Aug 22, 2011 12:00AM

Where in the World is Frances Bean?

And why is her middle name Bean?

Children of celebrities are always fascinating creatures. Born into a world of which they know nothing, they remain entirely unassuming until young- to mid-adulthood, when finally the extent of just how famous their parents are (or were) is understood. The age-old palm-off of "you'll understand when you're older" has never been used more successfully. Upon this realisation, several lifestyle options are made available to these fame-drenched youngsters. Some follow in their parents footsteps, striving towards that benchmark of fame or notoriety that seems perpetually out of reach. Some disappear from the spotlight completely, acutely aware of the pressure of "the biz" and opting for a peaceful life in the suburbs. Others still choose to defy their parents' name by becoming famous for all the wrong reasons, squandering money and tarnishing hard earned reputations - perhaps it's best to use Miley Cyrus as an example.

For those enough lucky to have normal names (Apple is, by default, excluded from this category), living out their choice can be almost entirely undramatic. Frances Bean Cobain falls into this category, attracting a surprisingly low level of attention in her 19 years of life. Granted, this could very well be due to the fact that parents Courtney and Kurt have long since kissed their heydays goodbye, but I'd like to think it pertains more to the distinct lack of a $150,000 shoe collection and other such displays of extreme affluence (an indirect way of saying Suri Cruise doesn't have a chance at escaping this world unscathed). Above all, it would seem that Frances Bean is a firmly grounded, well-raised 19 year old celebrity spawn - with Drew Barrymore as a godmother, you could hardly turn out as anything less than wholesome.

Frances was born just 20 months before her dad's untimely death into a supportive network of aunts, godparents and grandparents. Until recently, her only dabbles into the media have been five interviews, wherein she has spoken of (and defended) her parents, personal style and artwork. Now, the heir and legacy of Kurt Cobain has reached adulthood. As she's coming to see what her father did for the music industry, more people are coming to see her in a different light. In a series of brooding photographs for his online diary, French photographer Hedi Slimane has captured Frances Bean looking eerily like a precise blend of both her parents. Needless to say, she's grown up to be beautiful. As if the daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love could be anything else.

To answer the question, Kurt chose 'Bean' as a middle name on account of likening an image on an early ultrasound to a kidney bean. Probably not Kurt's most insightful work, but it's better than Bono's efforts.

hedislimane.com

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