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She was dubbed ‘the most beautiful girl in the world’ at the tender age of six after appearing in a photoshoot for Vogue Enfants.
Yet Thylane Blondeau, now 24, has forever struggled to live up to her title, having tried in vain to hammer home that she is just a ‘human being’.
She revealed she didn’t understand the weight of it in her childhood, and as she grew older she tried hard not to let it define her.
‘When you’re small, you don’t really pay attention,’ Thylane explained. ‘People are like, “you know, you’re the most beautiful girl in the world”, and you’re like, “I’m not, I’m just playing with my iPad.”‘
‘Even today, people are like, “you are the most beautiful girl”, and I’m like, “no, I’m still not, I’m just a human being, a teenager.”‘
Thylane – who on Sunday announced her engagement to French DJ Ben Attal – added that she wanted people to understand who she was as a person rather than just knowing her by her title.
She explained during a 2018 chat with The Telegraph that the key to modelling is ‘personality first now. Beauty inside and outside.’
She added that she refuses to conform to the industry’s physical standards, saying: ‘I don’t want to be skinny. Even if people are like, “she’s not that skinny, she can’t do this show,” I’m just like, “ok fine, I’m not going to do that show.”
‘I’m not going to be skinny and not eat for them. If I want to eat, I can eat. I eat burgers. I’m not going to change this ever.’
On whether she could see herself continuing to model in the future, she mused: ‘I just want to be happy and do what I like.
‘If I still want to be a model, I [will] model, and [do] acting. But I want to be happy first.’
Indeed, Thylane’s initial decision to join the modelling world was not her own, having been only three years old when she was scouted on the streets of Paris and invited to walk in a Jean Paul Gaultier show.
And despite the many luxuries that came with her moniker, Thylane was robbed of a so-called normal childhood.
By the age of 16, Thylane had already modelled for Vogue Paris, walked the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival and landed brand ambassador for L’Oréal Paris.
The daughter of TV presenter Véronika Loubry and retired footballer Patrick Blondeau, then moved to Kensington High Street, living next to her ‘good friend’ Brooklyn Beckham, while she also had a place in St Tropez.
Now Thylane has moved back to France where she resides with her fiancé, but still hasn’t lost her ‘most beautiful girl in the world’ title.
Thylane, who boasts 6.8 million followers on Instagram, embarked on a modelling career that was the stuff of dreams – and some controversy.
Today, Thylane has worked for some of the biggest couture brands in the world including Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana, L’Oréal Paris, Versace, Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss.
She fronted prestigious ad campaigns while also juggling her role as a fashion and beauty entrepreneur – with a social circle comprising nepo babies and supermodels.
Thylane previously recalled her experience as a toddler when an agent for Gaultier insisted she model for the designer the following day.
‘My mum said, “No, she’s not with an agency, she can’t do this”,’ Thylane said. ‘Jean Paul Gaultier said, “She has to be there tomorrow.” So Mum was like, ‘Why not?’
The opportunity meant the world of fashion rolled out the red carpet for Thylane, who appeared in French Vogue as part of a controversial 2010 fashion spread titled ‘Quel Maquillage à Quel Âge?’ or, in English, ‘What Makeup at What Age?’
Thylane, then only 10, was dressed in a gold dress and heels – as the images sparked backlash for ‘sexualising’ the pre-teen.
Her mother Veronika defended the cover at the time.
She told a French newspaper: ‘The only thing that shocks me about the photo is the necklace that she’s wearing, which is worth 3 million Euros,’ or about $4.3 million.’
Six years later, she made her adult runway debut in February 2017, when she walked for Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week. The debut was such a success the designer duo invited her back to walk for them again in September 2017.
Thylane was also chosen as a brand ambassador for L’Oréal, and named the face of a perfume by French designer Lolita Lempicka.
She shared screen space with Zendaya, Lucky Blue Smith, and Presley Gerber, when Blondeau was chosen to be a part of Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2017 campaign.
Since she earned worldwide fame as the world’s most beautiful girl, Thylane has mingled with the creme de la creme of the industry, including Jourdan Dunn and Gigi Hadid.
Today, she juggles her career as a model and social media influencer with her role as an entrepreneur.
Her most recent venture is a beauty and haircare brand, Enalyht, which has as its tagline: ‘Born from need. Made with care’.
On her Instagram, Thylane posts sultry selfies and behind-the-scenes snaps of her jet-setting lifestyle, showing off her darker hair but still with the same pout and piercing blue eyes.
She models her wardrobe and gives fans glimpses of her dog as well as her red-carpet looks and luxury holidays.
And with all the star power behind her, she’s challenging industry expectations and previously revealed she would not be adhering to size 0 beauty standards.
Thylane and Ben announced their engagement on Sunday evening as they unwound at the five-star Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel in Greece, where guests are invited to immerse themselves ‘in a serene beachfront escape where sea, land, and culture come together in perfect harmony’ – all for an eye-watering £600 per-night.
It was here, in the exclusive grounds of the Four Seasons, that an ecstatic Thylane gave social media followers their first look at her engagement ring – a sparkling oval diamond, set in a solid gold band and worth more than £30,000 – shortly after accepting her boyfriend’s outdoor proposal.
Captioning an array of photos, the model wrote: ‘I said yes to my best friend. Here’s to forever.’
