Thylane Blondeau was thrust into the spotlight as a toddler, stepping into the high-pressure world of fashion long before most children even start school.
By six, she had already been labeled the “most beautiful girl in the world”— but behind the glamorous image, her experience has been far more complicated.
$4.3 million necklace
Now 24, the model is opening up about what it was really like growing up in the public eye. While other kids spent their time playing, she was working with major designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and attending elite fashion events.
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 (about $4.3 million)” she said, per the Mirror, brushing off critics who claimed the image was too provocative.
Looking back, Thylane feels that much of her childhood was taken from her.
Despite achieving major milestones early — appearing in Vogue Paris, walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, and becoming a brand ambassador for L’Oréal Paris—she says the success came with a cost. One of her biggest struggles has been reminding people that she’s more than just a public image.
Reflecting on her early fame, she told The Telegraph:
“When you’re small, you don’t really pay attention. ‘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’.”
She has also pushed back against the fashion industry’s expectations, especially when it comes to body image.
“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.”
Prioritizing something far simpler
Born on April 5, 2001, in Aix-en-Provence, France, Thylane is the daughter of TV presenter Véronika Loubry and former footballer Patrick Blondeau. She grew up between luxury homes and high-profile circles, even living near Brooklyn Beckham at one point.
Today, she has returned to France and is focused on building a life on her own terms alongside her fiancé, Ben Attal. She is still very much in the public eye, boasting over 6.8 million followers on Instagram.
Looking at her success today, Thylane Blondeau has built an impressive fortune over the years. Back in 2021, her net worth was estimated to be around $4.3 million, according to Glamour UK. After signing with IMG Models at just 16, she stepped into a world where the average salary is reported to be over $200,000 annually—making her long career in fashion even more lucrative.
With years of experience and major brand collaborations behind her, she continues to grow her wealth — despite still struggling to relate to the image others have of her.
“I do not consider myself the most beautiful girl in the world!” she told L’Officiel in 2018. “When I was little, people always told me. But I did not even understand what they meant. Because who says that? Who says I am the most beautiful?”
Now, after years in the spotlight, Blondeau is prioritizing something far simpler than fame. “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.”
At the same time, Thylane Blondeau is still actively working as a model. Most recently, she turned heads during Paris Fashion Week, stepping out in a chic brown wool suit and pointed heels outside the Palais d’Iéna. With her signature brunette waves, minimal makeup, and clear glasses, she embraced a natural, effortless look—but it also sparked fresh speculation online about cosmetic procedures.
Clearly frustrated by the constant scrutiny, she chose to address the rumors directly in a now-expired Instagram Story.
“I know that in this generation people tend to do things very early, but I’ve never touched anything,” she said. “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.”
Before you share this story with others, please let us know what you think of Thylane Blondeau 20 years after she was named the “most beautiful girl in the world!”
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