Coco Austin Gets Emotional on Daughter Chanel’s First Day of School
When it comes to her family, Coco Austin is seeing double.
Indeed, when the model looks at her husband Ice-T and her daughter Chanel, there is no denying how much the 9-year-old has come to bear a resemblance to her father. And the Law & Order: SVU star has a sneaky suspicion that it’s because she’s been watching him and taking notes.
“At some point,” Ice-T wrote alongside an adorable photo of the rapper and his mini-me posted to X, formerly Twitter, Jan. 19, “you realize there’s someone watching every move you make.”
And while seeing the two side-by-side showcases the striking resemblance, Ice-T—who is also dad to daughter LaTesha, 48, and son Tracy Jr., 33, from previous relationships—previously admitted that his youngest doesn’t particularly enjoy being compared to him.
"I think she kind of gets irritated with people telling her she looks like her dad instead of her mom,” he told Today in 2023. “But if you look at any old pictures of Coco, there's similarities there."
After all, the 66-year-old wants his daughter to have the freedom to pave her own path without being noticed as his lookalike.
"I wouldn't want her to keep looking like her dad,” he continued. “She’s finding herself.”
But while Chanel continues on her road to self-discovery, her parents have made it abundantly clear that she can always count on their love and support. Even so, they simply can’t believe how fast she’s growing up.
"9 years ago today I gave birth to the most beautiful soul of a daughter,” Coco wrote in a November 2024 Instagram tribute for her daughter’s birthday. “My best friend and the light of my life.”
“Don't let her sweetness fool you because she also has a magnetic crazy personality and her smile will turn anybody's bad day around,” she continued. “Happy Birthday my sweet kind hearted free spirit girl @babychanelnicole. I love you with my every existence."
At some point you realize there’s someone watching every move you make…. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wjXOv9ybgb
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) January 19, 2025Even when life gets tough, Coco and Ice-T shared insight into how they taught their little girl to take the high road—even after having a few run-ins with school bullies.
"We had one bully conversation and it was actually in kindergarten," Coco told E! News in December 2023. "This little girl was bullying her, and she used to come home and say, 'Mommy, I don't like this girl. She's mean to me.'"
"When I saw this parent," the 44-year-old continued, "I killed her with kindness. And her whole opinion changed of me, and she probably had a conversation with her daughter [because] Chanel didn't have a problem the rest of the year."
For more of Ice-T and Coco’s cutest moments with Chanel, keep reading…
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My Angel
"Arrived," Coco wrote from The Guitar Hotel in Florida in June 2023 while giving Chanel a piggy-back ride in front of some rainbow angel wings.
Pinky Promise
"First day on vacation!" Coco wrote in June 2023. "Thank you @sugardollllz for always coming through, keeping Chanel and mines matching flow going!"
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
Red Carpet Moment
Chanel and Coco Austin supported Ice-T during his Walk of Fame ceremony in February 2023.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Walk of Fame Fam
The family of three posed in front of his newly minted star in Los Angeles.
If the Shoe Fits!
Baby Chanel enjoyed a shopping outing with her mom in Prague and showed that she's not too young to share in the fun.
Daddy's Girl
"Every moment with daddy is super cool..Even Cheeto time!! Late night snack on bus," mom captioned this picture of quality father-daughter time while the rapper is on tour.
Summer Fun
The model and her little one soaked up the sun at their house in Arizona.
Model-In-Training
"Someone caught me in mom's shoe closest again...So I guess I'll strike some of my poses," Coco captioned the shot of the cute tot showing off her modeling abilities.
Growing Collection
The then 2-year-old child showed off her enviable collection of toys in this adorable post.
Royal Family
The famous family visited the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas and sat upon a gold throne.
Makin' It Rain
Starting young! Chanel threw money in this hilarious imagine which was captioned, "Baby Hustler."
Brad Barket/Getty Images for NARAS
Backstage VIP
While celebrating music's biggest weekend, the mother-daughter duo visits the WowWee table featuring crystal-studded Fingerlings at the GRAMMY Gift Lounge.
High Five
At 13 months, Chanel is growing up to be a big star!
Thumbs Up
It's family day at iPic Theaters as Ice-T and Coco bring Chanel to see The Girl on the Train.
Bling, Bling
Little Chanel dresses up for New York Fashion Week with a pair of custom, crystal-embellished sneakers because she's just cool like that.
#Perfection
So adorable! Chanel is always ready for her close-up.
Boss Baby
What's a baby girl to do with so many headbands and bows? Look cute, of course!
Shoe Game
Coco better watch out because Chanel's got her eyes on mama's heels!
Peek-a-Boo
Aww! Chanel is having the time of her life playing peek-a-boo with dad.
Flamingo Cutie
"Don't hate on my pink flamingo outfit!" her mom wrote.
Up and at 'Em
Baby Chanel is held by her mother in between her besties, Spartacus and Maximus.
Giddy Up
Baby Chanel hitches a ride with Spartacus.
Twinning Again!
The mother-daughter duo are all smiles in their matching striped swimsuits.
Tutu Cute
Chanel looked quite happy to be spending the day with her mama on a photo shoot!
Coco / Snapchat
Sound Check
The baby watches her dad perform with the band Body Count in Arizona.
Dog Sitters
Chanel appears with her big brothers Spartacus and Maximus.
Daddy's Little Girl
The baby appears with her father in a photo posted on her (yes her) Instagram page.
Coco / Snapchat
Meal Time!
The baby tries solid food for the first time.
"Instagram Famous"
Well, obviously... She is a superstar.
Hats Off to a Baby Fashion Icon
Chanel's style is effortlessly cute--just look at those sunflowers!
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