Valentina Pinault, the student daughter of Salma Hayek, has spoken about her enthusiasm for London’s pub scene, vodka and Ikea after landing the top spot on Tatler’s list of Britain’s 200 most eligible young people.
The 19-year-old shares first place in this year’s Little Black Book with England rugby prospect Henry Pollock.
Valentina is the daughter of Oscar-nominated actress Salma Hayek, 60, and François-Henri Pinault, 64, chairman of the board at luxury conglomerate Kering, whose portfolio includes Gucci, Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen.
Together, her parents are estimated to have a staggering net worth of $7.2 billion.
Even so, Valentina appears more interested in an ordinary student experience than in Chelsea’s upscale bars and exclusive members’ clubs while studying digital media and culture at King’s College London.
She is more likely to be found at Fabric or Lost, the underground, phone-free club night, than among London’s most polished social set.
Salma Hayek’s student daughter Valentina Pinault has described her fondness for London pubs, “chugging” drinks and Ikea after topping Tatler’s list of Britain’s 200 most eligible people.
Valentina, daughter of Oscar-nominated actress Salma Hayek, 60, and French business leader François-Henri Pinault, 64, is studying digital media and culture at King’s College London. She is pictured in 2021.
Discussing her affection for British life, she told Tatler: “I think the culture in London is my favourite thing in the world. I love pub culture.”
She added that British humour appealed to her because of the “little things” that are difficult to find anywhere else.
Asked whether she preferred martinis or champagne, Valentina answered “vodka” and said she was more of a “chugger” when it came to drinking.
Growing up in the spotlight has also shaped Pinault’s approach to sharing her life online.
“Growing up with parents who are public figures gave me an idea of what I don’t want in my head,” she said.
“I don’t mind people seeing what I’m doing, but I don’t like the idea of people being able to comment on what I’m doing, or keeping track of [it].”
Earlier this year, Hayek made a rare public appearance with her daughter at the star-studded Serpentine Gallery summer party.
The actress turned heads in a satin blue gown and quirky sunglasses as she attended the event during a scorching heatwave.
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The 19-year-old shares the top position in this year’s Little Black Book with rugby’s rising star Henry Pollock.
Despite her parents’ vast wealth, Valentina has shown little interest in Chelsea’s high-end bars and private members’ clubs while studying in London.
She said: ‘I think the culture in London is my favourite thing in the world. I love pub culture’
Read the full feature in the December issue available via digital download and on newsstands from Thursday 5th November
Valentina cut a glamorous figure in a grey co-ord which she teamed with minimal accessories.
In 2022, Valentina appeared on her first ever Vogue cover for the publication’s Mexican edition, posing for a shoot alongside her famous mother Salma.
In an interview conducted in Spanish, Salma opened up about coming to motherhood later in life, and what she thinks about Valentina following in her Hollywood footsteps.
Meanwhile, Valentina revealed her dreams of becoming an actress and a director, but also stressed the importance of helping others, which she did through volunteering at a soup kitchen.
Still, she does benefit from her mother’s closet of designer clothes – furnished in part by dad François-Henri’s company.
‘We fight over clothes because she takes everything from my closet,’ Salma said.
‘Since she was little she never let me choose her clothes, and I always liked that,’ Salma added. ‘[And] she’s very good with makeup. I’m good at makeup, but now she teaches me.’
The pair have more in common than just clothes: They also both speak Spanish, and like to do so to speak privately in public.
‘When we are with more people I like it because it is like a secret because nobody speaks Spanish, because with my dad I speak French,’ Valentina Paloma said.
What’s more, Valentina Paloma wants to follow her mom into Hollywood, first as an actress and then as a director.
The teen also talked about how important it is to be passionate about fixing the world’s problems.
In particular, she is moved by the problem of homelessness, ‘because I have friends who don’t have a home.
Read Valentina’s full feature in the December issue of Tatler, available via digital download and on newsstands from November 5.
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