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Which too-skinny chick was the world's most famous model in 1967? ... and ... bonus point... what was her real name?

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TWIGGY / LESLIE HORNBY - entertainment illustration
TWIGGY / LESLIE HORNBY — entertainment

In 1967, the fashion world was captivated by a striking new face who rapidly became the most famous model globally, known by her distinctive nickname, Twiggy. Born Lesley Hornby, this British teenager embodied the "swinging sixties" aesthetic and redefined beauty standards with her unique look. Her slender frame, large expressive eyes, and short pixie haircut, often accentuated with dramatic eyelashes, set her apart from the more curvaceous models of previous eras.

Twiggy's meteoric rise began in 1966 when she was declared "The Face of 1966" by the Daily Express. By 1967, her fame had exploded internationally, with her image gracing the covers of prominent magazines like Vogue in the US, Britain, and Paris, as well as The Tatler. Her arrival in New York in March 1967 was a major press event, with publications like The New Yorker, Life, and Newsweek dedicating extensive coverage to the "Twiggy phenomenon." She quickly became an icon, inspiring fashion trends with her mod style, including mini skirts and bold patterns, and even launched her own line of "Twiggy Dresses."

Her real name, Lesley Hornby, was often overshadowed by her memorable moniker, "Twiggy," a childhood nickname derived from her thin build. This distinctive appearance, which some critics viewed as too skinny, nevertheless resonated deeply with the youth culture of the 1960s, offering a fresh, youthful, and somewhat androgynous ideal that challenged conventional notions of femininity. Twiggy's impact extended beyond modeling; she is widely regarded as one of the world's first supermodels, a figure whose global recognition and influence helped shape an entire era of fashion and popular culture.