How Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson’s Pretty Biracial Granddaughter, Whom They Babysat, Looks — 5 Times We Saw Her

In 2016, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s eldest son, Chet Hanks, publicly announced that he had welcomed a daughter. The couple’s biracial granddaughter was born during a turbulent period in her father’s life. However, her birth marked a turning point, as it helped him overcome years of addiction.

Explore the little girl’s rare appearance in public and on social media over the years. This includes an outing that left onlookers convinced she was Tom Hanks’ carbon copy due to their “incredible” resemblance.

A Private Announcement to the World

In December 2016, Chet took to Instagram to share personal news: he had secretly welcomed a baby girl into the world. The announcement was made through an emotional video, which has since been deleted.

Chet spoke openly about his life and the big change of becoming a father. “I know I’ve been not that active on the ‘Gram lately because I’ve been figuring out my life, which is what we’re all doing,” Chet began in his heartfelt video.

“With that being said, I want to share something today because it’s about to be shared anyway in the press, which is the fact that I have a daughter. I do have a daughter. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” the musician continued.

Chet’s announcement was not just about sharing his joy. It was also a declaration of his commitment to protecting his daughter’s privacy. “I don’t share her on Instagram. I don’t post her on Instagram because her privacy is sacred to me. She is sacred to me,” Chet said.

“She is not something to be posted. She’s something that I love, that’s changed my life, but the fact is she’s about to be shared with everybody so I wanted you to hear it from me…because I’m a real person,” he continued.

In the caption accompanying his video, Chet further explained his stance on privacy. “No disrespect to people that post their kids, I just never wanted her to be dragged into the negativity surrounding my past,” he wrote.

The artist reportedly welcomed his daughter, Michaiah, in April 2016. It is believed her mother was Chet’s girlfriend at the time, Tiffany Miles. The couple has reportedly since split. However, Chet has praised Tiffany on social media.

He described her as one of the nicest people he knew. The musician also expressed gratitude that his daughter had such a wonderful mother. Chet’s announcement that he had a daughter came during a time of much personal growth, as it followed years of battling with substance abuse.

Overcoming Addiction: How Chet Hanks’ Daughter Inspired His Journey to Sobriety

In 2018, Chet celebrated three years of sobriety. His journey to this point was tumultuous and often played out in the public eye. The musician had since spoken openly about his battles with addiction.

Chet also revealed the profound impact that fatherhood had on his desire to turn his life around. “It was the prospect of having a kid, and I knew that in nine months there’s gonna be a baby here. That gave me the motivation to be like, ‘OK, I’ve had my time now, and I need to move on,'” Chet shared

This life-changing event provided the push he needed to commit to sobriety. Chet admitted that he had been aware of the need to get sober for some time. However, the grip of addiction made changing difficult.

“You just don’t really wanna make the change yet. You don’t really want to do the work,” he explained. His struggle was not just about knowing he needed to change but finding the strength to do so.

“There’s a part of you that knows that you need to make a change, but you can’t really shut that door on your life and just move on to a new chapter,” he further reflected.

Chet’s parents played a pivotal role throughout his journey to sobriety. Their unwavering support provided him with the stability and encouragement he needed. “They couldn’t be more supportive. Every step of the way…they’ve always been there for me and I’m really lucky,” Chet shared.

Since turning his life around, Chet revealed the dark route his life could have alternately taken. “I could easily be dead or in jail right now,” he admitted.

“If us, just sharing our story, can be the spark for somebody else to make that decision in their life, and leave the past behind and open up a new chapter in their life, that is the most rewarding and most fulfilling thing,” Chet added during an interview with his bandmate Drew Arthur.

In 2015, Chet took to Instagram to share an emotional video, addressing reports that he had gone missing over the summer. This video, which has since been deleted, revealed that he had been admitted to rehab.

The courage it took to publicly address his struggles was not lost on his father. At the premiere of “Bridge of Spies” in New York City later that year, Tom applauded his son’s bravery.

“As a parent, you love your kids unconditionally. You support them every step of the way. You got to applaud the bravery and honesty when it actually comes out of your own house,” the actor said.

Tom and Rita’s role as supportive parents extended into their new role as grandparents. The actor and his wife became grandparents for the third time following the arrival of Chet’s daughter.

Tom’s son from a previous marriage also had two little girls of his own. According to reports, the actor’s older granddaughters call Tom ‘pappou’ and Rita ‘yia yia.’ This was allegedly in honor of Rita’s Greek heritage. Tom and Rita also have a 21-year-old son, Truman.

In February 2017, Tom and Rita attended a gala fundraiser benefiting the Women’s Cancer Research Fund in Los Angeles. During the event, they opened up about their grandkids.

“We’re the cool grandparents,” Rita shared with a smile. “I think [we’re] the most cool,” Tom added. Tom also expressed how much joy their grandchildren brought into their lives.

“When you have grandkids, if you’re with one of them – or all three of them – look, there’s no book, no radio, no TV. You’re going to be entertained by them every moment that you’re there. Sit back and watch the show!” he marveled.

However, they both humorously admitted that their grandkids might not find them as captivating. “I think they just put up with us,” Tom joked. “Sometimes they just look at us like, ‘What?'” Rita chimed in.

Chet also spoke about how his mom and dad embraced their roles as grandparents. The performer revealed that Tom and Rita often babysat his daughter. Chet had a close relationship with his grandmother and grandfather growing up. Thus, it brought him much joy to see his daughter have the same experience with her grandparents.

Glimpses of a Precious Life Kept Mostly Private

The first time the world caught a glimpse of Chet’s daughter was in December 2016. The little girl was spotted running errands with her mother near her mom’s home in Indio, California.

This rare public appearance drew immediate attention. An onlooker who saw the baby and her mother commented, “You can tell straight away that it’s Tom’s granddaughter. The similarities between her and Tom are incredible. They both have the same high forehead.”

In March 2019, Chet’s daughter made another public appearance during a significant family event. She joined her famous relatives at the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring hee grandmother with a star. The little girl wore a pretty pink dress and posed for the cameras with her family.

In June 2019, Chet’s mother took to Instagram to celebrate the important men in her life in honor of Father’s Day. In a heartfelt post, she included a snapshot of Chet and his daughter. The heartfelt image was among other cherished family photos.

“To these good men who are such good fathers and who I love so much, Happy Father’s Day @tomhanks @chethanx @colinhanks,” the caption read.

The next sighting of Chet’s daughter came in 2021 when a Twitter user shared two photos of her. One of the images showed the little girl as a baby, being carried by her mother. The other photo, taken much later, depicted her with her father.

In March 2022, the public got another glimpse of Chet’s daughter through a personal post on Instagram. An Instagram user who claimed to be Chet’s cousin shared a touching photo of Chet and his daughter.

In the photo, Chet puckered his lips for a kiss from his smiling little girl as he held her in his arms. “My COUSIN Chet Hanks with his BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER ❤️❤️,” the caption read in part.

Chet Hanks’ journey from addiction to sobriety, inspired by the birth of his daughter, is a testament to the transformative power of family and fatherhood. Supported by his parents, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Chet has navigated personal struggles while protecting his daughter’s privacy.