On Raising a Girl & Building Legacy
By Chloe Beaufoy
There are moments when celebrity becomes secondary to substance, when what captivates us is not the fame but the values that quietly shape a life. Salma Hayek has long been one of those women. An acclaimed actress, producer, and humanitarian, she has built a career defined not only by talent but by courage, cultural pride, and conviction. Yet her most meaningful story unfolds away from the spotlight, in her role as a mother to Valentina Pinault.
In this intimate feature, we explore not the glamour but the grounding, the ways in which a global icon passes down strength, empathy, and self-worth to a daughter growing up in a world still learning how to see women fully. Valentina, wise beyond her years, mirrors her mother’s quiet fire, curious, self-assured, and aware of both the privilege and the responsibility of her platform.
Together, they represent a powerful dialogue between generations, one rooted in love, legacy, and the evolving meaning of womanhood. For mothers and fathers raising girls today, Salma and Valentina’s story offers more than inspiration; it offers perspective. It reminds us that raising a girl is not about shaping her into perfection, but about giving her the freedom to define herself, her beauty, and her values.
Because legacy, as Salma teaches through every chapter of her journey, is not built in what we leave behind, but in who we raise and how we teach them to stand tall in a world that often tells them to shrink.
“Raising a daughter is not about giving her the world. It is about helping her build one that feels like her own.”
Hollywood Career & Activism
Salma Hayek Pinault (born 1966) is a Mexican–American actress, director and producer who has made history in Hollywood. She got her start in Mexican telenovelas (notably Teresa, 1989–91) and broke into U.S. cinema with roles in Desperado (1995) and Dogma (1999). In 2002 she produced and starred as Frida Kahlo in Frida, becoming the first Mexican actress ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Hayek later founded her own production company, executive‑producing the hit ABC series Ugly Betty (2006–2010) and appearing in major comedies and action films. Over decades her influence grew: media outlets repeatedly cite her as one of Hollywood’s most powerful Latinas, and Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023. In 2013 she co‑founded the global women’s advocacy movement Chime for Change to fund girls’ education and health. Today, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and dozens of credits to her name, Salma has a platform she wields for social causes, a platform she is consciously using to model and pass on values to her own daughter.
Embracing Motherhood Later in Life
Hayek did not become a mother until age 41, a decision she says was driven by finding “the partner of my life” and feeling ready on her own timetable. “Motherhood is not for everyone. It is for me, but there’s no reason women should feel rushed to have a child,” she told Marie Claire, pushing back against societal pressure to start a family.
Hayek’s outlook is shaped by her dual heritage, she calls herself a “Mexican Lebanese mother” and jokes that “we like [our kids] close” but also by a deep commitment to her career and causes. In interviews she emphasizes that having a child did not mean giving up her passions: her husband urged her to return to work when their baby was just over a year old, knowing Salma would “miss” acting and creativity. She notes that by the time Valentina arrived, she had already “done many things in my life … that I was very proud of.”
Hayek openly embraces motherhood as a choice and a source of joy. She says she never has been apart from Valentina for more than a week and “I like being a mother,” she told The Guardian. At the same time, she acknowledges the work it entails: “Being a mother is more exhausting than working,” she admits, and laughs that she sometimes pushes herself too hard. She also speaks candidly about the double standards faced by moms, noting that society unfairly demands women be “beautiful, smart, skinny, tall, rich, successful… and have genius children” all at once. In short, Salma tries to shield Valentina from those pressures while setting an example of following one’s own path. She often frames her role as a mother in empowering terms, calling herself a feminist “because I love women and I am ready to fight for women… I am proud to be a woman” and she hopes to inspire Valentina to say who she is and pursue her passions.
Valentina Paloma Pinault: The Teenager
Valentina Paloma Pinault (born Sept. 21, 2007) is Salma’s only child, born to Salma and French business magnate François‑Henri Pinault. Described as a mini-me of her mother, Valentina has the same dark hair and striking eyes, and a tall, model‑like figure. Even as a young teen she has shown clear interests and talents. In a 2022 interview with Vogue México (where they posed together on the cover), Valentina said she “would like to be an actress and then a director,” reasoning that having acting experience “must be more difficult to direct if you don’t have experience on the other side of the screen.” Salma has encouraged her to explore film and, as she told Good Morning America, said that once Valentina has her own rhythm she will choose projects accordingly.
Valentina is also a budding beauty and fashion enthusiast. Her mother playfully notes that they fight over clothes (“she takes everything from my closet,” Hayek quipped in 2022). Salma repeatedly praises Valentina’s knowledge: “That one knows everything,” she told People, referring to her daughter’s expertise in skin, hair and makeup products. Valentina herself says she “loves makeup… but I don’t do it to be very pretty or to remove imperfections,” pointing out that her dark circles are her own and that she likes to play with lots of colors. She also dresses with independence, favoring vintage and things she truly likes rather than chasing labels. In short, Valentina is growing up as a confident, creative teen, bold enough to wrap herself in her mom’s arms at an Oasis concert and enjoy every minute.
The Mother–Daughter Bond
Salma makes careful choices about Valentina’s public profile. For many years she kept her daughter out of the spotlight, but in recent years the two have made memorable joint appearances. In 2022 they co-starred in a Vogue México photo shoot (Salma on the cover with 14-year-old Valentina). They arrived as a duo at award shows, famously matching in red gowns on the 2023 Oscars red carpet, and Salma treats Valentina as her best date. After one Eternals premiere she even Instagrammed, “Best Eternals premiere date ever!” about Valentina’s company. Salma regularly shares affectionate social-media tributes. On Valentina’s 17th birthday she wrote, “She makes me laugh all day, teaches me so many things… I love you sooooooooo much mi Vale.” A year later on Valentina’s 18th birthday she posted another loving message, calling her daughter her “dream” and praising her “kind passionate heart,” “wise soul,” and “unstoppable force of nature.”
These snapshots of their life, matching outfits and shared passions shows a genuine closeness. In September 2025 Salma even posted a fan video from an Oasis concert: in the clip 17-year-old Valentina wraps her arms around her mother as they sway to “Wonderwall,” prompting Salma to joke, “My inner rockstar was very happy this weekend.” It’s a reminder that beyond the fame, Salma and Valentina are simply mother and daughter, affectionate, playful, and proud of each other.
Building a Legacy of Empowerment
Salma Hayek is intentional about the legacy she passes down. She has said she was inspired by her own parents (her father is Lebanese-Mexican, her mother Spanish-Mexican) to fight for women’s justice worldwide, and she clearly wants to instill that ethic in Valentina. A self-described feminist, Salma openly tells her daughter that every girl can be anything she wants: she has urged women to own their choices and take pride in themselves. Culturally, Salma maintains her Mexican roots, still calling Valentina to check if she’s eaten or slept, quipping that “a Mexican mom is a Mexican mom, no matter where you are” while also embracing their international life. In interviews Salma says she loves sharing the world with Valentina, whether it’s books, art, music or travel, so that her daughter forms her own identity.
As Valentina nears adulthood, Hayek looks forward to the next chapter: the “empty nest” phase will let her devote more time to community and craft, but she will always be a mother first. Today, Salma’s greatest achievement is raising her daughter with confidence and compassion “my baby… my dream daughter,” as she has written. In doing so, she is building a two‐generation legacy: one of creativity and success on screen, and one of empowerment, resilience and cultural pride at home. Valentina grows up seeing firsthand what her mother has fought for, ensuring that Salma’s influence will live on in the values she passes to her daughter.
