Zahara Jolie Graduates From Spelman College

Zahara Jolie, 21, graduated from Spelman College on May 17 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology
She was introduced on stage as Zahara Marley Jolie, confirming she has dropped Brad Pitt’s surname
Angelina Jolie was in the crowd; Brad Pitt was not seen in any footage from the ceremony
Several of Zahara’s siblings — including Shiloh, Vivienne, and Maddox — have also dropped the Pitt name
Weeks earlier, Zahara called Angelina “the most selfless, loving and understanding woman” at a sorority event

Zahara Jolie is a college graduate. The 21-year-old walked across the stage at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia on May 17, accepting her diploma — and doing it entirely on her own terms.

She was introduced as Zahara Marley Jolie, as seen in footage circulating on social media, seemingly making official what fans had long suspected: she has dropped her father Brad Pitt’s surname. Angelina Jolie was in the crowd to watch the moment. Brad was not seen in any footage from the ceremony, and it’s unclear whether he was present.

Videos show Zahara all smiles, running across the stage after earning her Bachelor of Arts in psychology — four years after she first arrived at the historic HBCU in 2022. When Angelina shared a photo of Zahara with her Spelman classmates that year, she wrote on Instagram: “Zahara with her Spelman sisters! Congratulations to all new students starting this year. A very special place and an honor to have a family member as a new Spelman girl.”

A Name That’s Been Hers for a While

The name Zahara Marley Jolie isn’t new — it’s the name she’s been stepping into for years. When she joined the Mu Pi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman back in 2023, she introduced herself on video as “Zahara Marley Jolie.” Saturday’s graduation just made it undeniable.

She’s not alone among her siblings. Shiloh filed court documents on her 18th birthday to legally remove “Pitt” from her last name. Vivienne has also dropped the surname, and Maddox — the eldest of Angelina’s six children — has long gone by Jolie as well. Brad and Angelina’s divorce, which began in 2016, was only legally finalized in December 2024.

What Zahara Said About Her Mom

The graduation comes just weeks after Zahara gave a deeply personal tribute to Angelina at the Pearls of Purpose Foundation Scholarship Mother Daughter Luncheon on April 26 — a sorority event that had plenty of people reaching for tissues.

“It felt challenging to find the words,” she said in her speech. “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.”

She went further, reflecting on her adoption and her upbringing. “I was adopted at six 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.” She called Angelina “the most selfless, loving and understanding woman” — and said having a famous parent could’ve made navigating college complicated, but that she found her footing anyway.

Angelina, for her part, has spoken about Zahara with equal reverence. “She is my family, but she is an extraordinary African woman,” she told Time. “Her connection to her country, her continent, is her own and it’s something I only stand back in awe of.”

Zahara was born in Ethiopia and adopted in 2005. She is the second eldest of Angelina’s children, who also include Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Shiloh, 18, and 17-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

Zahara Marley Jolie. Psychology degree in hand. Whatever comes next is entirely hers.