The 1960s weren’t all peace, love, and mini-skirts—there was always a darker side to that decade, and Twiggy, the world’s first supermodel, knows it all too well. Now Dame Lesley Lawson, she’s reflecting on her meteoric rise to fame, her latest gig as the face of Burberry’s campaign, and the secrets to aging with grace and grit. But here’s where it gets fascinating: her journey wasn’t just about being in the right place at the right time—it was about redefining beauty, setting global trends, and surviving the whirlwind of ‘Twiggymania’ with the same nonchalance she brought to her iconic shaggy blonde crop. And this is the part most people miss: behind the glamour was a teenager navigating a complex era, one that looked carefree on the surface but was shadowed by war, tragedy, and societal upheaval.
In 1966, Lesley Hornby—as she was then known—was just 16, working as a shampoo girl in a Mayfair salon. Her life changed when a client spotted her photo on the salon wall. The rest, as they say, is fashion history. But Twiggy’s story didn’t stop there. She’s a two-time Golden Globe winner, a recording artist with 10 albums, a 20-year collaborator with M&S, and even a former presenter of America’s Top Model. Controversial opinion alert: Is her career trajectory a product of luck, talent, or something else entirely? She admits it’s all been ‘as big a shock to me as to everyone else.’
At 76, Twiggy is selective about her projects, but when Burberry called, she couldn’t resist. ‘I said, “Yes, please!” I was thrilled,’ she recalls. Now, she’s gracing magazines and billboards in leather trench coats, looking as effortlessly cool as she did 60 years ago. But here’s the kicker: while she’s synonymous with mini-skirts, her true style icon status comes from her love of trouser suits—a choice she’s championed since the 1960s. ‘I’ve always been a trouser suit girl,’ she says. ‘I’ve never been a frilly dress girl.’
Her style hasn’t changed, but her confidence has. ‘You grow into yourself, don’t you?’ she reflects. From sewing her own clothes as a teen to now making outfits for her grandchildren, Twiggy’s hands-on approach to fashion remains unchanged. Speaking of family, she’s a doting grandma to Joni, 10, and her 5-year-old grandson, splitting her time between London and Suffolk with her husband, actor Leigh Lawson.
And this is where it gets controversial: Twiggy’s famous 1960s TV interview with Woody Allen has resurfaced on social media, sparking debates about misogyny in the public eye. When Allen asked her, ‘Who’s your favorite philosopher?’ she turned the tables with a quick-witted response. ‘I put him in his place,’ she laughs now. But the clip’s viral resurgence raises questions: How much has really changed for women in the spotlight? Twiggy hopes today’s models are treated more kindly, thanks to increased awareness of industry scandals. But she admits, ‘I’m not a day-to-day model, so I don’t really know the ins and outs.’
Her international fanbase spans generations, from a 15-year-old TikTok user who declares, ‘She slayed,’ to a young girl in China who idolizes the 1960s. Here’s the thought-provoking question: Do we romanticize the past too much? Twiggy acknowledges the era’s allure but doesn’t sugarcoat its realities. ‘There was always a dark side,’ she says, pointing to the Vietnam War and drug overdoses. ‘But on the surface, it looked like a very jolly, happy, free time to be young.’
As for aging gracefully, Twiggy keeps it simple: no makeup before bed, plenty of moisturizing, a healthy diet, and Pilates. ‘You’ve got to keep everything moving,’ she advises. Her biggest secret? Staying active and finding purpose, whether it’s through work, hobbies, or family. ‘To just retire and do nothing is bad for your body and brain,’ she warns.
So, what’s next for Twiggy? She’s recording a new album and hopes to revive a stage musical based on her life. Final controversial question: In an era of fast fashion and fleeting trends, can we learn from Twiggy’s timeless approach to style and life? Let’s discuss in the comments—do you think her legacy is about luck, talent, or something deeper? And how do you feel about the way we romanticize the past?
