Mariska Hargitay’s Adopted Daughter, 13, Stuns in White Dress during Rare Appearance at the Paris Olympics

Celebrated actress, Mariska Hargitay made a rare appearance with her adopted daughter, Amaya Josephine at the Paris Olympics. The mom-daughter duo were seen seated in the VIP area watching the women’s gymnastics.

The pair expressed excitement as they cheered and clapped for Team USA. They celebrated the gold medals of Simone Biles, and Jordan Chiles as well as the bronze medal of Sunisa Lee.

Hargitay, who kept it casual in a black sweater top and white pants was also joined by her sons, August, and Andrew whom she shared with her husband, Peter Hermann.

Following the victory, 13 years old, Amaya was pictured mingling with gymnastics stars Chiles and Lee, at the event. Amaya looked elegant in a white dress with a matching handbag. She kept her look simple yet stylish, with just a touch of gold in her bracelets and necklace.

Her shining moment came when Chiles, the Olympic medalist, draped her gold medal around Amaya’s neck. USA Gymnastics shared a series of photos on Instagram, including one where Chiles is about to place her medal on Amaya.

The young star beamed as she slightly leaned forward, eagerly receiving the gold. The post’s caption read, “✨ sharing her magic ✨ @jordanchiles had to make sure @therealmariskahargitay’s daughter had her own Gold-Medal-Moment!”

Hargitay’s reaction to the post was heartwarming, “I have no words 🥹.” Later, the actress shared a photo on her own Instagram of Amaya with Chiles and Lee, writing, “Thank you @sunisalee and @jordanchiles for shining your bright, beautiful, Olympian light on my sweetest girl. A mountaintop moment.”

The photos of Amaya, at the Olympics have sparked quite a buzz online. Many were intrigued by the fact that Hargitay had an adopted daughter. One curious fan commented, “Never knew she had an adopted daughter… I wonder if she was the one who wrote Noah’s adoption into the SVU storyline,” referencing Hargitay’s role in “Law & Order: SVU.”

Others were eager to learn more about Amaya, with one person asking, “Who is this little cutie???” Meanwhile, Amaya’s fashion sense also captured hearts. One admirer wrote, “I love this so much! And I LOVE Amaya’s dress! It’s giving ‘who’s afraid of little old me’ energy.”

Another fan gushed, “You were absolutely right about Amaya’s style—I could honestly be besties with her and rock matching outfits. She’s gorgeous 😍.” Amaya’s hair also received praise, with one person commenting, “Love your daughter’s hair.”

Many fans appreciated Hargitay’s gesture of taking her daughter to the Olympics. One person celebrated, “Wow wow wow! So awesome and exciting! A moment she will remember for the rest of her life 🇺🇸🏅! Great job, Mom!! Xoxo [sic].”

Others were amazed by how much Amaya has grown, with comments like, “Aww, Amaya has gotten so big 😍 This is such a surreal moment! She takes after you with that gorgeous smile.”

There were also heartfelt remarks such as, “Awwww, your daughter looks so gorgeous and happy 😍❤️” and “What a beautiful kid,” highlighting the widespread admiration for Amaya.

In 2011, Hargitay shared the heartwarming story behind naming her daughter, Amaya. The actress and her husband, Hermann, involved their entire family in the naming process. They adopted Amaya when she was just a week old, and Hargitay explained that “everything is a family decision in our house.”

Their then 4-year-old son, August, born in June 2006, was also part of the naming discussions. The family eventually chose the name Amaya Josephine, an adaptation of one of Hargitay’s favorite names, Maya.

Hargitay revealed that she liked the name because it mirrored August’s initials. “I wanted her to have the same initials as August,” she said. The actress added, “I thought adding the ‘A’ was so feminine. Amaya sounded so open and feminine and beautiful—just like her.”

Hargitay and Hermann have enjoyed a successful 20-year marriage, with their bond strengthened by the adoption of their two younger children. After adopting Amaya in 2011, the couple welcomed their son, Andrew Nicolas, just four months later.

The mom of three described the adoption of Andrew as a surprise, referring to him as an “angel that fell out of the sky.” Hargitay, who was raised by a stepmother following her biological mother’s death, understands that families can be formed in diverse ways beyond biology.

Having grown up with half-siblings, she has always believed that family is more about biological connections. While the decision to add two more children was unexpected, it became a pivotal and positive moment in their marriage.

Her husband, Hermann stated that their unconventional journey to growing their family has only deepened his love for them. He shared that, despite his usual privacy about their children, he and Hargitay simply wanted a larger family and feels incredibly blessed by it.