Bijou Phillips' mother was Geneviève Waïte, a South African actress, singer, and model. Geneviève Waïte was known for her acting role in the 1968 film Joanna and was a muse to photographer Richard Avedon. She was married to John Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, with whom she had Bijou Phillips. Geneviève Waïte passed away in her sleep in Los Angeles in May 2019 at the age of 71