MOVE over Cruz Beckham – there’s another famous offspring hoping to make it big in the music world.
Scarlett Thomas is preparing to launch the next chapter of her career, with new music expected imminently as she sets her sights on becoming a pop star.
But while the 18-year-old has grown up surrounded by the spotlight, I’m told she is now keen to step out of the shadow of her famous family and prove she has what it takes without the Thomas name opening doors for her.
A source claimed: “Scarlett is at the point where she really wants to establish herself as an artist in her own right. She doesn’t want people to think she’s simply riding on her family name. She’s serious about music and wants to prove that she has something of her own to offer.
“She’s been making a conscious effort to step away from being part of the family content. She’s appeared in fewer videos and is much more focused on creating her own identity. She doesn’t want every part of her life to be viewed through that lens.”
Scarlett has been a regular fixture in videos with and uncles and , whether appearing on their Thomas Brothers podcast or joining in with their social media antics.
The brothers have built a following with a stream of playful TikTok skits, often using trending sounds, silly scenarios and dance routines. Scarlett has previously been part of the fun, appearing alongside the three as they ham it up for the camera.
But now, as she enters adulthood, it seems she is keen to leave the family content behind and create a cooler, more independent image.
The source added: “She wants to build a completely different image for herself as a musician. She’s young, she’s finding her sound and she’s very aware that the way she presents herself matters. She doesn’t want to be immediately associated with her dad and uncles.”
It is not that Scarlett has fallen out with her family – far from it. She remains close to them, but is keen to avoid being viewed as an extension of their showbiz world.
Another insider said: “Like most teenagers, she doesn’t want to be seen as an extension of her dad. There’s a bit of a ‘cringe’ factor that comes with the Thomas brothers and their type of content, particularly when you’re trying to establish a cooler, more independent image. She loves them, but she wants to be her own person.”
Away from the famous family, Scarlett keeps her circle very small. In April, she revealed that
The star explained: “I have my best friend Summer, who I also met on Waterloo Road, and it’s just me and her. I’m so at peace and happy with that.”
Scarlett has already shown she is prepared to make some big decisions to pursue her ambitions.
The teenager chose not to sit her , instead focusing on her acting and music career – a decision which sparked a fierce reaction online when she posted about missing results day.
Some accused her of being too reliant on her famous parents, while others questioned whether she was making the right choice by giving up qualifications so early.
Her dad Ryan, 42, was quick to defend her, asking critics whether it was anyone else’s “business or concern”.
Scarlett has also found herself at the centre of online speculation about her teenage relationships, including rumours surrounding a member of Simon Cowell’s boyband December 10.
She has also faced criticism over her social media posts, including a video featuring explicit lyrics about sex and drugs which was later deleted.
And , footage of the sparse-looking crowd prompted a fresh wave of comments, with some questioning whether she could make it as a live performer.
But the aspiring singer has made it clear she is not prepared to let the noise put her off.
She previously hit back at being branded a nepo baby during an appearance on Ami Charlize’s Private Story podcast.
She hit back: “I don’t even really know what it means. I see all of these things on TikTok like, ‘I wish I was a nepo baby in LA’, I wish I was, in LA. I’m just grateful that I’ve had all these chances, my family have given me loads of chances and they’ve taught me stuff more than anything.”
The singer went on: “They’ve not put me in places, they’ve just taught me and I’m so grateful that I’ve had that. They know and they’ve learnt and they can pass it down to me.”
Her famous family certainly has plenty of experience to pass on.
Ryan is best known for playing Jason Grimshaw in , while mum Tina O’Brien, 42, shot to fame as Sarah Platt in the same soap. Her uncles Adam and Scott have also built careers in the public eye, through acting, reality TV and presenting.
Scarlett herself landed a role in as Izzy Charles, appearing alongside her real-life uncle Adam and cousin Teddy, and has been surrounded by the entertainment industry from a young age.
But of an audience has also brought its own frustrations.
On her dad and uncles’ podcast, she spoke about being criticised for dressing older and accused of growing up too quickly.
She said: “It’s a weird thing, people say you can pass for like 21 and like 12 at the same time.
“I’m 17. And I don’t know. I think my fan base is a little bit weird. People think I’m a lot younger than I am and I don’t think many people are ready that I’m growing up. It’s a bit weird.”
Asked if the comments frustrated her, she replied: “It’s so frustrating. But a lot of like my age, which is still the same kind of topic, don’t get the same kind of comments as I do.
“Like ‘why are you growing up so fast?’
“But it can be a bit frustrating because, you know, I want to be taken seriously. I’m not a child.”
And now, , she appears determined to take control of how she is seen.
The source said: “She’s grown up around a very particular world, but she’s keen to get out there and experience things for herself. She doesn’t want to be stuck in the same bubble. Music is something she’s determined to make work.”
Her decision to head to Nashville on her own to work with songwriters has been another sign that she wants to build a career away from the family bubble.
She signed a record deal with Big Family Music in January, the company that manages songwriter John Ryan, known for his work with . Her dad later revealed on the Thomas Brothers podcast that she was due to spend a week recording in Nashville with songwriter Julien Bunetta.
But it is her debut track Onesies that has already got people talking. Its line “we’ve got buzzballs swimming in our tummies” has taken off on TikTok, with fans branding her an “icon”.
The track has also prompted questions about her image and the kind of pop star she wants to become, with Scarlett seemingly keen to lean into a more outrageous, tongue-in-cheek persona.
A source said: “Going to Nashville on her own was a big statement of intent. It’s somewhere she can immerse herself in music, meet people and start building connections.”
And with more music on the way, she is hoping to turn the online attention into something more lasting.
An insider added: “There’s new music coming very soon and she’s excited for people to hear what she’s been working on. She wants this next chapter to feel like a proper introduction to her as an artist.”
