Naomi Watts' daughter Kai Schreiber, 16, photographed smoking after Milan Fashion Week show
The 16-year-old model and Naomi Watts’ daughter posted a black-and-white image featuring a cigarette after Milan Fashion Week, as she continues to navigate a high-profile path in fashion and identity.
Kai Schreiber, the 16-year-old daughter of Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, drew scrutiny after a photo circulated showing her with what appeared to be a cigarette in her hand. The image, posted to Instagram on Thursday, followed her appearance on the Milan Fashion Week runway, where she walked in a show and later posted a black-and-white snap with a friend. In Italy, smoking is restricted to those 18 and older; in the United States, Kai would have to wait until she is 21.
Schreiber’s post captured a rocker-inspired vibe: she wore a black leather military-style jacket adorned with brass buttons over a black-and-white striped top, paired with light-wash denim jeans. A black leather shoulder bag rested beside her on the pavement as she posed with a friend. The image comes as the teen navigates a high-profile career in fashion, a journey she has discussed publicly, and one that has placed her under the spotlight alongside her mother, who is an established actor.
Minutes earlier, Kai had also taken center stage at Milan Fashion Week for Max Mara's Spring/Summer 2026 show, where she and the rest of the lineup hit the runway. Video captured a moment when her black crop top slipped as she strode, and she quietly adjusted the garment with one hand before continuing. The moment was handled with professionalism, and she later reposted the footage on Instagram with the caption, 'My top fell off at @maxmara lolz.' Fans praised her poise, with some noting the mishap did not detract from her presence on the catwalk.
As her visibility grows, Kai has spoken about her gender identity, describing a long-standing journey and admiration for fashion figures who navigated similar paths. In a June interview with Interview Magazine, she discussed the feeling of not fully being her assigned gender from a young age and said she hoped to grow up 'beautiful, glamorous, influential' like Marilyn Monroe. She named a roster of transgender style icons she has looked up to and drawn inspiration from, including Alex Consani, Hunter Schafer, Hari Nef, Dara, Richie Shazam, and Colin Jones, emphasizing the importance of a connected community within fashion.
Kai is the youngest child of Watts and Schreiber. The couple, who never married, announced their split in 2016 and have since moved on with other partners. Kai's older brother is Sacha, now 17. Naomi Watts later married Billy Crudup in June 2023, while Liev Schreiber wed Taylor Neisen in July 2023. The pair welcomed daughter Hazel Bee in August 2023, expanding the blended family that keeps Kai at the center of public attention as she builds her career on and off the runway.
With Milan Fashion Week continuing to highlight young talent, Kai's path illustrates how fashion ecosystems increasingly blend personal identity, fashion history, and family dynamics into a public narrative. Her recent activities, from a runway moment to a cigarette photo on social media, have drawn discussion about youth, rules around smoking in different countries, and the responsibilities that come with growing up in the spotlight. Observers note that her openness about her identity and her ability to handle on-stage mishaps suggests a level of resilience that will likely shape her progression as a model and a public figure.