Frances Bean Cobain, daughter of legendary ’90s rock couple Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, celebrates her 30th birthday today. Born in August 1992, Cobain hadn’t yet reached her second birthday at the time of her father’s tragic suicide in April 1994. With the Nirvana frontman gone and Love battling drug addiction, losing all custody rights after being arrested in 2003, the only daughter of the Nirvana and Hole singers was primarily raised by her extended family.
Despite being the child of two of music and pop culture’s most famous individuals, Cobain has managed to keep a relatively low profile most of her life. After attending college in New York, she pursued careers in modeling and art and has since modeled for Elle UK and Marc Jacobs, in addition to interning at Rolling Stone and executive producing a 2015 HBO documentary about her father’s life. She’s also amassed 1.5 million followers on Instagram, despite posting just a few times a year.
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At 30 years old, Cobain has rekindled her relationship with Love, been married and divorced, is currently dating Tony Hawk’s son, Riley, controls the publicity rights to her father’s name and owns 37% of his estate, and has been sober since 2016 after her own struggles with addiction. In an Instagram post reflecting on entering a new decade of her life, Cobain says she hopes “to stay soft no matter how hardening the world can feel at times, bask in the present moment with reverence, shower the people I am lucky enough to love with more appreciation than words could ever do justice & hold space to keep learning, so the growth never stops.”
In honor of the illusive and ethereal Cobain on the day of her 30th decade, here’s a look back at her life thus far in photos.
Frances Bean Held By Her Father, Surrounded by Nirvana Members
Frances Bean Cobain made her first MTV appearance at the 1993 Video Music Awards. Held by her father and surrounded by his Nirvana bandmates, Cobain hadn’t yet reached her first birthday.
Courtney Love Holding Frances Bean & Kurt Cobain’s Hand
Another snap from the ’93 MTV VMAs, Courtney Love is carrying baby Cobain on her hip, walking hand-in-hand with Kurt Cobain in his iconic red sunglasses as he holds a baby bottle in his other hand.
Courtney Love and Frances Bean on the Red Carpet
Kept out of the spotlight for much of her childhood, nine-year-old Cobain made a rare red carpet appearance with her mother in 2001 for the premiere of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
Mother-Daughter Date at ‘American Idol’ Finale
At 13 years old, Cobain made another red carpet appearance with Love, this time at American Idol’s season four finale.
Love and Cobain at ‘Aquamarine’ Premiere
Love and Cobain continued their tradition of attending movie premieres together in 2006, this time at the premiere of Aquamarine.
Cobain Smiling With Emma Roberts
While at the mermaid movie premiere, Cobain also posed for a photo with Emma Roberts, who starred alongside JoJo and Sara Paxton as the film’s leading ladies.
Frances at Fashion Week
A month after the Aquamarine premiere, Love attended a Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week event at Smashbox Studios, Cobain in tow. With her shoulder-length tresses, Cobain looks strikingly similar to her late father.
More Fashion Fun for Frances
Arm-in-arm with her mother again, Cobain was photographed with Love at the Trunk Show for Claire LaFaye that same year.
Love and Cobain at the Billboard Music Awards
Donning auburn-dyed locks, Cobain attended the 2006 Billboard Music Awards with Love. Each holding a Hello Kitty-branded guitar, the mother-daughter duo looks happy and wholesome as ever.
Coordinating Outfits at a Versace Event
Clearly fond of attending fashion events with her mom, Cobain walked the red carpet at a 2007 Versace event with Love, the two wearing similarly-cut gowns.
Teen Vogue Party with Tallulah Willis
With even fierier tresses tucked beneath a fedora, Cobain attended the 2007 Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party with Tallulah Willis, one of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s daughters.
Cobain is Another Teen for ‘Twilight’
Having fun with her hair again, Cobain attended the 2007 Twilight movie premiere with locks as black as Alice Cullen’s.
Mother-Daughter Dinner Party Date
Two years later at 17-years-old, Cobain was back to auburn hair at a dinner party in New York City, which she attended with Love.
Cobain Hits the Art Scene
Embracing her love for art, Cobain attended the Kohn Gallery grand opening and inaugural exhibition with a group of friends in 2014.
Spotted With Silva
Cobain was spotted holding hands with Isaiah Silva at the Los Angeles International Airport in 2015. The couple, who had been dating for five years, got married the previous summer. The two would divorce the following year.
Looking Sunny at Sundance
Cobain and Love embraced on the red carpet at the premiere of Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, a documentary Cobain executive produced about her father’s life, during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
Cobain & Love on the Red Carpet Again
Attending another premiere for Montage of Heck, this time in Hollywood, Cobain looks like a vampiress with her black hair, pale skin, and grungy lipstick.
Flying Solo at Fashion Week
Continuing her childhood love for fashion events, Cobain attended the Gareth Pugh Runway Show during 2017’s London Fashion Week.
Cobain, Bella Hadid, & Stella Maxwell at Fashion Week Party
At another London Fashion Week event, Cobain was photographed as she dined with models Bella Hadid and Stella Maxwell.
Selfies with Dave Navarro
At a launch party for Cassandra Peterson’s Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Dave Navarro, guitarist for Jane’s Addiction, shot a selfie alongside Cobain.
Passion for Fashion
Cobain was photographed at the 2017 Marc Jacobs Fall Fashion Show wearing a sheer Victorian-style dress with feathery sleeves. Her pale skin, round eyes, and deep lipstick pair perfectly with the vibe of her dress, giving the effect of a Victorian doll.
Looking Cute at Candy Crush Event
With her then-boyfriend, Matthew Cook, Cobain posed for a photo at a 2017 Moschino Candy Crush Desert Party during Coachella.
Magnificent at the Met Gala
Cobain attended the 2017 Met Gala, looking ethereal in a feathery, floor-length gown and vibrant pink lipstick.
Mother-Daughter Makeup Moment
In attendance with her mother, Cobain helped Love fix her makeup on the Met Gala stairs. Love, looking regal as ever, wore her hair in Old Hollywood-style waves paired with a glittering black gown and a smokey eye to match.
Frances for Flower Power
Attending a Paris Fashion Week event with her mom in 2018, Cobain rocked a floral pantsuit and coordinating lipstick.
Caught With Cook
In February 2018, Cobain was caught walking hand-in-hand through LAX with Cook. They pair broke up later that year.
Another Mother-Daughter Event Date
Cobain and Love attended the Other Peoples Children launch and store opening in Los Angeles in 2018, looking happy as they posed for a photo togther.
Pretty in Pink at Fashion Los Angeles Awards
Well known at this point for changing the color of her hair, Cobain showed up to The Daily Row’s Fashion Los Angeles Awards with pink tresses to match her lipstick.
Looking Chic in Streetwear
Appearing this time with blonde ombre-ed hair, Cobain was photographed at the Moschino x H&M runway show in NYC.
More Moschino
A year later, Cobain donned short hair and a flirty ensemble at the Moschino Spring/Summer Menswear and Women’s Resort Collection show at Universal Studios Hollywood. She attended the event with Nikia Provenzano.
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