Why Nicole Kidman’s niece, Lucia Hawley, left her job at Bravo TV and revealed her unexpected new career path after her grandmother passed away

Lucia Hawley, Nicole Kidman’s niece, has decided to relocate from Sydney to Los Angeles with the goal of pursuing her ambitions as a writer. This decision came after she left her hosting position at 7Bravo.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the 26-year-old shared her feelings about the conclusion of her four-week summer break. She expressed that coming back to her Sydney residence on Monday, following a summer spent in various locations such as the U.S, Thailand, and Melbourne, felt like “smashing through a glass door.”

Reflecting on her current situation, she mentioned in her newsletter entry on Monday that the end of January always brings a sense of deflation for her. This contemplation surfaced as she disclosed her decision to leave behind her esteemed role as a red carpet host.

Lucia, who is the daughter of Nicole’s older sister and famous TV presenter Antonia Kidman, said the recent loss of her grandmother Janelle and quitting her job has inspired the move.

‘At the tail end of 2024, I experienced quite a few significant life changes, the main two being that I lost my grandma and left my role in TV,’ she wrote. 

‘The culmination of these events sparked a massive desire for change in my life— a longing for something different.’  

Janelle died at the age of 84 in September, just hours before Nicole was awarded Best Actress for her role in Babygirl at Venice Film Festival, with the film’s director accepting the gong on her behalf. 

Lucia and her siblings Hamish, 23 and Sybella, 17, flocked around to support their younger cousins – Nicole and Keith’s daughters Sunday and Faith – at the funeral. 

‘I am currently navigating the highs and lows of freelancing while I figure out my next full-time job and simultaneously plan a move overseas (*repeats to self* diamonds are made under pressure),’ she added in her blog titled: ‘So, What Next?’

While she doesn’t explicitly state where she’s moving to overseas, Lucia published her blog alongside an image of the film La La Land. 

‘As many of you know, I spent the past two years working as an entertainment reporter—a job I had pined for throughout my adolescence,’ she said. 

‘The experience opened up amazing opportunities, and I made friends for life with some of my colleagues. However, the work—whilst glamorous and exciting—did not completely fulfil me.’ 

Lucia added she wants ‘work that fulfils me and serves a greater purpose than just monetary gain.’ 

She will be monetising her blog for a $7 monthly fee while she’s currently ‘unemployed’, promising readers it’s ‘cheaper than an iced latte in Bondi’. 

The aspiring journalist refuses to be called a ‘nepo baby’. 

When Lucia was asked about getting a familial leg-up into her field of choice in 2023, she told the Sunday Telegraph, ‘No, I’ve been working towards this.’ 

The term ‘nepo baby’, short for ‘nepotism baby’, is a person who gains success or opportunities through familial connections especially, a child of a famous parent.

‘When I left my job in presenting, what meant the most to me were the heartfelt messages I received from my colleagues— my friends,’ she continued. 

‘Those connections were greater than any celebrity meeting, VIP event or viral Austin Butler interview (real ones will know). In fact, the work that has felt the most meaningful and authentic to me is my written work.

‘By no means am I saying that my writing is super important or life-changing, but it is definitely what fulfils me most.’ 

Lucia ended her post on Tuesday by announcing a new journalistic style series for her blog, titled I Want Her Job, in which the aspiring journalist will interview famous and successful women. 

In the sole acknowledgement of her family’s vast wealth, fame, and no doubt helpful industry connections in her post, Lucia writes that she knows ‘it’s a luxury to do what you love for a living.’ 

The announcement comes after the presenter and her boyfriend Henry Poole spent the last week of their summer sojourn in Melbourne, as invited celebrity guests of the Australian Open.

The loved-up couple spent Christmas and New Year’s in the United States with Lucia’s world-famous auntie Nicole and her cousins in their $4.89million Nashville mansion. 

In one photo posted to Instagram, Lucia can be seen posing with Sunday Rose Urban, 16, her sister Sybella, 17, and 28-year-old American model Bella Hadid.

She also shared a sweet picture of Sunday rose posing with her sister, Faith Margaret Urban, 14, in front of a Christmas tree with a pet dog.

The Hawley side of the Hawley-Kidman clan then travelled to Thailand for a further week or two soaking up the sun on yachts, snorkeling, and sipping on sunset cocktails. 

‘Somebody’s gotta do it,’ Lucia captioned a carousel of photos from the family trip. 

Lucia started her TV career after studying Arts at the elite University of Sydney.

Following her degree and internship at Vogue Australia, she started working at a production company as an assistant and later applied for a job at 9Honey — Channel Nine’s women’s network.

She eventually landed a role with NBC Universal – who launched 7Bravo in 2022.