There’s no denying that the world is obsessed with celebrity kids—maybe it’s the thousands of dollars of designer clothes adorning their bodies, the fact that they’re hounded by the paparazzi 24/7, or their exclusive A-list inner circle. Suri Cruise is one of those celebrity kids, and she’s been a household name since she was born in 2006.
Her mom, Katie Holmes, has tried to keep her life private, and so does Suri—to this day, she doesn’t have a verified social media account. Here’s how she’s transformed over the years, from her parents’ tumultuous whirlwind romance and divorce to her ties with Scientology.
Her birth was “spiritual” and “powerful
Born on April 18, 2006, to the iconic “TomKat,” her name was chosen because it means “red rose.” In an interview days after her birth, Cruise said, “It was spiritual. It was powerful. It was indescribable. What words can you use? It’s still something that I’m processing and keep reliving.”
The guest of honor at her parents’ wedding
Her parents wed on November 18, 2006, at a star-studded party in a 15th-century castle in Rome with the musical guest Andrea Bocelli and multiple Armani dresses. Despite the star-studded guest list, Suri stole the show, with Katie carrying the 7-month-old as the couple arrived at the castle.
Before she could walk, she was setting trends
Her parents have been icons in the tabloid, and as a result, so has Suri. Photographed at family outings and red-carpet events, Suri became a style icon by the age of 5, when she had a nearly $3.2 million wardrobe, including looks by Dolce & Gabbana and Ferragamo. She was the center of the “Suri Cruise Effect,” where parents were influenced by her chic looks and spent big bucks to replicate them for their own kids.
She was changed forever after her parents’ divorce
After Katie Holmes filed for divorce, Suri Cruise’s parents split for good in 2012. Holmes got primary custody over Suri, and Cruise had visitation rights. She didn’t get spousal support, but Suri did get $400,000 in child support every year, and her dad has to pay for her expenses.
Suri has a complicated, confusing relationship with Tom Cruise
Her couch-jumping father has been in the spotlight for a long time, but the couple hasn’t been seen together since they visited Disneyland in 2012. He has the right to see her for up to ten days a month, but chose not to since his daughter and ex don’t support the Church of Scientology anymore after the divorce. As of 2014, he hadn’t seen Suri in 1,000 days, and they’re still estranged.
Suri is very close to her mother, Katie Holmes
With Katie Holmes raising Suri as a single mom, she moved her daughter from California to NYC, where she attended the exclusive private school Avenues. Holmes has described new single mom life as “intense” but said that she made a lot of friends in New York—the two are often seen in public photos showcasing their close relationship, and they’re often each other’s plus-ones at public events. The two also like to work out together and attend yoga classes.
Suri Cruise is dubbed ‘one of Hollywood’s most iconic teens,’ but her mom treats her like a regular kid
She earned this moniker in 2019 as soon as she turned 13. From her gorgeous sense of style to her confident demeanor, her mother has raised her to be down-to-earth and hardworking, helping out people in need and practicing acts of kindness daily. While the media positions her as glamorous, her mom treats her like a regular teen to instill the right values.
Suri and Katie Cruise quarantined together during the pandemic
The duo was in NYC at the start of the pandemic, and quarantined in their New York home during lockdown, staying safe and growing their bond together. She told “Entertainment Tonight, “This lockdown has had a lot of silver linings. It was a beautiful moment. I think when you have less, you are more creative.”
The streets of NYC are Suri’s runway, and she’s looking more like her mom each day
Today, at 19 years old, she’s looking more and more like her mother but is earning her own reputation as a Gen-Z style icon, remixing her mom’s classic looks like Converse sneakers, flared jeans, and floral midi skirts but reinventing the look with her own twist on early 2000s trends. Despite wanting to carve out her own identity, it’s undeniable that Suri is a mini-me of her mom with the same sweet smile and long brown hair (though she has solid green eyes rather than her mom’s hazel).
She is reportedly studying fashion
After high school, Suri Cruise headed off to Carnegie Mellon University, where she is reportedly studying fashion. According to Holmes, Suri was giving her fashion advice at age four, telling her what shoes or pants to wear, and telling Elle her daughter had a “great eye” from a young age. Maybe she was inspired by her mom, who regularly attends fashion week shows and even co-founded her own clothing brand, Holmes & Yang, in 2008.
She’s been in two of her mom’s films
Of course, being mother and daughter besties, Suri would eventually show up in her mom’s work projects. The movie Alone Together featured her song “Blue Moon” in its credits. Suri’s vocals were also featured in the movie Rare Objects, which was dedicated to Suri.