances on the social media site. 

While Ava is often hailed as her mother’s “mini-me,” she is following in her mom’s footsteps as an activist, as well. She has spoken out on behalf of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, and has also voiced her support for gun control. Following the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Ava posted on Instagram, “This is no isolated incident. I strongly believe that we need to talk more about how guns and a lack of mental healthcare accessibility factor into these tragedies. I believe [it] is an American responsibility to find a way to protect each other from this type of domestic terrorism and violence.”

Said mom Reese of Ava’s activism, meanwhile, “I think the way Ava and I are most alike is our strong opinions and our empathy. From the time that she could speak, Ava has always had her own ideas, and I love to watch her express herself...She also cares deeply about her family and the world around her. She frequently educates me on news stories and issues young women are facing.” 

And while Ava may officially be an adult, she’s not too old to show her parents some love. She recently posted a vintage-looking photo of her mom on Instagram with the caption, “This is the gorgeous woman who taught me about the power of graciousness, love, ambition, and hard work. She inspires me every day to live with gratitude for the life I’ve been given and compassion for others.”  

Ava has also shown gratitude for her dad, as well. “Happy Father's Day to the most artistic, intelligent, versatile, and all-around awesome guy in my life. You’ve always loved and supported me in whatever weirdness that comes, and I’m so lucky to have a dad like you," she captioned a post earlier this year. Whether Ava Phillippe opts to follow in the footsteps of her famous parents or go in another direction completely, one thing is for certain: the future is bright for this smart and driven young celeb.