The Photo That Started It All
It’s hard to forget that iconic photo, taken by her mother, TV host Véronika Loubry. There was Thylane, just a kid from Aix-en-Provence, looking like she’d rolled out of bed, yet somehow exuding more glamour than most people manage in a lifetime. That picture quickly went viral, and suddenly Thylane was at the center of global attention, her face splashed across every corner of the internet.
By the time she was 10, Thylane Léna-Rose Blondeau had appeared in the pages of the legendary Vogue magazine. She soon graced covers of Teen Vogue, Jalouse, L’Officiel, and Grazia. And modeling wasn’t her only talent—she also made a name for herself as an actress in France. In 2013, she played Gabrielle, one of the lead roles in the film “Belle and Sebastian: The Adventure Continues.” Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, she once dated Raphaël Le Friant, son of DJ Bob Sinclar. Busy, right?
A New Chapter: From Childhood Fame to Supermodel Ambitions
Today, Thylane is no longer the child the world first knew. She’s grown up, but her passion for fashion and modeling remains as strong as ever. Thylane is now represented by IMG Models, one of the biggest names in the industry. Ambitious and full of drive, she celebrated her 22nd birthday not long ago.
Her family is still a big part of her world—her mother, proud as ever of both her children, often shares new snapshots of Thylane on Instagram, especially during Fashion Week, the Cannes Film Festival, or a new ad campaign. And yes, people are still curious about the details: Thylane isn’t the tallest at her agency, standing about 5’6″ (1.68 m) and weighing around 128 lbs (58 kg), but it’s always been her striking features that turned heads, rather than her height.
Behind the Spotlight: The Pressures of Fame
While Thylane’s childhood was, in many ways, similar to that of other kids, her life took a sharp turn at 16. That’s when she signed with L’Oréal Paris, joining the ranks of brand ambassadors like Eva Longoria, Leïla Bekhti, and Kate Winslet. Not bad company!
“It’s an honor for me to join the L’Oréal Paris family, a cosmetics brand I’ve always dreamed of working with. Getting to be around beauty professionals and icons I’ve admired forever—it’s honestly the best birthday gift I could get for my 16th!”
“At L’Oréal Paris, I truly feel like I can be myself and stand for values that matter to me, like confidence and self-esteem. It’s the start of a wonderful adventure.”
From there, contracts stacked up: she worked with Lolita Lempicka, then APM Monaco, and most recently, she launched a capsule collection with Etam for summer 2022.
The Weight of a Title
But what does it really mean to be called “the most beautiful girl in the world”—or sometimes “the most beautiful face in the world”? For Thylane, it wasn’t always easy. Was it a prize, or a burden? When interviewed by Le Nouvel Obs, she was candid:
“A bit of both.”
“In Aix-en-Provence, that title didn’t matter at all. Every mom thinks her daughter is the most beautiful in the world. And then, scrolling through social media, I see so many women who are much more beautiful than me. People kept telling me how gorgeous I was, but I still lack self-confidence.”
With her family—her parents and her younger brother Ayrton—Thylane insists she’s just like anyone else. She’s not the trending girl from social media, and she genuinely values those simple moments.
“It’s not because I had this ‘title’ that I have to look flawless all the time. In fact, I no longer want to be defined only by my appearance,” she explained. “When I was younger, I sometimes struggled with the pressure to fit into the stereotypical mold of femininity. Plus, I’ve always been shorter than other models, and a bit curvier. Luckily, attitudes have changed, and it’s no longer mandatory to be 5’11” (1.80 m) or look anorexic on the runway. The latest Etam show proved that all women and all body types are represented in fashion today. It’s a relief.”
So, what does “the most beautiful girl in the world” look like now? She’s a young woman chasing her own ambitions, still shining on runways and in campaigns, and increasingly comfortable in her own, very real, skin.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
