She Was Once Called the Most Beautiful Girl in the World, Here's What She Looks Like Now

Labels like “world’s most beautiful child” pop up every few years, usually pinned on a toddler who briefly conquers fashion runways or the internet’s front page. The fascination is easy to understand: audiences love a prodigy story, especially when high-gloss magazines and big-name designers are involved.

Yet these headlines rarely stop to ask what happens when the camera crews and hashtags move on. One of the most talked-about examples is French model Thylane Blondeau, whose early career became a lightning rod for cheers, criticism, and a sometimes uncomfortable public debate about the impact of childhood fame. Here’s how her story unfolded and where she’s taken it since.

Thylane was born in April 2001 to French footballer Patrick Blondeau and television presenter Veronika Loubry. When she was three, her mother brought her to a fashion event near the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

An agent for Jean Paul Gaultier noticed the bright blue eyes and blonde curls peeking out of a stroller and insisted she appear in the designer’s next show. From that single booking, Thylane’s schedule filled almost overnight.

By kindergarten age, she had walked for Gaultier, posed for Vogue Enfants, and become a regular at couture parties where most guests had driver’s licenses and press teams.

Thylane Blondeau became famous as a toddler.

Global brands quickly lined up. Campaigns for Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana, L’Oréal Paris, Versace, Ralph Lauren, and Hugo Boss followed, each one presenting her as a tiny fashion muse. A British newspaper ran a photo spread under the headline “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” and the label stuck.

Strangers on fan pages proudly repeated it; others bristled at the idea of ranking a child’s looks. Even supportive comments carried a loaded undertone: beauty was framed as her defining asset long before she had the chance to choose her own identity.

Around age seven, Thylane dialed back modeling to focus on primary school. The lull ended at ten when Vogue Enfants put her on the cover in stilettos, heavy eye shadow, and a gold dress.

Critics said the shoot blurred the line between children’s fashion and adult sexuality. French politicians called for stricter rules; child advocacy groups cited her case in open letters about advertising ethics.

Thylane’s team maintained that the styling was a creative choice, but the debate foreshadowed similar arguments that continue today.

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She is 24 now.

By her mid-teens, Thylane began steering her career herself. She shot a Guess campaign, signed with IMG Models, and landed a small role in the 2015 adventure film Belle & Sebastian: The Adventure Continues.

These jobs still leveraged her public profile, yet they also showed she could work beyond the “little girl” image fixed in people’s memories.

In 2018, now an adult, she launched a clothing line called Heaven May, pitching it as comfy streetwear she’d wear off duty. The same year, TC Candler’s annual “100 Most Beautiful Faces” list ranked her number one, giving the old nickname fresh oxygen.

That attention helped sales but also fueled the ongoing debate about beauty labels that bear her name.

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Today, Thylane is 24, splits her time between part-time modeling gigs and running Heaven May, and posts travel snapshots and behind-the-scenes clips to 7 million Instagram followers. Whenever a photo goes viral, the old title resurfaces, often in ways she never asked for.

When the New York Post re-shared recent pictures, one commenter wrote,

“It’s sad to name a child as the most beautiful child in the world; it’s weird.” Another added, “Putting six-year-old children and ranking their beauty in the world speaks volumes for where we are culturally.” A third simply said, “All little girls are beautiful.”

Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, discusses the effects of societal standards of beauty on children's mental health. She notes that being labeled the 'most beautiful girl in the world' can set unrealistic expectations that may hinder personal development. Such labels often lead to a narrow definition of self-worth based on appearance, which can be detrimental.

Fisher recommends that parents and mentors encourage children to explore diverse talents and interests, fostering a holistic sense of identity that extends beyond beauty. This approach can contribute to healthier self-esteem and personal fulfillment.

Her looks became a topic of discussion.

Thylane has made it clear she would prefer to drop the superlative.

“Even today, people are like, ‘You are the most beautiful girl,’” she told The Telegraph in 2018. “And I’m like, ‘No, I’m still not; I’m just a human being, a teenager.’” She has also described her first encounter with Gaultier’s agent: “My mum said, ‘No, she’s not with an agency; she can’t do this.’ Jean Paul Gaultier said, ‘She has to be there tomorrow.’ So Mum was like, ‘Why not?’”

That mix of gratitude and ambivalence runs through her interviews. She credits early opportunities for teaching her professionalism and resilience. At the same time, she pushes back when people treat her as a permanent child star rather than an adult building a business.

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The Impact of Early Fame

Dr. Angela Duckworth, a renowned psychologist known for her work on grit and perseverance, highlights the unique challenges faced by child celebrities like Thylane Blondeau. In her research, she emphasizes that early fame can create intense pressure and unrealistic expectations, often leading to struggles with identity and self-worth later in life.

Duckworth's studies suggest that fostering resilience through supportive relationships and self-reflection can help mitigate these challenges. Young stars should be encouraged to maintain a balanced life outside the spotlight to nurture their emotional well-being.

Thylane sounds pragmatic about her unusual path. Modeling offers flexible income and creative projects; entrepreneurship lets her call the shots.

She rarely dwells on past controversies, yet she doesn’t pretend the nickname never happened either. Instead, she treats it as background noise, sometimes useful, sometimes annoying, always outside her control.

For observers still curious about “where the ‘most beautiful girl in the world’ ended up,” the answer is straightforward: she grew up, picked new goals, and kept going, just like anyone else who once had a viral moment before they could spell “viral.”

In conclusion, the journey of child celebrities like Thylane Blondeau serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding early fame and societal expectations. Experts like Dr. Duckworth and Dr. Fisher provide vital insights into how labels can impact mental health and self-perception.

To cultivate resilience and a balanced identity, it’s essential to nurture children’s interests and support them through the challenges of fame. Encouraging open communication and diverse self-exploration can lay the groundwork for a healthier, more fulfilling life beyond the spotlight.