Congratulations are in order! Suri Cruise‘s new name was just one of the highlights of her high school graduation, as the 18-year-old celebrated the major milestone with her mom, Katie Holmes, by her side.
The LaGuardia High School graduate was all smiles in New York City on June 21, 2024, where she was spotted snapping photos with her mom outside a brick building before making her way to the United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. In photos obtained by Page Six, Suri was seen hugging a friend and fellow graduate as they soaked in the special moment.
For her big day, Suri was dressed in a classic white dress under her red graduation robe. The teen finished off her ensemble with white sandals featuring floral embellishments. Meanwhile, Katie was the picture of a proud mom, rocking a chic matching set of light yellow pleated pants and a collared long-sleeve shirt.
But one person was noticeably absent from this special day: Tom Cruise. Suri and her dad have been estranged for most of her life, and Tom’s deep involvement with Scientology has reportedly been a big part of that. The religion’s strict rules and privacy policies have been rumored to create distance between them, with Tom admitting in a 2013 lawsuit that Holmes filed for divorce from him “to protect Suri from Scientology,” according to court documents.
And now, their estranged relationship was made even more obvious by a key detail in Suri’s graduation ceremony.
In the pamphlet listing the names of the graduating class, Suri’s name was written as “Suri Noelle,” revealing that she no longer goes by her famous dad’s last name. Noelle also happens to be Katie’s middle name, proving that Suri has no problems taking after her mom. While it’s unclear if Suri’s new name has been made official by law yet, one thing’s for sure—this change speaks volumes about her relationship with her dad and her desire to carve out her own identity.
Related: Does Tom Cruise See His Kids? Here’s How Close Are They Amid Rumors Scientology Keeps Him From Suri
Suri’s parents met back in April 2005. The pair wasted no time falling head over heels for each other, as only two months after they met, Tom popped the question in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. By October of the same year, they announced they were expecting their first child, and on April 18, 2006, they welcomed their daughter, Suri, into the world. The couple eventually sealed the deal with a lavish wedding at Odescalchi Castle in Italy in November 2006.
However, after five and a half years of marriage, their whirlwind romance took an unexpected turn. In June 2012, Katie filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized by July 2012, with Katie gaining primary custody of Suri. Since then, Katie has been a rock for Suri, supporting her through every milestone—including, of course, her recent high school graduation.
In an interview with Town & Country from 2017, Katie opened up about the thought of Suri going to college. “You want them to stay with you forever, but they’re these amazing beings, and you have to do everything you can to give them what they need — and then they’re going to go,” she told the magazine. “And that’s going to be very, very sad for me.”
It seems Katie will have to adjust to this new reality, as Suri is officially set to attend Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh this fall. Here’s to seeing what the future holds for Suri Cruise—or should we say, Suri Noelle!
