While most four-year-olds were watching Sesame Street and learning their ABCs, Thylane Blondeau was already lighting up the runway. Now, two decades later, the French model – who at six earned the title of “most beautiful girl in the world” – is still commanding the catwalk, shutting down skeptics who thought she’d fade with childhood fame.
Born on April 5, 2001, in Aix-en-Provence, France, Thylane Blondeau is the daughter of former professional footballer Patrick Blondeau and French actor and TV personality Véronika Loubry. With a striking blend of her parents’ features and an unmistakable photogenic presence, she was destined for the spotlight.
At just 4 years old, she was plucked from a crowd by a talent scout for fashion icon Jean Paul Gaultier – and walked her first runway before she even started school.
Crowned ‘most beautiful girl in the world’
Her big break came in 2006, when a photo of her appeared on the cover of Vogue Enfants, sparking viral attention. Dubbed “the most beautiful girl in the world” by Fashion Magazine, she became an overnight sensation.
While some praised the now-iconic photo shoot, others criticized it as overly mature for a child – igniting a public conversation around children in fashion.
But Thylane’s mother stood firmly by it: “The only thing that shocks me about the photo is the necklace that she’s wearing, which is worth 3 million Euros,” she said, per the Mirror, brushing off critics who claimed the image was too provocative.
Regardless, her career skyrocketed.
Modestly beautiful
By her early teens, Blondeau had already walked for top fashion houses like Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, and Hugo Boss. She also landed modeling contracts with Ralph Lauren, Juicy Couture, and later, global beauty giant L’Oréal Paris.
But even with a lifetime of compliments on her appearance, Blondeau has always stayed grounded.
“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,’” she told The Telegraph in 2018, per the New York Post.
“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,’” she added.
It’s that down-to-earth attitude – combined with her drive – that continues to set her apart in an industry often defined by image.
All natural
Beyond the runway, Blondeau has expanded her brand into the business world. She had own clothing label, Heaven May Clothing, and recently launched a beauty and haircare line called Enalyht – her name backwards.
Now 24 years old, Blondeau – named a L’Oreal Paris brand ambassador on her 16th birthday – is still very much in the public eye, boasting over 6.8 million followers on Instagram.
Most recently, the fashionista – one of the shortest in the industry at 5-foot-6 – made waves at Paris Fashion Week, stepping out in a chic brown wool suit and pointy heels outside the Palais d’Iéna. With her signature brunette waves, minimal makeup, and clear glasses, she radiated effortless beauty – but her natural look also reignited online speculation about cosmetic surgery.
Fed up with the constant scrutiny, Blondeau addressed the rumors in an Instagram Story (now expired), making it clear she’s had nothing done.
“I know that in this generation people tend to do things very early, but I’ve never touched anything,” she shared, per the New York Post. “You can look at photos of me when I was younger nothing has changed. People love to compare and make things up but just because I wear makeup or use a lip liner doesn’t mean I’ve had my lips or face done. At some point we need to stop with that.”
And while the title “most beautiful girl in the world” may have been bestowed upon her years ago, Thylane Blondeau is showing that beauty is only a part of her story. With a strong voice, business savvy, and grounded sense of self, she’s proving that there’s much more to her than just a pretty face.
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