‘Gender Is Whatever’ — Ava Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon’s Daughter, Opens Up About Her Sexuality

Jan 19, 2022 by apost team

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe were once an adoring couple, and to this day they are still great co-parents to their two children. The actors first met back in March 1997 at Witherspoon’s 21st birthday party, and were engaged by the end of the following year. They also starred in the teen romantic drama “Cruel Intentions” in 1999.

Witherspoon and Phillippe tied the knot in June 1999 in a small ceremony in Charleston, South Carolina. Just a few months later, they welcomed their first child and only daughter named Ava Phillippe on Sept. 9, 1999. Their second child together, Deacon Phillippe, was born on Oct. 23, 2003. 

Witherspoon and Phillippe divorced in 2008, and now share joint custody of their children. However, “Cruel Intentions” was a huge success and cemented their relationship on celluloid forever, even though they didn’t work out in real life.

Nowadays, the pair’s children are growing up and are sharing some moments in their lives for the world to see. Ava has a striking resemblance to her mother, and it seems like she also has the potential to enter show business just like her two famous parents. As she grows up, Ava is starting to really find herself and is beginning to express her desires for the future. Along with this, she is also opening up more about her personal life. 

In January 2022, Ava went to her social media to talk about her sexuality with her fans, and said that she believes that gender doesn’t really matter when it comes to being in a relationship with someone.

According to sheknows.com, Ava is a student at the University of California, Berkeley. Not only is she set up for a big future with her education, but she also has a famous namesake. Her father Phillippe said in a 2008 interview that he and Witherspoon named her after Ava Gardner, the late actress and singer who was also the wife of Frank Sinatra. 

“My daughter’s name is Ava…(like) Ava Gardner, because to me she was the only woman who could break Sinatra,” Phillippe explained. “So the idea of that name to me is very classy and strong.”

Yahoo News reported that Ava is currently a model and is often compared to Witherspoon due to their striking resemblance to one another. She is also her mom’s fashion consultant. “She’s very cutting-edge, and she knows a lot about fashion,” Witherspoon said in an interview with Us Weekly in April 2016. “And she has her own sense of style, which is amazing. We try to kind of confer about new styles. She tells me whether or not I can wear things.”

However, Ava never felt pressured to follow in her mother’s or her father’s footsteps. Speaking with E! News in December 2021, she said, “My parents have always encouraged me to choose the path that’s right for me and, you know, guide me along the way to make better choices than I might make.” Ava added, “I’m so grateful for that. That is such a privilege to have parents that support you in that way and to want you to be who you truly are meant to be. So I think I’m trying to do that.”

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Ava’s famous parents have also shown their support for their daughter navigating life her own way. In a 2017 interview with ITV’s “Lorraine,” Witherspoon said, “I’ve said to my daughter, I think, you know, (at) 25, you start to know yourself a little bit better.”

It’s clear that Ava is already embarking on her own journey to finding a career for herself. In November 2021, she modeled for Beyoncé’s Ivy Park collection, according to Yahoo News. In December 2021, she became the face of Pat McGrath’s “Bridgerton” themed makeup line. However, the model also said that acting is “not out of the question.”

Ava explained, “That’s kind of what I’m trying to figure out in this stage of my life, what’s the right fit for me and what’s going to do the best for others within that context, and what can I be most impactful with.”

While she is still figuring out her professional future, Ava is also on a journey of self-discovery. In January 2022, Ava opened up about her sexuality. When a fan sent in a question to her Instagram stories asking if she likes boys or girls, Ava responded, “I’m attracted to… people! (Gender is whatever).” The 22-year-old uploaded the answer to her Instagram stories along with a photograph of herself wearing deep blue eyeshadow.

According to Yahoo News, Ava is dating a student at the University of California, Berkeley, by the name of Owen Mahoney. The pair confirmed their relationship on social media in 2019, and Mahoney has since been photographed with Ava and her family.

We’re happy to see Ava Phillippe share more about herself. What do you think about her current career path and her potential future? Let us know, and feel free to pass this along to your loved ones.