For most of her life, Mia Hewitt has lived with a surname that carries undeniable weight in Australia. As the eldest daughter of tennis icon Lleyton Hewitt and

Home and Away star Bec Hewitt, fame was something she inherited long before she understood what it meant. Now, at 20, Mia is finally stepping forward

on her own terms — and she’s doing it with a microphone in hand.

Bec and Lleyton Hewitt’s eldest daughter Mia has spoken candidly about growing up in the public eye, admitting she deliberately stayed out of the spotlight for years despite her famous surname

‘I did a few photo shoots when I was a kid, mainly with my parents. But this is the first time I’ve done anything like this by myself,’ she tells this week’s Stellar magazine

In a candid and refreshingly self-aware interview, the emerging musician has opened up about growing up famous, deliberately avoiding the spotlight, and the careful journey she’s taken toward launching her music career. As the lead singer of folk band Father’s Favourite, Mia is no longer just a famous daughter quietly living on the sidelines. She is introducing herself as an artist — and she’s determined to be seen for who she is, not who her parents are.

Despite being photographed from birth, Mia insists her childhood was far more private than many might expect. She credits both Bec and Lleyton with working tirelessly to protect her, and her younger siblings Cruz and Ava, from the constant glare of public attention. While occasional family photo shoots were unavoidable, Mia says she was never pushed into the spotlight alone.

“This is the first time I’ve done anything like this by myself,” she admits, acknowledging the significance of gracing a magazine cover under her own name. For years, she chose to stay out of public view, focusing instead on developing her identity away from expectations and assumptions tied to her famous parents.

That sense of protection extended to the family’s unique lifestyle. The Hewitts spent years traveling due to Lleyton’s tennis career, living overseas in places like the Bahamas before eventually settling in Melbourne. While the constant movement brought challenges, Mia reflects on it as a deeply bonding experience.

“We were each other’s world for so long,” she says. “That closeness keeps you grounded.” The experience also made her acutely aware of public scrutiny from a young age — something she believes shaped her understanding of fame in ways most children never experience.

“People feel like they know you,” Mia explains, “and they essentially don’t.” Growing up under observation meant that strangers often felt entitled to opinions about her life, her personality, and even her future — despite knowing only a carefully curated image. “They don’t see the evolution of you as a person,” she adds. “Just the image.”

That awareness is part of what pushed Mia inward during her teenage years. At one point, she was homeschooled, retreating into herself as she navigated confidence struggles and the pressure of expectations she never asked for. Music, however, became her constant. Long before she ever imagined performing live, it was a private refuge — a space where she could explore emotion without judgment.

“I’ve always, deep down, wanted to do music,” she admits. “But I didn’t have the confidence.” That confidence eventually came through friendship and community. Collaborating with best friend Chèrise Combrink and surrounding herself with like-minded creatives gave Mia the push she needed to finally step forward.

Now, she describes performing live as the most exhilarating part of her journey. Standing on stage, sharing songs shaped by personal experience, has become her favorite place to be. Her sound is heavily influenced by the music she grew up loving — classic rock and folk from the ’60s and ’70s, with Stevie Nicks firmly at the top of her inspiration list.

Asked about the often-loaded “nepo baby” label, Mia’s response is strikingly honest. She doesn’t deny it, nor does she attempt to deflect the privilege that comes with her background.

Being the daughter of Aussie tennis great Lleyton Hewitt, 44, and his Home and Away star wife Bec, 42, meant Mia has been in the public eye ever since she was born in 2005, alongside her siblings Cruz, 17, and Ava, 15. All pictured

Bec rose to fame playing beloved character Hayley Smith Lawson from 1998 to 2005. She exited the series when she fell pregnant with Mia. Pictured together in 2019

“It just kind of is what it is,” she says. “Because of my parents, I know people. I’m the first to admit that.” But she’s quick to add that access doesn’t equal success — and that carving out credibility still requires effort, vulnerability, and persistence.

In fact, Mia continues to balance her creative ambitions with a regular retail job, joking that her life feels like “the Hannah Montana experience.” One world is music, gigs, and creative freedom; the other is normality, responsibility, and staying grounded. For her, that balance is essential.

Her connection to Home and Away remains another fascinating layer of her story. Bec Hewitt famously left the series in 2005 after becoming pregnant with Mia, closing a chapter that made her a household name. Nearly two decades later, Mia has quietly returned to the same iconic Palm Beach setting — not as an actor, but behind the scenes.

Industry insiders confirmed that Mia has been working as a casual wardrobe assistant on the show for over a year, becoming part of the Home and Away family in her own way. It’s a subtle, respectful nod to her roots — one that allows her to learn, contribute, and grow without being thrust into the spotlight.

Meanwhile, Father’s Favourite has been steadily building a presence on Sydney’s Inner West music scene, with the band playfully dubbing themselves “The Queens of King Street.” While Mia may return home to comfort and stability after late-night gigs, her artistic journey is far from cushioned. She is earning her place one performance at a time.

In stepping forward now, Mia Hewitt is not rejecting her famous upbringing — she’s redefining it. With honesty, self-awareness, and a clear love for music, she’s proving that while her name may open doors, it’s her voice that will decide how far she goes.