This article was originally published on 24/7Mirror
1. Welcoming a Beautiful Child into The World
It was 2001 when two well-known celebrities – television host, Véronika Loubry, and French soccer star, Patrick Blondeau – welcomed a cute daughter into their world. They named her Thylane Blondeau.
As Thylane was the first-born child, her parents were invested in her life from the beginning. It was due to their constant encouragement and support that she was able to become the star she is today. It was not just the prominence and wealth of Thylane's parents that helped her; it was also her attractive aesthetics that paved a path to a modeling career for her.
2. Famous Father
It can be said that Thylane Blondeau has success in her genes. Her father, Patrick Blondeau, has enjoyed a prolific career in soccer. He was team captain for both the French Ligue 1 and British Premier League and now has a career in coaching soccer.
Children try to follow in their parents' footsteps. Although Thylane didn't choose soccer, her interest leaned towards the advertisement industry. That's when her mother, a television host, helped her enter the fashion world.
3. Famous Mother
Thylane's mother, Véronika Loubry, is also a well-known French TV personality. Véronika has mostly focused on working in television and has made a name for herself as a gifted interviewer.
In addition to having a successful career as a television presenter, she has also acted in a few television shows. Although Véronika's career was more focused on television, she had a passion for something else.
4. Choosing Another Endeavor
Véronika Loubry had already established herself in the television industry, but she wanted to follow something she had been dreaming about for a long time. She was already hailed as a talented television presenter, and though she enjoyed her work, it wasn't her passion.
So, she finally decided to change the direction of her profession and go for what she truly loved; the fantastic world of fashion. To start her new career path, there was no better place than France - one of the fashion capitals of the world. She didn’t know at that time that her bold decision would help pave the path for her daughter into the world of fashion.
5. Starting a Catwalk Career at a Very Young Age
Although most countries have a minimum age requirement when it comes to runway modeling, there are different children laws in France. Hence, it helped Thylane to start her catwalk career at a very young age. All kids are beautiful, and everyone who had seen Thylane would swear that there was something else about her that made her so strikingly beautiful.
It didn't take long for her to get picked up for her first gig as a toddler walking on the runway. And her first gig was for a famous designer Jean Paul Gaultier. As Thylane walked the runway with an older model, everyone noticed the confidence on her face. She strutted down the catwalk with good ease, and everyone knew that a star was in the making.
6. First Professional Photoshoot
Thylane Blondeau was lucky enough to get employed by a renowned fashion designer, Jean-Paul Gaultier. But who was the first photographer who took her professional photographs? It was none other than the talented Dani Brubaker, who is considered to be one of the world's most famous photographers.
Thylane was just seven-years-old when she was shot in her first real photoshoot. The exciting photos of the adorable Thylane helped her a lot in advancing her career. Fast forward three years, and she landed a great opportunity about which the media started to raise questions.
7. Landing a Big Gig
Thylane's first photoshoot was just a start as she then worked for some elite fashion advertisers and publications. After her first real photoshoot at the age of seven, she modeled in several photoshoots in the next three years — however, none of those opportunities matched with one that completely changed her life.
She was just ten years old when she got a chance to be featured in Vogue Magazine. She participated in a photoshoot for Vogue Paris' children’s edition. It was a gig that fashionistas dream about their whole lives, and Thylane was able to get it at a very young age. The parents of Thylane had to think twice before making their decision, but they soon found out the repercussions of accepting such a big job offer.
8. Unexpected Turn of Events
When Thylane Blondeau's parents finally decided to accept a job for their daughter for Vogue Paris children issue, they didn't know that their decision would have such unexpected consequences. They didn't make their decision in a spur of the moment and they thought a lot before making it. But they had no idea that it would slowly turn into a societal nightmare.
The spread included their daughter posing in adult clothing. So, when people saw Thylane posing in more mature clothing in the pictures, it sparked controversy. Soon, it became a national dispute all over France over the issue of over-sexualization of minors in the media and advertising. It was expected that the ripple would settle down, but that's not what happened.
9. A Debate That Spread to Other Countries
No one expected the repercussions of the controversy to spread to other countries and different continents. It didn't take long for the debate to be heard all over Europe, and it reached the United States as well.
According to Psychologist Emma Grey, "This picture is the antithesis of what childhood in our society should be; a child being exposed to a world she is not yet equipped to deal with solely to serve the needs of the adults around her." So, was it such a big issue, or was it created into one?
10. Taking an Important Decision
When Patrick Blondeau and Véronika Loubry saw that the controversial debate wasn't settling down, they had to make a crucial parental decision. Thylane's mother loved the fashion industry, but she was not prepared to sacrifice her beloved daughter for it.
She knew that it was best to decline any more prospects. She and her husband decided that it would be best not to accept any more modeling jobs. They wanted to focus on giving their daughter a positive and healthy childhood, and for the controversy to go away.
11. An Expensive Necklace
Thylane's mother had decided that they would not accept any modeling jobs, and it meant that their daughter's career in fashion was temporarily put on hold. However, the media was still concerned about the photos for Vogue Paris. Some people were questioning their parenting.
When a French newspaper approached Véronika Loubry and asked what her thoughts were on the controversial photoshoot, she calmly replied, "I admit, I was shocked during the photoshoot. But let me be precise: the only thing that shocked me is that the necklace she wore was worth €3 million!”
12. Coming Back with A Bang
When Thylane Blondeau started working again, she got large backing from the social media world. Despite participating in a controversial advertisement when she was just ten years old, she continued to model with a fresh start.
As she entered her teenage years, she worked more, and started to gain a significant following on social media. Her decision to walk back into the fashion world was a huge success as her number of followers on Instagram grew rapidly. As of now, she has over 3.3 million followers on Instagram
13. Creating a Big Wave
Thylane Blondeau had a different childhood than her peers. As she continued modeling after a little break, she built an impressive following on Instagram in a short time.
Everyone in the fashion world started to notice her, and she knew how to sweep everyone off their feet with her fierce game. She was only 14-years-old when the world-famous, Elite IMG International Modeling Agency gave her a contract.
14. Did She Like Her Lifestyle?
People who are in the fashion world and those who follow it can quickly tell you modeling can be tough. So, did it mean that Thylane, who was modeling at a very young age, liked her lifestyle? Although Thylane took a break from modeling for a few years, some people had concerns regarding her will in the decision.
In an interview with Teen Vogue, Thylane answered the question. She said that she enjoys working as a model and is quite satisfied with how she is building her career. She added, "My favorite part of the job is meeting new photographers and makeup artists,” she said. “I love to try on all the clothes, too!”
15. A New Venture
When it came down to print media, Thylane Blondeau worked with dedication and commitment, and her hard work helped her achieve a lot of success as well – but what about acting? As she was taking calculated decisions to make a name for herself in the print media, she thought of some experimentation.
In 2015, she decided to give the entertainment industry a try. She auditioned for a role in the sequel to a famous French film and got the part in her first attempt. She received a role for the movie Belle et Sébastien (Belle & Sébastien: The Adventure Continues).
16. A Witty Reply
Although people didn't have much issue when Thylane showed her acting skills in a movie, the media was still asking questions about her modeling. When the film Belle et Sébastien was released, the controversy of child modeling came up again.
An interviewer asked Thylane about her thoughts on being too young to model. In response, she said, “Well, Kate Moss started modeling at the age of fifteen, and that was a little while ago," she said. "So, no. I’m not too young. If you have a good agency and people who take care of you, it’s perfect.”
17. Becoming a Big Sister
Thylane had a pretty unique and adventurous childhood that was filled with exciting opportunities and surprises. A year after she had the life-changing runway walk experience, she became a big sister.
It was the most meaningful thing that happened to her. She was the only child in the house, and now she was sister to the cute baby brother Ayrton-Romeø Blondeau.
18. Like Sister, Like Brother
Thylane Blondeau had to go through a lot of controversies concerning her age, and even her consent to model at the age of 10, but what most people didn't notice was her attitude towards the modeling world. It seemed quite apparent that she was happy with her overall experience.
As a whole, she truly enjoyed the atmosphere of the fashion industry and loved everything about it. That explains why she is so amazing at modeling. Her little brother, Ayrton, would soon follow his sister's footsteps as well.
19. A Hard Worker
If you are a teenager and you start to work, then it can become difficult to balance school, friends, and work. So, it is understandable that the concept of working as a teenager can be demanding.
Thylane was modeling, and she knew that it was going to be challenging and exhausting to travel around all the time on top of work. But she also learned to work hard and enjoy its benefits.
20. Work Hard, Play Hard
Understandably, the working conditions of a model can be challenging and exhausting, but it is equally rewarding as well. What Thylane did so well was that she was mentally prepared to work hard because she knew that it would help her get to experience great events.
Moreover, it also helped her meet celebrities. Take this photo as an example. Here, she met Kanye West (who needs no introduction) before she turned sixteen. She is living a dream life.
21. Gigi Hadid as Older Sister?
Thylane Blondeau doesn't have an older sister, but what if Gigi Hadid could be one? We think that the 24-year old world-famous runway model could easily be her older sister.
After all, both of them became successful stars at such a young age. And IMG Models signed Gigi Hadid in 2013 (just a couple of years before they signed on Thylane Blondeau). Call us crazy, but we think they look so similar to each other as well.
22. Beauty with Brains
Although the high-society lifestyle and fame can be difficult to handle for most people, especially when you are young, it didn't have a lot of effect on Thylane Blondeau. She knew very well that a career in modeling would mean a lot of networking, competition, and a constant need to keep a balanced life between being a kid and a star as well. She remained committed and dedicated to her passion despite facing ups and downs at a very young age.
Her unwavering passion is exactly what you need to survive and thrive in a highly competitive industry. One thing that has impressed a lot of people is how she has managed to maintain balance and give importance to her priorities.
23. Focusing on Studies As Well
As we mentioned before, Thylane Blondeau understands the importance of priorities, and she is not afraid to share them either. There is no denying that school can be very stressful. But she believes that school is an essential aspect of her life. So, people are curious to know how she can maintain a balance between her work and school life.
After Paris Fashion Week in 2016, an interviewer from W Magazine asked Thylane Blondeau about her plans on spending the rest of her evening. She replied, "Going home to get some rest and going to school.”
24. Big Birthday Surprise
If we take a look back at past milestones of Thylane Blondeau, you can see that she started modeling at the age of four and then was photographed by Dani Brubaker. She was also featured in Vogue Paris and got a contract offer from IMG International Modeling Agency. But none of these milestones were as close as what she achieved on her sixteen birthday.
In April 2017 (exactly on her sixteen birthday), she was contracted as the brand ambassador for L’Oréal Paris. Today, she is known as the youngest 'Loréalista" in history.
25. More Big Things Came Her Way
Thylane Blondeau became the ambassador of L’Oréal Paris on her sixteen birthday, and she didn't know that it was the start of an excellent year for her. After becoming the brand ambassador of such a big brand, she got a special role with Dolce & Gabbana as well.
It was a big deal for her because the D&G campaign comprised some of the biggest icons of the Fashion world. She even co-starred in the millennial-themed spring/summer campaign with singer/actress Zendaya, IMG model Presley Gerber, and model/musician Lucky Blue.
26. Ending 2017 on a High Note As Well
2017 was certainly a great year for Thylane as she went on to work with big brands such as L’Oréal and Dolce & Gabbana. So, when the “Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2017” was released in December, the talented and highly impressive model made it to SECOND place.
Although she was nominated multiples times for the list, she was never nominated this high. It is worth mentioning here that each time she was nominated, she got higher in the list than before.
27. Only Getting Better
It was not Thylane's first appearance on the "Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Faces." In fact, she had appeared on it in 2014 (she ranked in 84th place) in 2015 (she ranked among the top 30), and in 2016 (she ranked in 5th place). As she got older, her rank number got higher.
It wasn't a big surprise when she was again nominated on the list. However, this time, she finally got first place. She was officially named "The Most Beautiful Face of 2018” by the Independent Critics List.
28. Making the Best of The Digital Age
Thylane Blondeau can count herself lucky because she is a Generation Z baby. Growing up in an industry at a time when the Internet is a goldmine of entertainment, she is making the best out of social media.
She has a lot of social media following. With over 3 million Instagram followers, she isn't just sticking to one platform. She also has a lively presence on YouTube and Twitter.
29. Living the Dream
Thylane Blondeau is smart and she knows how to keep her career on the right path. Although she is living an elite life, she is working equally hard for it. Thanks to her age, she is relatable in the social media world and she has a highly impressive outreach to girls about inner-strength and doing what they want to do.
In just a few years, Thylane has surely experimented a lot from runway walks to even acting, and it is exciting to see what her next career move will be.
30. More Branching Out
Thylane has certainly developed a lot in such a short time in the fashion world, and her fans are excited to know more about her future plans. She isn't going to say goodbye to modeling anytime soon and she wants to act more, but there is another thing that she's really interested in doing.
She has been working on a new business idea. The aspiring model has high hopes for her new clothing line called Heaven May.
31. Keeping Everyone on the Edge of Their Seat
One thing that we can say about Thylane Blondeau is that she is a highly motivated and lively girl. At such a young age, she has been all over the place. Whether it is modeling, acting, social media managing, or even creating a new business, she has done quite a lot, and it seems like she has no plans for stopping anytime soon.
However, we have no idea whether she will choose to study in college after graduating from high school or if she is going to write a book. We are sure about one thing that no matter what she plans, she is more than equipped to achieve it.
32. Her Vision
Thylane is quite passionate about her new clothing line Heaven May. “I’ve been dreaming of launching my own brand for a really long time. I hope Heaven May will give my community the empowerment and self-confidence we’re all looking for.”
It seems quite evident that she is excited about her business, and we hope she achieves a lot of success in it. Amazingly, she is so young, and yet she knows how to keep everything together in her life. She is undoubtedly a role model for a lot of girls out there.
33. Ruling Social Media, Especially Instagram
Thylane Blondeau understands the power of social media in this digital age. Given the fact that she is a teenager, she is part of a generation that can be inspired by setting a new trend or a social media post that encourages positivity.
It is great to see that the model understands her responsibility as a celebrity. She hopes to inspire others to live positively. Her followers on social media, especially Instagram, are growing on a daily basis. She is certainly ruling social media at such a young age.
34. Her Instagram Account is Lit!
If you haven't seen or followed Thylane Blondeau's Instagram account, then you have been using Instagram wrong. Her IG account is filled with dynamic and creative pictures of her. While some photos are cute, others are more dark & edgy. In some pictures, you'll see her chilling around the house and in others, you'll see her on the runway walking like a boss.
She knows how to keep her fans posted, and many of her followers eagerly wait for her new posts. No wonder why she gathered such impressive following in such a short time.
35. Maintaining Balance in IG Posts As Well
One thing we all have come to know about Thylane Blondeau so far is that she knows how to maintain balance in her life. You'll be surprised to know that she does the same when it comes to managing her Instagram account as well. She doesn't just share all the glamorous photos. Instead, she shares behind the scenes moments with her fans to show them how much effort is put into making them look good.
She has maintained an impressive balance between her glamorous high-society lifestyle and a more relatable hard-working version of herself. You can find her relaxing in over-sized sweat-shirts and also in glamorous photoshoots.
36. Modern Ways to Connect
In the 1990s and 2000s, celebrities and models used to hide their no-so glamorous lifestyles, but models such as Thylane do the exact opposite.
Whether it is sharing a candid photo of her just hanging out at home, Thylane isn't shy about sharing anything on her account. She knows how to connect with her fans, and we love how she does it so effortlessly.
37. Behind-the-Scenes Photos
Many models share their glamorous and fancy photos, but what Thylane Blondeau focuses a lot on is to share everything with her fans, and that includes behind-the-scenes snapshots. Whenever she is in the process of having her hair or makeup done, she takes some selfies and candid photos.
Although she takes a lot of random photos, we find it amazing that she is always able to show some sort of creativity in all of her photos.
38. She's Living The Ultimate Millennial Dream
Apart from some creative photos on Thylane's Instagram account, there are her traveling photos as well which range from her waiting at the airport to visiting historical sites. In some photos, she can be seen staying in her hotel room while in others she is visiting some of the most beautiful locations in the world.
It is really amazing how she is able to explore so many places in the world at such a young age. It goes without saying that she is living the ultimate millennial dream.
39. So, What's Next?
What we have seen so far tells us one thing, this girl is amazing. She is talented, hardworking, committed, and passionate about her work. She likes to take on new challenges, and she is full of life. Thylane Blondeau is rocking everything that comes her way.
From runway shows to modeling print ads, she knows what she is doing in her life. Perhaps there is another surprise that might be heading our way. For now, all we can do is wait.