Why Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's Daughter Zahara Took Out a Newspaper Ad to Drop 'Pitt' From Her Name
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's daughter, Zahara, is one step closer to dropping her father's last name.
Zahara, 21, is a busy college student, but she's taking the steps to remove "Pitt" from her name and permanently reclaim her identity as Zahara Jolie. In new court documents obtained by TMZ, Zahara has published notice of her petition in the Los Angeles Daily Journal once a week for four weeks. She has also called for anyone opposing the change to submit a written opposition before the final hearing, the website shared.
While the move may seem severe, it's actually one of California's requirements for a legal name change. She first filed her petition in June, hoping to change her name from Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Marley Jolie.
Zahara Recently Honored Her Mom Onstage
Zahara took the stage at a mother-daughter brunch for the Pearls of Purpose Foundation on Sunday, April 26, in Atlanta, where she was featured as the special guest. In her speech, the college student opened up about her relationship with her mother, as Jolie stood beside her.
"When asked to speak with you all today on the value of mother-daughter relationships, it felt challenging to find the words," Zahara began, according to a video on Instagram. "Not challenging because I don't value it, but because my mom and I have a unique, almost kindred, relationship that can be hard to put into words."
"Our love for each other is a found one I was adopted at 6 months old and given some of the most special and loving people as my siblings, with a mom who raised us on the value of helping others, being kind, and always striving for growth as people," Zahara continued. "These values may sound simple, but in a world where kindness is overlooked and helping others comes at a cost, I am grateful to have had a role model to show me what it looks like to be a decent human being."
Zahara went on to refer to Jolie as "the most selfless, loving, and understanding woman who I get to call my mom."
Where Does Zahara Go to College?
Growing up in the public eye has likely been challenging for Zahara, but the college student has thrived. She currently studies at Spelman College in Atlanta, where she's majoring in psychology with a minor in educational studies.
In her speech, Zahara spoke about how much of a change going away to Spelman would be.
"Early on, I realized it would be challenging to include my mom and family in these worlds without being able to directly share the effects," she said. "With the addition of the public life that we live, it can be hard to find those special and intimate moments without being overwhelmed with the many eyes that are on us."
"This has never stopped my mom from being curious about all that I'm learning in and outside of my classrooms at Spelman and having many understandable questions about sorority life and my experiences," Zahara continued. "My family embraces the newness and strives to understand these meaningful organizations in my life as I share my experiences."
What Has Angelina Jolie Said About Parenting?
Back in 2017, Jolie spoke about how proud she is of all her children.
"They're six very strong-minded, thoughtful, worldly individuals. I'm very proud of them," Jolie told Vanity Fair shortly after breaking up with Pitt. "They've been very brave. They were very brave."
Related: Angelina Jolie Opens Up About Staying Single for Nearly a Decade After Brad Pitt Split
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This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 11:33 AM.