A Heartfelt Tribute from Zahara Jolie to Her Mother
At a recent event held at Spelman College, Angelina Jolie’s daughter, Zahara Jolie, delivered a heartfelt speech that touched the hearts of everyone in attendance. The 21-year-old student took to the stage alongside her 50-year-old mother, sharing her thoughts on the unique and profound bond between a mother and daughter.
Zahara described her mother as “the most selfless, loving and understanding woman” and proudly referred to her as “mum.” In a video shared on Facebook, she admitted that speaking about the value of mother-daughter relationships was challenging for her. However, it wasn’t because she didn’t value the relationship—it was because her connection with her mother was so special and hard to put into words.
She explained that she was adopted by Jolie from Ethiopia when she was just six months old in July 2005. Since then, she has been raised alongside her five siblings, learning the importance of helping others, being kind, and striving for personal growth. These values may seem simple, but in a world where kindness is often overlooked, Zahara expressed gratitude for having a role model like her mother to show her what it means to be a decent human being.
Her speech concluded with a powerful quote: “I’m a strong woman because a strong woman raised me,” before turning to look at her mother and saying, “Thank you, Mum.”
The event was hosted by the Pearls of Purpose Foundation and the Nu Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Zahara’s Atlanta-based college. Angelina Jolie also spoke at the luncheon, expressing her gratitude to the foundation and sorority for honoring her and her daughter.
“I thank you for supporting brilliant young minds and for hosting this mother-daughter luncheon and for taking the time to celebrate this very special bond and one of life’s most beautiful relationships,” Jolie said, according to a clip shared on X.
Jolie has six children: Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 19, and 17-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox, with her ex-husband Brad Pitt. She adopted Maddox from an orphanage in Cambodia in 2002 and Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005, after which Pitt also adopted them.
The couple welcomed their daughter Shiloh in 2006, and later adopted son Pax from Vietnam. In 2008, Vivienne and Knox were born to the couple.
In recent years, there have been rumors of a strained relationship with their father, and many of the children have dropped the surname “Pitt” from their names. This shift reflects their desire to forge their own identities while still honoring their roots.
