Who is Julez Smith? Get to Know Beyoncé’s Nephew Modeling at NYFW
Julez Smith may be known as Beyoncé’s nephew for now, but the model is set to steal the fashion spotlight after debuting at New York Fashion Week.
There’s no denying that everyone and their parents and grandparents know who Beyoncé is—she is at the center of our generation's pop culture, after all. But she’s not the only notable talent in her family. Her sister, singer-songwriter Solange Knowles, is also a force to be reckoned with in her own right. Yet, there’s a new rising star in the family: Julez Smith.
Smith grew up in the public eye, but he has been relatively private until now. The only son of Solange and ex-husband Daniel Smith, Smith made his modeling debut at the Luar Fall/Winter 2024 show during New York Fashion Week. With Queen Bey, Solange, and his grandma, Tina Knowles, supporting him in the front row, the 19-year-old model wore an oversized black leather trench coat, matching pants, and oversized fur gloves as he strutted down the runway.
Early Life
While he only recently started gaining traction in the modeling industry, Julez Smith actually had his first modeling job when he was only three years old. He was the face of Baby Jamz, a line of toys created by Music World Entertainment, a label founded by none other than his grandfather, Matthew Knowles.
With his family in the spotlight, it’s understandable why Smith has kept a low profile. However, he has made a few public appearances over the years. In 2007, a two-year-old Smith attended MTV’s TRL taping at the MTV Studios in New York City.
In 2011, Julez Smith got a taste of his first exposure to fashion. A just six years old, he joined his mother at the Open House Gallery, where I.N.C International Concepts Clothing, a line by Macy’s, announced Anna Della Russo as its new guest editor-at-large. Earlier that year, Smith also attended the Billboard Music Awards to support his aunt as she received the Millennial Award. A few years later, he was seen attending a party celebrating Solange’s partnership with the 14+ Foundation.
Projects & Interests
Smith wasn’t always interested in modeling. When he was 14, he said in an interview with 97.9 The Box that he spent most of his time playing basketball. “That’s my life like that’s all I do, basketball and school,” Smith noted.
Despite his career path, Julez Smith maintains his privacy and is virtually inactive on social media. He currently only has two posts on his Instagram account, the first from October 2023, which were photographs of him modeling three different looks for Heliot Emil. His second post features photos from the world premiere of Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé.
But just because he has family connections doesn’t mean Smith hasn’t earned his right into the modeling world. As the fashion industry awaits to see where his career will take him, based on the few jobs he’s done so far, he’s forging his own path to success. He's still technically in the entertainment business, but as opposed to his family, he’s diverging from the music industry.
But who knows? You can do both. We’ll just have to wait and see. After all, Smith said in a radio interview that one of his hobbies is making music. “I produce a little bit. I make beats. So it’s something I find fun. I don’t really think I would take it that far, but you know, as a side job,” Smith said. “But it’s fun, though. I like producing,” he added. So, never say never.
