Thylane Blondeau entered a new chapter on Monday, marrying French actor and DJ Ben Attal in an elegant Paris ceremony just three months after the couple announced their engagement.
Long before her wedding made headlines, Blondeau had already become a familiar name in fashion circles after being described as “the most beautiful girl in the world” when she was still a child.
The label followed a Vogue Enfants photoshoot when she was just six years old, a moment that dramatically raised her profile and helped turn her into one of the industry’s most recognizable young models.
In the years that followed, Blondeau built an international modeling career, working with major fashion and beauty names including Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss and L’Oreal.
Yet while that early title opened doors, it also became a lasting part of her public image, shadowing her career as she grew from a child model into an established figure in the fashion world.
Following her Paris nuptials, attention has once again turned to Blondeau’s unusual rise to fame, from her childhood breakthrough to her enduring place on the global fashion scene.
Thylane Blondeau first drew international attention after being called “the most beautiful little girl in the world” following a Vogue Enfants photoshoot at age six; pictured in the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2006 show
Blondeau has since worked with some of fashion’s best-known brands, including Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and L’Oreal; pictured March 10 at the Miu Miu show during Paris Fashion Week
On Monday, she put her reputation aside as she tied the knot with the French DJ Ben Attal (pictured)in a gorgeous ceremony in Paris, just three months after they got engaged. In the wake of her new nuptials, the Daily Mail takes a look back at Blondeau’s whirlwind career
The future catwalk star was born in April 2001 as Thylane Léna-Rose Loubry Blondeau in Aix-en-Provence in the South of France.
She was born to high-profile parents, Patrick Blondeau and Véronika Loubry.
Patrick Blondeau is a former professional soccer player who played both for French teams in the top Ligue 1 and for English teams in the Premier League.
He and Loubry – an actress, television presenter and fashion designer – were married in 2002 and went on to share two children: Thylane and a son, Ayrton Blondeau, who was born in 2007.
The couple later divorced in 2016.
Thylane’s mother’s connections to the entertainment and fashion industries may have been helpful to kickstart her modeling career at only four years old, when she walked in Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 2006 Paris Fashion Week show after being scouted on the streets of Paris.
Thylane previously recalled her experience as a toddler when an agent for Gaultier insisted she model for the designer the following day.
‘My mum said, “No, she’s not with an agency, she can’t do this”,’ Thylane said. ‘Jean Paul Gaultier said, “She has to be there tomorrow.” So Mum was like, “Why not?”‘
The future catwalk star was born in April 2001 as Thylane Léna-Rose Loubry Blondeau in Aix-en-Provence in the South of France. She was born to high-profile parents, retired French soccer star Patrick Blondeau and Véronika Loubry
Loubry is an an actress and television presenter who later became a fashion designer
Thylane’s mother’s connections to the entertainment and fashion industries may have been helpful to kickstart her modeling career
At only four years old, she walked in Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 2006 Paris Fashion Week show after being scouted on the streets of Paris
Soon, Blondeau was working for names including Dolce & Gabbana and Hugo Boss.
Despite the novelty of a young girl working with such prestigious fashion houses, it wasn’t until her appearance in Vogue Enfants – an offshoot of Vogue – in 2006 that she became a child sensation when she was dubbed the ‘most beautiful girl in the world.’
Blondeau has previously revealed she didn’t understand the weight of the title in her childhood, and as she grew older she tried hard not to let it define her.
‘When you’re small, you don’t really pay attention,’ Thylane explained. ‘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.”
Thylane added that she wanted people to understand who she was as a person rather than just knowing her by her title.
After becoming a sensation through Vogue, Blondeau became a regular fixture on TC Candler’s ‘100 Most Beautiful Faces’ list.
She hadn’t even had her first photoshoot when Vogue took notice, though that was rectified at age seven, when she was shot by fashion photographer Dani Brubaker, who would continue to work with her for years to come.
Despite the novelty of a young girl working with such prestigious fashion houses, it wasn’t until her appearance in Vogue Enfants – an offshoot of Vogue – in 2006 that she became a child sensation when she was dubbed the ‘most beautiful girl in the world.’
Blondeau has previously revealed she didn’t understand the weight of the title in her childhood, and as she grew older she tried hard not to let it define her; pictured in the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2006 show
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In 2011, when Blondeau was 10, she was enveloped in controversy after posing for Vogue Paris in suggestive spreads while wearing heels, suggestively tight dresses and lipstick; pictured with her mother in 2015 on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival
In 2011, when Blondeau was 10, she was enveloped in controversy after posing for Vogue Paris in suggestive spreads while wearing heels, suggestively tight dresses and lipstick.
She appeared in the magazine with other young models, but many readers perceived her as looking more mature than her colleagues, particularly because of some of her poses, which wouldn’t have been out of place in a photoshoot with an adult model.
Critics debated whether the feature was an example of the sexualization of children, while others thought the photos were a harmless bit of fun.
While some debated the editorial and artistic decisions at work in the spreads, Blondeau’s career continued without a hitch as she continued to score more photoshoots and magazine covers.
By 2015, Blondeau – now a teen – was walking the runway for Dolce & Gabbana.
That year, she also signed a modeling contract with IMG Models, cementing her status as an in-demand figure in fashion.
In 2017, Blondeau further elevated her profile by becoming an ambassador for L’Oreal Paris, and she appeared with some American stars, including Zendaya, Cindy Crawford’s son Presley Gerber and Lucky Blue Smith, in a Dolce & Gabbana campaign.
The following year, she signaled that her aspirations were bigger than just modeling when she launched her own brand, Heaven May, though it appears to have gone quiet in recent years.
She appeared in the magazine with other young models, but many readers perceived her as looking more mature than her colleagues, which raised questions about the sexualization of children in media; pictured in 2015 in Paris
By 2015, Blondeau – now a teen – was walking the runway for Dolce & Gabbana. That year, she also signed a modeling contract with IMG Models, cementing her status as an in-demand figure in fashion; seen in 2019 in London
Toward the end of the decade, Blondeau was increasingly focused on her philosophy of modeling.
She explained during a 2018 chat with The Telegraph that the key to modeling is ‘personality first now. Beauty inside and outside.’
She added that she refuses to conform to the industry’s physical standards, saying: ‘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.’
On whether she could see herself continuing to model in the future, she mused: ‘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.’
Since she earned worldwide fame as the world’s most beautiful girl, Thylane has mingled with the creme de la creme of the industry, including Jourdan Dunn and Gigi Hadid.
Today, she juggles her career as a model and social media influencer with her role as an entrepreneur.
In 2017, Blondeau further elevated her profile by becoming an ambassador for L’Oreal Paris, and she appeared with some American stars, including Zendaya, Cindy Crawford’s son Presley Gerber and Lucky Blue Smith, in a Dolce & Gabbana campaign
In 2018, she signaled that her aspirations were bigger than just modeling when she launched her own brand, Heaven May, though it appears to have gone quiet in recent years; pictured in 2021 in Paris
Her most recent venture is a beauty and haircare brand, Enalyht, which has as its tagline: ‘Born from need. Made with care.’
On her Instagram, which boasts 6.8 million followers, Thylane posts sultry selfies and behind-the-scenes snaps of her jet-setting lifestyle, showing off her darker hair, but still with the same pout and piercing blue eyes that she has always displayed.
She models her wardrobe and gives fans glimpses of her dog as well as her red-carpet looks and luxury holidays.
And with all the star power behind her, she’s challenging industry expectations and has previously revealed she would not be adhering to size-zero beauty standards.
On Monday, Thylane picked up a new title as she became Mrs Attal after tying the knot with fiancé Ben.
The French native looked incredible in a stunning white gown with elegant cape-style detailing as she arrived at the ceremony with her husband.
Thylane wore her brunette hair in a neat chignon and had a soft palette of makeup.
She was carrying a bouquet of white calla lilies, while holding out her other hand to her new husband Ben as they entered the venue.
Toward the end of the decade, Blondeau was increasingly focused on her philosophy of modeling. She explained during a 2018 chat with The Telegraph that the key to modeling is ‘personality first now. Beauty inside and outside’; seen in 2021 in Paris
The smiling newlyweds arrived in a Porsche 356 Speedster, with their guests standing outside to greet them and snap photos.
They took the non-traditional approach of arriving at their wedding ceremony together.
The wedding came just three months after Ben popped the question.
He proposed while they were staying at the five-star Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel in Greece, where guests are invited to immerse themselves ‘in a serene beachfront escape where sea, land, and culture come together in perfect harmony’ – all for an eye-watering £600 per night.
It was here, in the exclusive grounds of the Four Seasons, that an ecstatic Thylane gave social media followers their first look at her engagement ring – a sparkling oval diamond, set in a solid gold band and worth more than £30,000.
Captioning an array of photos, the model wrote: ‘I said yes to my best friend. Here’s to forever.’
