Lauren Sanchez Gives a Rare Glimpse of Her Daughter Ella

A quiet but deeply emotional milestone shared online has revealed not just a proud mother's joy, but a daughter who looks uncannily like her.

On December 12, 2025, television personality and philanthropist Lauren Sánchez Bezos shared a rare and tender moment of her 17-year-old daughter Ella Whitesell via Instagram Stories. The occasion was a heartfelt tribute to the teenager, who will soon be heading off to college.

But the touching post didn't just spotlight Ella's academic success. It also stunned because of how nearly identical she looks to her mother, especially during Lauren's younger years.

Celebrating an Achievement

In the photo, Sánchez wrote, "I have tears in my eyes looking at this photo and knowing you will be heading off to college soon."

She continued, "Beyond proud of how hard you work — I love you SO much. Congratulations on getting into the college of your dreams."

As of now, the name of the college remains a mystery. Ella is Lauren's daughter with ex-husband Patrick Whitesell, and although the exact school hasn't been revealed yet, that information will most likely be out in a few months.

The Unicorn Hoodie That Couldn't Hide the Glamour

While Lauren's words captured hearts, it was the photo itself that was really stunning. Ella is seen lying on a bed in a white-and-pink unicorn onesie, complete with a hood featuring ears and a soft horn, whimsical and youthful.

But the playful costume couldn't hide one thing: Ella's face is almost a mirror of Lauren's.

The strong jawline, the almond-shaped eyes, the features that have graced red carpets and magazine covers, all of it is echoed in her teenage daughter.

Lauren, who married Jeff Bezos in a spectacular Italian wedding earlier this year, also shares a son, Evan Whitesell with Patrick. But she also has an elder child, Nikko Gonzalez, whom she shares with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez.

Now, with Jeff's four children from his marriage to MacKenzie Bezos, the couple shares a blended family that appears to be thriving.

In a 2023 interview with Vogue, Sánchez opened up about their everyday life, not just the yachts and galas, but moments like driving Ella to school.

Apparently, during drop-off, Jeff can't help calling out to the teen, "Don't learn anything I wouldn't learn!" Sometimes Ella can get annoyed at them, but other times, the family gets into deep conversations.

Most of all, they've made it a priority to gather for dinner every night, keeping the bond strong amid their headline-making lives.

This isn't the first time Lauren has gotten emotional over her children online. On August 11, she posted an image of her 19-year-old son, Evan, preparing something special for a new chapter. The understated snapshot offered a rare, intimate look at her family.

Preparing to Spread His Wings

Using white lettering over a black background for her Instagram story, Lauren reflected on dropping off her son at university for this new chapter.

She noted that watching him assemble a cabinet in his new dorm room might seem like a small thing, but for her, it carried deep significance. The TV personality also added the words "proud," "heartbroken," and "grateful" to the post along with the song "Changes" by David Bowie.

Later, she shared a throwback photo of her son as a young boy alongside a little girl in a classroom, both gazing at their teacher. In a white speech bubble, she marveled at how those two children had just been dropped off at college, and in a gray banner below, she wrote that they would always be friends.

Teaching Her Kids

During a September 2024 interview with Elle, the journalist spoke about learning Spanish alongside her children as part of her efforts to embrace her Mexican American roots.

Later in the conversation with Editor-in-Chief Nina Garcia, Lauren shared that her fascination with aviation — she is a licensed pilot — stemmed from wanting to share something exciting with her kids that they would genuinely appreciate.

"It's the one thing my kids think is cool. Let me tell you, trying to impress teenagers is very difficult," she said.

These mixed heritage children participated actively in her lavish Venice wedding to 61-year-old billionaire Jeff Bezos. In an interview with Vogue this past June, Lauren Sánchez revealed that her sons were to walk her down the aisle, while Ella would act as her maid of honor.

The designers of her wedding gown, Dolce and Gabbana, were also in charge of dressing them. "Ella's original; she beats to her own drum," the journalist told the magazine. "She had never had a fitting before, and she loved it. She's going to look amazing. It has been the most fun dressing all the kids."