An increasing number of female celebrities are adopting childlike personas in the face of adversities, a psychotherapist has claimed.
Nicola Peltz-Beckham celebrated her 31st birthday with a ballerina-themed party, Ariana Grande consistently styles herself in youthful clothes, and Lily Rose Depp holidayed at Disneyland Paris.
All instances have one thing in common: They’re behaviours typically expected of and desired by young girls.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Marygrace Anderson, psychotherapist and founder of MG Hypnosis, explained that reverting to childlike behaviours can be a sign of a person seeking comfort amid tumultuous times.
She explained: ‘Presenting in a more childlike way can be a subtle form of self-soothing – or, in hypnosis and psychology, often seen as a common coping mechanism.
‘When there’s a need for reassurance or self-care, it can be normal for adults to unconsciously adopt behaviours that appear younger.
‘From a psychological perspective, this kind of display often emerges during moments of heightened pressure or when the person feels a sense of emotional vulnerability.
‘Coupled with being in the public eye and under the media spotlight – alongside adult responsibilities – relationships and life stresses can easily intensify.
Nicola Peltz-Beckham is leaning into a ‘childlike identity’, a psychotherapist has claimed (Nicola is pictured at her ballerina-themed 31st birthday with her parents)
‘And people can instinctively gravitate towards symbols, behaviours and relationships that feel familiar, safe and grounding for them, such as hugging a teddy bear as an adult.
‘This kind of presentation outwardly looks into a softer, almost childlike identity, with nostalgic references, affectionate poses and a gentler manner.
‘That kind of imagery and energy can reflect a return to an earlier version of themselves, one closely tied to comfort and familiarity in their early years. It feels less about image-making and more about grounding with loved ones around them.
‘These cues are often less about emotional regression and more about emotional regulation.
‘Childlike behaviours – whether expressed through clothing, body language, family closeness or settings like Disneyland, can indicate where someone feels emotionally protected at that particular moment in time.’
It might make sense then that Nicola Peltz-Beckham, who has faced turmoil in recent times as the Beckham family feud continues to rumble on, opted for a nostalgic birthday party earlier this month.
Wearing a dusky pink glittery top and jeans, the model was pictured clinging on to her father, Nelson, 83, in the photos amid a rift with her husband Brooklyn’s family.
‘Best birthday yet,’ she wrote. ‘I’m so grateful.’
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Radio host Myleene Klass is among the celebrities sporting youthful clothes, such as leg warmers
Despite then being 18, Lily Rose Depp sported a glittered face while enjoying a trip to Disneyland
Ariana Grande is among the celebrities adopting a childlike persona, according to the psychotherapist
Anderson explained: ‘From a psychological perspective, birthdays often bring out a need for familiarity, and comforting symbols can play a big part in this, which may be why she opted for a ballerina cake.
‘Moments like this tend to bring identity and belonging into focus, especially when there’s tension elsewhere in someone’s life. People often lean into the relationships that feel safest.’
The expert added: ‘Clinging to her father and describing it as “the best birthday ever” can be her way of reinforcing that sense of emotional security.
‘Whether conscious or subconscious, strong physical closeness and emphatic language often underline where someone feels most supported.’
At the same time, Ariana Grande has drawn similar comparisons, with her drastic transformation during the Wicked press tour sparking concern, not just among fans, but allegedly also from her family.
The Florida-born singer, 32, has made several concerning appearances since debuting her new blonde hair in October 2022, when she starred alongside Cynthia Erivo as Glinda in the role.
Ariana looks starkly different from just a few years ago, when she was known for her trademark tanned skin and high, swishy ponytail – and many have been quick to attribute her changing looks to losing weight, saying she now looks ‘very fragile’.
For her birthday, Nicola had a pastel pink cake, adorned with white icing and decorated with a ballerina topper
Fans of the singer and actress have voiced concerns over Ariana’s transformation over the years
When recording her popular BBC Sounds podcast, Miss Me?, Lily Allen often sits in childlike positions
Fans have dubbed her new look ‘worrying’ as she’s ‘so small’, with one writing: ‘I love Ariana and I don’t think people should comment on other people’s bodies at all, but there’s no way you can look at her and not think she’s not healthy.’
Her Instagram feed similarly shifted, with Ariana ditching her original style and favouring childlike poses and princess-like clothes.
Commenting on the change, Anderson said: ‘Ariana Grande has consistently leaned into youthful styling from oversized bows, pastel colours, playful silhouettes and doll-like poses.
‘Psychologically, this can function as a form of emotional self-protection. For someone who has navigated intense public scrutiny and personal loss, presenting in a softer, younger way can help preserve vulnerability while maintaining control over how it’s expressed. It’s likely her way of being quietly resilient.’
Ariana has suffered unimaginable grief in recent years. She opened up about the mental health challenges she faced during the creation of her back-to-back albums Sweetener and Thank U, Next In a candid appearance on The Hollywood Reporter Awards Chatter podcast.
Production on Sweetener began after the 2017 Manchester bombing outside her concert, which claimed 22 lives, and a month after its release in August 2018, Ariana faced another blow with the death of her ex Mac Miller from an overdose at 26.
‘I was doing so much therapy, and I was dealing with PTSD and all different kinds of grief and depression and anxiety, and I was, of course, treating it very seriously, but having music be a part of that remedy was absolutely contributing to saving my life,’ she shared on the podcast.
In the wake of Mac’s death and her breakup with Pete Davidson, Ariana channelled her pain into Thank U, Next, completing and releasing the album in just two weeks by February 2019.
Bonnets, commonly associated with children, have become a fashion statement in recent times – and Lily has joined in on the trend
Nicola shared a collection of pictures to Instagram over the festive period, including one of her wearing festive pyjamas
‘They were dark times, and the music brought so much levity, and so did the experience. But it poured out with urgency, and it was made with urgency, and it was a means of survival,’ she confessed.
Meanwhile, Lily Allen could also be perceived as having adopted childlike qualities in recent times, bending herself in crossed-legged positions while filming her unfiltered Miss Me? podcast and sporting bonnets and colourful prints.
The singer recently released her successful album West End Girl, which details the painful end of her four-year marriage to Stranger Things actor David Harbour.
Discussing the singer’s show of young traits, the psychotherapist said: ‘Lily Allen often blends childlike humour, nostalgia and openness about family relationships alongside very adult emotional topics that she doesn’t shy away from.
‘From a psychological perspective, this contrast can act as a stabiliser – giving space for emotional honesty without it becoming too overwhelming, especially in times of personal change when one needs to regulate their emotions and protect their wellbeing.’
The expert noted, however, that celebrities displaying childlike traits can also merely be a way of protecting themselves from the public eye.
For instance, Myleene Klass’s love of youthful clothes, according to Anderson, reveals a different reality.
‘Myleene’s presentation can come across as quite bold or showy, but underneath that, there’s often a softer motivation.
‘From a psychological point of view, leaning into a lighter, more childlike side can be a way of staying grounded and connected to what feels familiar. It actually signals where she might be more at ease instead of trying to impress.
She similarly noted Lily Rose Depp, who sported a glittered face while enjoying a trip to Disneyland.
The daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, appeared to be having a blast as she took time off her acting career to explore the amusement park, which traditionally attracts children.
Lily, then-18, didn’t hold back when it came to her attire either, donning white Mickey Mouse gloves and a red mouse-ears hat.
Commenting on her style, Anderson said: ‘Lily Rose Depp frequently moves between high-fashion maturity and a youthful, almost ethereal look.
‘Childlike styling here can reflect a desire to preserve a softer side and be authentic, rather than being defined solely by what others expect you to dress like.’
