As the marriage of Frances Bean Cobain and Riley Hawk comes in, let’s dig a little deeper into who is she.
Frances Bean Cobain, born on August 18, 1992, in Los Angeles, entered the world of fame and music, being the daughter of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Hole’s Courtney Love. Her name, inspired by The Vaselines guitarist Frances McKee, became synonymous with a legacy of rock music and public scrutiny from a tender age. Tragedy struck early in Frances’ life when she lost her father at just 20 months old, propelling her into a tumultuous childhood marked by her mother’s well-documented struggles with substance abuse.
The challenges didn’t end there. Accusations of Courtney using heroin during her pregnancy led to investigations by child welfare services, though these were eventually dismissed. Following Kurt’s death, Frances’ upbringing was shouldered by extended family members, including her grandmother, amidst ongoing concerns about Courtney’s ability to parent.
Despite these early upheavals, Frances inherited a significant portion of her father’s estate, gaining control of his image and publicity rights. She holds 37% of Kurt’s estate, a responsibility that came with its own set of pressures. Her net worth reportedly exceeds $11 million, a testament to the enduring influence of her father’s music legacy.
Frances channeled her experiences and artistic inclinations into her education, studying art at Bard College in New York. Her creative pursuits didn’t stop there; she ventured into modeling, a career move initiated by a shoot for Elle UK Magazine where she donned her father’s iconic brown cardigan and pajama pants. Her unique connection to rock royalty and her own charisma soon saw her becoming the face of Marc Jacobs’ Spring/Summer campaign in 2017.
Her artistry also found expression through her visual art, leading to several exhibitions and a substantial following on her Instagram account, where she showcases her work to over 1.4 million followers. Frances’ connection to her father’s legacy was further cemented when she executive produced the HBO documentary “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck” in 2015. The documentary, a raw and emotional journey through Kurt’s life, struggles, and untimely death, was described by Frances as “emotional journalism.”
Frances’ personal life has seen its share of complexities. She was previously married to The Eeries musician Isaiah Silva. The marriage, which began in 2014, ended less than two years later, followed by a protracted and contentious divorce finalized in November 2017. She has now married professional skateboarder Riley Hawk, son of the skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. The nuptials, confirmed by court documents, took place on October 7, with the couple obtaining a marriage license in San Diego County.
Throughout her life, Frances’ relationships with her parents have been under the microscope. Her bond with her mother, Courtney, has been particularly fraught, marked by custody battles, restraining orders, and public estrangement, including Courtney’s exclusion from Frances’ wedding. However, the premiere of the documentary about Kurt seemed to be a turning point for mother and daughter, leading to a reconciliation that both have since spoken about publicly.
From a childhood overshadowed by loss and controversy to an adulthood where she forges her path, Frances Bean Cobain continues to evolve, honoring her family’s legacy while creating her own.
