Angelina Jolie’s daughter Zahara offered rare public remarks about her close bond with her famous mother during an emotional speech this week—while making no mention of her estranged father, Brad Pitt.
The 21-year-old college student spoke at a mother-daughter brunch hosted by the Pearls of Purpose Foundation and the Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Spelman College in Atlanta. In a video shared online, Zahara praised her relationship with Jolie, describing it as unique, deeply connected, and difficult to fully capture in words.
Zahara, who now goes by Zahara Marley Jolie after dropping Pitt from her surname in 2023, is currently a senior at Spelman College, where she is studying psychology and minoring in educational studies.
During her speech, she reflected on being adopted at six months old and said she was welcomed into a loving family, surrounded by supportive siblings and a mother who raised them with values centered on kindness, helping others, and personal growth. She said those lessons have been especially meaningful in a world where compassion can often be overlooked.
She described Angelina Jolie as selfless, loving, and understanding, adding that she still admires how her mother manages both family life and public responsibilities. Zahara also acknowledged the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, saying it can be difficult to preserve intimate family moments under constant public attention.
Even so, she said Jolie has always remained engaged in her life, taking interest in her academic journey, extracurricular activities, and personal development. Zahara added that her family has embraced the organizations and leadership opportunities important to her during college.
She also credited her mother’s humanitarian work as a major influence on her own outlook and leadership ambitions. Zahara noted that caring for her younger siblings allowed her to mirror the compassion she witnessed from Jolie at home.
Now serving as vice president of her sorority chapter, Zahara said mentorship and positive role models have shaped her path. She closed her remarks by quoting, “I am a strong woman because a strong woman raised me,” before thanking her mother directly.
Zahara is one of six children shared by Jolie and Brad Pitt. The former couple separated in 2016, and several of their children have since chosen to remove Pitt’s surname amid ongoing family tensions.
