Justin Timberlake walks charity runway with sons Silas and Phineas for niece Zaya

Justin Timberlake, who rarely puts his children in front of cameras, walked a charity runway in Denver on November 7 with sons Silas, 11, and Phineas, 6 — and stole exactly zero attention from the seven-year-old who deserved it most.

The occasion was the Global Down Syndrome Foundation's 19th annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, and the star of the evening was Zaya Biel — Timberlake's niece, daughter of Jessica Biel's younger brother Justin Biel and his wife Rose — who has Down syndrome and serves as a global ambassador for the foundation. Zaya walked the catwalk in a black-and-white polka dot dress and fringe boots, waving and blowing kisses to a cheering crowd.

Video posted to social media showed Timberlake, 45, scooping Zaya into his arms and dancing with her on the runway as Silas showed off his own moves beside them. Phineas, the younger of the two brothers, stayed close to his father's side. At one point, Timberlake and Silas each held one of Zaya's hands and lifted her arms into the air as the foursome made their way down the catwalk together.

The men dressed to match: Timberlake and Phineas both wore black suits, while Silas opted for black trousers, a white button-down, a bomber jacket, a tie, and sunglasses. On Instagram Stories the following day, Timberlake posted a photo holding both Phineas and Zaya's hands on the runway, captioning it, "We walked my beautiful niece Zaya down the @globaldownsyndrome runway last night," followed by a red heart. A second post showed him and Zaya on the red carpet with the caption: "proud uncle!"

Jessica and I adore Zaya, and we couldn't be prouder of the remarkable difference she is making in the world. Every person with Down syndrome deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and that's why GLOBAL's work means so much to our family.— Justin Timberlake

Jessica Biel, 44, was absent this year due to work commitments, according to a statement from the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. Her former 7th Heaven co-star and close friend Beverley Mitchell attended in her place, in support of the Biel family. The event raised more than $2.7 million for Down syndrome research, medical care, and advocacy — a record for the fundraiser, according to Page Six.

The Timberlake-Biel family has supported the annual event for several years. Biel walked the runway with Zaya and her sons at the November 2024 edition, when Zaya was named the foundation's ambassador. Biel also walked with Zaya at last year's show. She described the experience on Instagram in November 2024 as "truly special," writing: "Walking the runway with my amazing niece @lovelyzayab was an unforgettable honor."

The Denver appearance is part of a gradual, deliberate easing of the family's strict privacy around their children. Silas recently made a small non-speaking cameo in Biel's Apple TV+ film Matchbox, and Zaya joined Timberlake at the movie's New York premiere last month, where he was photographed holding her hand on the red carpet. But Biel has been clear that proximity to fame is not a career shortcut for her kids.

There are kids who work really hard, and they go to acting class and they're in theater class and they're doing all the work. You can't just take a part from that person just because you're my son. That's not cool.— Jessica Biel

We're not starting like, 'Oh, you just get handed a bunch of opportunities because you're part of this family.'— Jessica Biel

Why it matters — The appearance offers a rare public glimpse of Timberlake and Biel's children while spotlighting a record-breaking fundraiser for Down syndrome research and the family's sustained support for a cause tied to their own niece.

Reported by eonline.com, pagesix.com, usmagazine.com, hellomagazine.com