In an era dominated by filters, face-tuning, and the ever-growing pressures of online perfection, musician and futurist Grimes has spoken out about a deeply personal concern: how beauty culture could affect her daughter with tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Known for her avant-garde aesthetic and outspoken views on technology, AI, and post-human identity, Grimes—born Claire Boucher—rarely plays by society’s rules. But in a recent interview, she revealed something more raw and maternal: worry for her daughter’s self-image in an increasingly artificial world.

A Future-Minded Mother in an Image-Obsessed Era

Grimes and Elon Musk share two children: their son, X Æ A-12 (affectionately known as “X”), and daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk, nicknamed “Y.” Both children were born via surrogate, with Grimes describing their family dynamic as “fluid” and “non-traditional”—mirroring her own identity.

Despite her boundary-pushing views on technology and transhumanism, Grimes confessed that she’s deeply concerned about one very human issue: the way beauty standards are evolving, especially for young girls.

“I’m genuinely afraid of what my daughter will face,” she said. “We’re moving into a world where digital perfection is normalized. Everyone is comparing themselves to avatars and AI-enhanced faces. How do I raise her to love her real self in that environment?”

The Rise of ‘AI Face’ and the Loss of Realness

Grimes’ concern is rooted in real trends. Apps like TikTok and Instagram are flooded with AI filters that subtly (or drastically) alter facial features—smoothing skin, enlarging eyes, reshaping jawlines. The phenomenon known as “Instagram Face” has evolved into “AI Face”, a hyperreal ideal that is nearly impossible to achieve in real life.

“It’s not even about plastic surgery anymore,” Grimes noted. “It’s about becoming a digital product. Girls aren’t just trying to be beautiful—they’re trying to be algorithmically optimized.”

As a woman who has often played with image, artificiality, and sci-fi personas, Grimes says she now views these themes differently as a parent. “It’s one thing to critique beauty culture as an artist. It’s another thing entirely when you realize your daughter might internalize it.”

Parenting in the Age of Tech and Identity Politics

Elon Musk—father to at least 14 children—has yet to publicly comment on Grimes’ beauty culture concerns. Known for his radical ideas about humanity’s future, he often embraces technological integration, even supporting neural implants and AI-human symbiosis through companies like Neuralink.

Grimes, once a vocal champion of post-humanism and the merging of technology and identity, now walks a more nuanced line.

“I’m not against tech. I love tech,” she said. “But I think we need to be hyper-aware of how it shapes identity—especially for girls. There’s a difference between choosing your own avatar and being pressured into becoming one.”

She also hinted at considering a future where her daughter might not even want to be in the public eye—something Grimes is increasingly protective of. “Y didn’t choose this life. I did. Elon did. But she didn’t.”

Raising Y in a World Obsessed with Appearances

Grimes says she’s focusing on raising her children with a strong sense of inner self-worth, grounded in creativity, intelligence, and curiosity. She frequently encourages hands-on learning, science fiction storytelling, and digital literacy—especially around media manipulation.

“She already asks questions like, ‘Why does that lady’s face look different every time?’” Grimes said. “She’s starting to notice the filters. I want her to question them—not aspire to them.”

Final Thoughts: Can You Be Real in a Synthetic World?

Grimes’ concerns are hardly unique among modern parents, but they carry extra weight coming from someone so immersed in the future. As a cultural figure who straddles the line between digital rebellion and celebrity motherhood, she represents a new generation of parents trying to navigate real childhoods in increasingly artificial worlds.

“I want Y to feel like she’s enough,” Grimes said. “Not because she’s beautiful by some filter’s standards, but because she’s herself—and that’s the most revolutionary thing you can be right now.”