‘World’s most beautiful girl’ is now Instagram queen with A-list neighbour and model pals – World News

She rose to fame as a child star dubbed the ‘most beautiful girl in the world’ – and these days Thylane Blondeau’s life is no less glamorous.

The stunning model, 20, became an overnight sensation in 2007 when she topped TC Candler’s coveted ‘100 Most Beautiful Faces’ list at the age of just six.

Since then, she has become the face of iconic brands including Dolce & Gabbana and L’Oreal Paris, boasting an incredible army of 4.3million Instagram followers that she dubs her ‘Thylaners’.

This week, Thylane was spotted on holiday in St Tropez with her boyfriend Ben Attal, showing off her showstopping figure in a cute bikini.

The couple began dating last year, and Ben was spotted with his hand placed tenderly on her back as they spent time in the luxury French coastal resort.

Close pals with Brooklyn Beckham, Thylane is used to jetting off around the world – and even used to catch up on schoolwork while travelling through airports for photoshoots. Here, we look back through her incredible life so far.

Scouted by Jean-Paul Gaultier aged just three

As the daughter of former Watford footballer Patrick Blondeau, Thylane has been used to the high life from an early age.

Her mother Veronika Loubry was also a model, and the young star regularly posts throwback snaps of her mum on Instagram – showing an increasingly uncanny resemblance.

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Growing up in Paris, Thylane was just three years old when she was approached by a scout for Jean-Paul Gaultier, who had spotted her walking down the Champs-Elysees with her mum.

“My mum said, ‘No, she’s not with an agency, she can’t do this’,” she told the Telegraph.

“Jean Paul Gaultier said, ‘She has to be there tomorrow.’ So mum was like, ‘Why not?’”

After appearing in TC Candler’s now-famous list, Thylane’s modelling career kicked up a gear, but it wasn’t without controversy.

In 2011, at the age of 10, she appeared in a photoshoot for Vogue Paris, dressing up in a gold dress with high heels, caked in make-up.

The shoot drew widespread criticism and was accused of sexualising children, though mum Veronika spoke out in defence of the pictures.

“I understand that this could seem shocking,” she said. “I admit I myself was shocked during the photo shoot.

“But let me be precise: the only thing that shocked me is that the necklace she wore was worth €3million!”

Millions of fans dubbed ‘Thylaners’

With her modelling career gaining pace, Thylane decided to be homeschooled – explaining how she caught up with homework in the back of Ubers or at airports.

Despite the Vogue controversy, she continued to be in high demand, working for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana and becoming a brand ambassador for L’Oreal Paris.

After scene-stealing turns at London Fashion Week and the Cannes Film Festival, Thylane was stunned to once again top the TC Candler list in 2018 – 11 years after first receiving the honour.

“I just can’t believe it myself, thanks so much @tccandler and everyone who voted,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I never thought I was once number one! I’m thankful to all of you I really hope you’re having great holidays and spend nice Christmas with your family ..all the best to all of you guys lots of love.”

The accolades have turned the French star into one of the world’s most in-demand young models, and she’s developed a huge following on Instagram, with more than 4.3million fans she’s dubbed ‘Thylaners’.

On her 14th birthday, she wrote: “What’s Up my THYLANERS! I wanted to give a big shout out to all of my fans all over the world, for supporting me for my 14th B-day!

“You were so many to wish me a happy birthday I really wanted to tell you guys that I LOVE YOU. And you really are the people that keep me going! Whatever I do I will not disappoint you!”

‘Brooklyn’s a good pal – he lives next door’

Like any young fashion lover, Thylane idolises models like Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Baldwin – and couldn’t resist fangirling when she joined “daaa queen” Gigi Hadid on a shoot.

In February 2016, she also posed on a beach with fellow superstar Kaia Gerber, the daughter of Cindy Crawford.

‘Thylaners’ went wild, however, when the model posed with Hungarian supermodel Barbara Palvin, with followers noticing an uncanny resemblance.

After collaborating on a photo shoot for L’Oreal in October 2016, the pair reunited the following year and Thylane simply posted a snap with the Victoria’s Secret model captioned: “My twin!!!!”

Away from modelling, Thylane has also pursued an acting career, starring in the 2015 French film Belle & Sebastian: The Adventure Continues.

” Angelina Jolie is my ultimate goal as an actress,” she told Teen Vogue. “If I could co-star with anyone, it would of course be her. And Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Johnny Depp.”

While based near St Tropez, she also has a home in Kensington High Street in West London – along with a surprising celebrity pal as neighbour.

“Brooklyn Beckham lives next to my house. He’s a good friend of mine,” Thylane told the Telegraph.

‘I don’t want to be skinny. I eat burgers’

Despite her jet-setting Hollywood lifestyle, Thylane is admiably grounded and has sought to break away from the stereotypical images of skinny ‘heroin chic’ models.

“I don’t want to be skinny,” she told the newspaper. “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.”

She began dating Ben Attal, the son of French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, last year, and posts pictures of their loved-up adventures together – recently showing off a holiday to Disneyland.

Previously, she was in a relationship with Milane Meritte, a renowned French DJ.

Keeping her most grounded, however, is her tight-knit family.

On Instagram, the star regularly tags her younger brother Ayrton, whom she’s called the “best BRO ever”.

The feeling appears to be mutual, with Ayrton’s Instagram full of adorable pictures of the young siblings growing up together.

They also left fans stunned when they posted a throwback picture of their model mum, with Thylane writing “Oh mom…” alongside a flame emoji.

Followers couldn’t help but notice the resemblance, with one writing: “She is so beautiful….I see where you get your looks.”

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