I have no idea what’s right or wrong in this scenario, so it makes an appropriate topic for an ethics quiz. The realm is high fashion and modeling. There are few things I know less about than those subjects. I’m kinda weak on metallurgy and thoracic surgery too.
That’s Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s daughter, Sunday Rose, above. The teen recently became the object of vicious social media scorn following her appearance at New York Fashion Week on February 13, 2026.
The 17-year-old’s big time modeling debut at a Calvin Klein show put her under a harsh spotlight. Many mocked her runway demeanor and declared that her qualifications for high-profile modeling opportunities consisted of famous parents and a movie-star mother, and nothing else. The central ethics issue is nepotism. One social media critic wrote, “Remember when models were stunning, unique and natural? Not just some celeb’s child.”
To be honest, no, I don’t remember when models were natural. Were they ever? Most of them look like freaks, with odd proportions that resemble newspaper drawings of women wearing dresses, and too many of them have looked like recent concentration camp escapees in make-up. But again, I don’t get the whole fashion thing, why it exists, or why anyone pays attention to it.
To my untrained eye, I see nothing about Sunday Rose (what an awful name!) that explains why she is a model except her Hollywood pedigree. Do you? She’s not particularly pretty, seems sullen, and resembles the original “Young Sherlock” in drag. See?
Some models resemble whomever that is with Young Sherlock…
But the real question is how to treat the children of the rich, famous and powerful fairly. Surely the fact that she is Nicole Kidman’s daughter shouldn’t prevent a young, talented, aspiring model from pursuing her dream, but how can unfair advantages be avoided? Nepotism is even more advantageous in Hollywood. Acting success is normally based more on luck and opportunity than stand-out talent, but the children of already established stars are born lucky.
Should they be blamed for accepting what their lineage hands them? Horror writer Joe Hill deliberately used a fake name on his first attempts to follow in his father’s footsteps (Dad is Stephen King) so he could be sure that his work was judged on its own merits. He’s an ethics hero for that, but the list of the offsprings of movie stars who used their names to get on screen and went on to respectable careers, sometimes even surpassing their parents, is too long to publish.
Still, if the the daughter of a movie star puts herself out in range of public judgment, is it unfair for critics to take aim? Does it change the question if she is only 17, like Sunday Rose?
Your Ethics Alarms Ethics Quiz of the Day:
What is ethical treatment for the beneficiaries of nepotism in modeling or any other competitive field?
Ethics Alarms 
She should be treated as she would have been had she not had her lineage. To suggest that her achievements are based on nepotism sounds vaguely like all black achievement is a function of affirmative action. The same is true for young Doocy at Fox. We all receive some assistance in getting through a particular door and we have no idea if her parents put their fingers on the scale, but at some point any assistance received will be old history and you will be judged on the merits of the work. Chelsea Clinton got a nearly $1mm per year contract at a major news outlet but you never see any of her work anymore.
I have no difficulty calling out her sullen looks ( I think many models always look angry or sullen) or anything else related to being a fashion model but to link it to some unproven nepotism claim is wrong.
I agree. Nepotism may get you in the door, but, at some point, you better be good.
Counterexample: Hunter Biden.
-Jut
Somewhere, in the back of my mind, there lurks in the ephemera useless trivia about short-lived television shows I watched back in the day. Besides nepotism, Hollywood loves making remakes.
About 20 years ago, a remake of “Family Affair” was made starring Gary Cole as Uncle Bill and Tim Curry as Mr. French. It was short-lived, but charming. One of my favorite moments was when rich Uncle Bill took his nieces and nephew to his modest hometown to trick-or-treat, ran into his childhood bully and was diplomatically gracious when the guy bragged about his small business success. Stand up behavior on Bill’s part. Then French waited until Bill and the kids were off to the next house and announced to the former bully that he was Bill’s butler and that Bill was so rich he could buy his little mom-and-pop business several times over.
But I digress…
In one episode, Sissy got the lead role in a play only to find that it was due, in part, to her connection to Uncle Bill. The other girls knew this, too, and were giving her a hard time. Offended, she considered dropping out of the play. French advised her that having an edge is something that can happen in any situation and, in any event, getting roles because of who you know is something that often happens in the entertainment business. He challenged her to stay in the play and to show that she was the right choice for the part, regardless of her connections.
Now, I realize that this is pretty close to the rationalizations “This is how we’ve always done it” and “We can’t stop it”, but, I suppose, I should argue that Sunday Rose should be able to get out there and prove she’s got what it takes.
As for her age, well, that’s mom and dad’s responsibility to determine if she is mature enough to handle this environment. I can tell you that neither my mom or dad interfered when we got jobs as teenagers in fast food or retail. It was a lesson in growing up. If I couldn’t handle criticism from co-workers, managers or customers working the drive-thru booth at McDonald’s, I shouldn’t have taken the job. If Sunday Rose can’t handle constructive criticism about her modeling, she should try something else.
What is the ethical treatment? Treat them as you would any other person in the same role. If they’ve got the chops for it, good for them. If they don’t, give your honest opinion.
I tend to agree with AM on this one. Is it fair that children of famous people get doors opened to them? Maybe not but ath is the way of the world. It has been happening since the dawn of time.
As for Sunday, she does not look much different from all other fashion models. In fact, she is perfectly starved in the right places, glowers on command, and looks properly ambivalent about . . . well . . . everything. m
jvb
Of course, if you’re a plain Jane but you’re the stepdaughter of a Democrat, you’re fabulous and whatever world you choose is your oyster:
The Transformation Of Kamala Harris’ Stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff