Madonna's eldest child, Lourdes Leon, 24, has revealed that she paid her own college fees and did not rely on financial help from her famous mother.
The young model and dancer, Madonna's daughter with ex-partner and personal trainer Carlos Leon, told Vogue in its September 2021 issue that she is not a "talentless rich kid" who has everything handed to her because she has music royalty for a mom.
Lourdes, fondly called Lola by friends and family, has also chosen to live in Brooklyn far from Hollywood Tinseltown, where Madonna's music and image are glorified as she's the Queen of Pop. The young adult said that she is trying to make a life of her own and has been chosen as one of eight models to be featured in Vogue's Generation America: The Models Changing an Industry with Bella Hadid, Precious Lee, Kaia Gerber, Ariel Nicholson, Sherry Shi, Anok Yai, and Yumi Nu.
Lourdes Leon's Education
As a teenager, Lola graduated from the LaGuardia High School of Music & Arts and Performing Arts in Manhattan, where she used to date actor Timothée Chalamet. In 2014, Madonna's daughter enrolled at the University of Michigan to study dance, music, and theater. She finished college and earned her degree in 2018.
Incidentally, Madonna was also a student of the University of Michigan before she dropped out and pursued her music career. In 2012, Madonna encouraged Lola to attend the Midwest school for college because "Ann Arbor is an awesome place."
While still in school, Lola worked as the Creative Director for the fashion line Material Girl, her partnership with her mother. The brand sells stylish clothes at Macy's.
After college, she became a model for Miu Miu's campaign and was the face of the POP fragrance, designer Stella McCartney's line. She also helped in conceptualizing Madonna's MDNA album and did some of the background vocals.
In 2019, Madonna said that her daughter is such a talented dancer, musician, and actress. The mom said that Lourdes is "way better" than her, but she doesn't have the same drive and ambition to hit it big.
Lourdes has five younger siblings: Rocco Ritchie, her biological half-brother and adopted siblings, David Banda, twins Estere and Stelle Ciccone, and Mercy James.
Best Relationship with Dad
Lola has a good relationship with her father despite Carlos' split with Madonna. In an interview with People Magazine, the dad said that his daughter is everything in his life, and he's grateful for Madonna for letting him become a part of Lola's life as she grew up.
Carlos admitted that he's quite lenient with his daughter and allows her to watch movies until past her curfew. He'd like to believe that he listens well to his daughter, but he can be overprotective with the boys.
Lola has a close relationship with her father's side of the family as well and once visited her father's hometown in Cuba, where her relatives said she looks a lot like her grandmother. She told Vanity Fair that it had been an emotional trip.
