Mia Hewitt, the 20-year-old eldest daughter of tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt and actress Bec Hewitt, has given a remarkably candid interview about the realities of growing up under intense public scrutiny. The musician, who is now forging her own path as the lead singer of folk band Father's Favourite, revealed she deliberately avoided the spotlight for years to carve out her own identity away from her famous surname.
A Childhood Shaped by Travel and Cameras
Mia, born in 2005, has been in the public eye since birth, alongside her younger siblings Cruz, 17, and Ava, 15. She told Stellar magazine, where she now graces the cover in a solo shoot, that her parents worked tirelessly to shield their children from media attention. "I did a few photo shoots when I was a kid, mainly with my parents. But this is the first time I've done anything like this by myself," she explained.
Her childhood was defined by constant international travel due to her father's tennis career, which she said fostered an incredibly close-knit family unit but also heightened their awareness of being watched. "We were each other's world for so long, because we were travelling all the time. That closeness keeps you grounded. My siblings are my best friends," Mia shared. "We grew up a little bit more aware there were more cameras around us than the average kid."
Stepping Out of the Shadow and Into Music
After living in the Bahamas and Melbourne, Mia is now based in Sydney with her boyfriend and has fully embraced her passion for music. She records and performs with her band, Father’s Favourite, alongside her best friend Chèrise Combrink. "Music has always been my constant," she stated. "I have always, deep down, wanted to do that – but I didn't have the confidence."
She admitted to a period of being homeschooled where she "retreated into my shell," but finding a creative community gave her the boost she needed. Her musical inspirations are rooted in the 60s and 70s, with Stevie Nicks as a major influence. "Anything early rock 'n' roll has my heart," she said, adding that performing live is now the highlight for her.
Addressing the 'Nepo Baby' Question Head-On
When confronted with the 'nepo baby' label—a term for children of celebrities benefiting from their parents' fame—Mia was pragmatic. "It just kind of is what it is," she said. "I can't say no, I'm not. Because of my parents, I know people. I'm the first to admit that."
However, she balances her creative pursuits with a regular retail job, a duality her friends humorously call "the Hannah Montana life—the best of both worlds." In a further connection to her family's legacy, Mia has also worked casually for 1.5 years as a wardrobe assistant on Home and Away, the iconic Australian soap that made her mother, Bec, a household name for playing Hayley Smith Lawson from 1998 to 2005.
Reflecting on the surreal aspect of fame, Mia noted the disconnect between public perception and personal reality. "People feel like they know you, and they essentially don't. If you're in it from a younger age they just kind of see you as one thing," she observed. "And it's hard, because they're not seeing the actual evolution of you, as a person. Just the image." Now, through her music and her own choices, Mia Hewitt is determined to show the world exactly who she is evolving into.
