Television personality Nicole Richie has publicly addressed the revelation that her eldest daughter is now using her middle name, a change that came to light as the teenager celebrated her 18th birthday.
A Birthday Reveal
The 44-year-old star, famed for her role in The Simple Life, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram to mark her daughter's milestone. She posted a carousel of nostalgic photos, charting her child's growth from infancy to adulthood. However, fans quickly noticed that when Richie tagged the birthday girl, she used the handle @katemaddennn, not Harlow.
This confirmed that the teen, whose full name is Harlow Winter Kate Madden, is now going by Kate. The social media post was captioned, '18 years of you @katemaddennn,' followed by heart and cake emojis. Richie also shared a separate story featuring a recent photo of Kate sporting a dramatic new jet-black hairstyle, a stark contrast to her previous honey-blonde locks.
"She Has Her Whole Life"
When questioned by People magazine about the noticeable shift, Richie offered a simple explanation. "Yeah, she goes by her middle name," she stated on Wednesday. "She has her whole life." The celebrity mother admitted she hadn't scrutinised the online reaction to the name change in her comments section, but acknowledged it was understandable that followers had picked up on it.
The birthday wishes attracted attention from other family members too. Kate's father, Good Charlotte vocalist Joel Madden, commented, 'That's my girl ❤️✨.' Her uncle, Benji Madden, who is married to Cameron Diaz, also shared an emotional message celebrating his niece.
Embracing the Teenage Years
Richie, who also shares a 16-year-old son named Sparrow with her husband, has often spoken candidly about the joys and challenges of parenting teenagers. In a 2024 interview with Glamour, she expressed a deep sense of empathy for this life stage. "I just so clearly remember what it's like to be a teenager. It feels like it happened yesterday for me," she said.
She emphasised a parenting philosophy built on transparency about her own past, hoping it fosters honesty in return. "I didn't want my kids having some big discovery about me," Richie explained. She has even told Today that raising teenagers is her "favourite stage" of parenting so far, enjoying the ability to vividly recall and relate to their experiences.
Beyond family life, Richie remains active in entertainment. She recently reunited with Paris Hilton for Paris & Nicole: The Encore and starred in the 2024 remake of Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead. Reflecting on her current chapter, she told Interview Magazine that being in her 40s is "the absolute most fun decade."
