1. Welcoming a Beautiful Child into The World
It was 2001 when two well-known celebrities – television host, Véronika Loubry, and French soccer star, Patrick Blondeau – welcomed a cute daughter into their world. They named her Thylane Blondeau.
As Thylane was the first-born child, her parents were invested in her life from the beginning. It was due to their constant encouragement and support that she was able to become the star she is today. It was not just the prominence and wealth of Thylane’s parents that helped her; it was also her attractive aesthetics that paved a path to a modeling career for her.
2. Famous Father
It can be said that Thylane Blondeau has success in her genes. Her father, Patrick Blondeau, has enjoyed a prolific career in soccer. He was team captain for both the French Ligue 1 and British Premier League and now has a career in coaching soccer.
Children try to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Although Thylane didn’t choose soccer, her interest leaned towards the advertisement industry. That’s when her mother, a television host, helped her enter the fashion world.
3. Famous Mother
Thylane’s mother, Véronika Loubry, is also a well-known French TV personality. Véronika has mostly focused on working in television and has made a name for herself as a gifted interviewer.
In addition to having a successful career as a television presenter, she has also acted in a few television shows. Although Véronika’s career was more focused on television, she had a passion for something else.
4. Choosing Another Endeavor
Véronika Loubry had already established herself in the television industry, but she wanted to follow something she had been dreaming about for a long time. She was already hailed as a talented television presenter, and though she enjoyed her work, it wasn’t her passion.
So, she finally decided to change the direction of her profession and go for what she truly loved; the fantastic world of fashion. To start her new career path, there was no better place than France – one of the fashion capitals of the world. She didn’t know at that time that her bold decision would help pave the path for her daughter into the world of fashion.
5. Starting a Catwalk Career at a Very Young Age
Although most countries have a minimum age requirement when it comes to runway modeling, there are different children laws in France. Hence, it helped Thylane to start her catwalk career at a very young age. All kids are beautiful, and everyone who had seen Thylane would swear that there was something else about her that made her so strikingly beautiful.
It didn’t take long for her to get picked up for her first gig as a toddler walking on the runway. And her first gig was for a famous designer Jean Paul Gaultier. As Thylane walked the runway with an older model, everyone noticed the confidence on her face. She strutted down the catwalk with good ease, and everyone knew that a star was in the making.
6. First Professional Photoshoot
Thylane Blondeau was lucky enough to get employed by a renowned fashion designer, Jean-Paul Gaultier. But who was the first photographer who took her professional photographs? It was none other than the talented Dani Brubaker, who is considered to be one of the world’s most famous photographers.
Thylane was just seven-years-old when she was shot in her first real photoshoot. The exciting photos of the adorable Thylane helped her a lot in advancing her career. Fast forward three years, and she landed a great opportunity about which the media started to raise questions.
7. Landing a Big Gig
Thylane’s first photoshoot was just a start as she then worked for some elite fashion advertisers and publications. After her first real photoshoot at the age of seven, she modeled in several photoshoots in the next three years — however, none of those opportunities matched with one that completely changed her life.
She was just ten years old when she got a chance to be featured in Vogue Magazine. She participated in a photoshoot for Vogue Paris’ children’s edition. It was a gig that fashionistas dream about their whole lives, and Thylane was able to get it at a very young age. The parents of Thylane had to think twice before making their decision, but they soon found out the repercussions of accepting such a big job offer.
8. Unexpected Turn of Events
When Thylane Blondeau’s parents finally decided to accept a job for their daughter for Vogue Paris children issue, they didn’t know that their decision would have such unexpected consequences. They didn’t make their decision in a spur of the moment and they thought a lot before making it. But they had no idea that it would slowly turn into a societal nightmare.
The spread included their daughter posing in adult clothing. So, when people saw Thylane posing in more mature clothing in the pictures, it sparked controversy. Soon, it became a national dispute all over France over the issue of over-sexualization of minors in the media and advertising. It was expected that the ripple would settle down, but that’s not what happened.
9. A Debate That Spread to Other Countries
No one expected the repercussions of the controversy to spread to other countries and different continents. It didn’t take long for the debate to be heard all over Europe, and it reached the United States as well.
According to Psychologist Emma Grey, “This picture is the antithesis of what childhood in our society should be; a child being exposed to a world she is not yet equipped to deal with solely to serve the needs of the adults around her.” So, was it such a big issue, or was it created into one?
10. Taking an Important Decision
When Patrick Blondeau and Véronika Loubry saw that the controversial debate wasn’t settling down, they had to make a crucial parental decision. Thylane’s mother loved the fashion industry, but she was not prepared to sacrifice her beloved daughter for it.
She knew that it was best to decline any more prospects. She and her husband decided that it would be best not to accept any more modeling jobs. They wanted to focus on giving their daughter a positive and healthy childhood, and for the controversy to go away.
11. An Expensive Necklace
Thylane’s mother had decided that they would not accept any modeling jobs, and it meant that their daughter’s career in fashion was temporarily put on hold. However, the media was still concerned about the photos for Vogue Paris. Some people were questioning their parenting.
When a French newspaper approached Véronika Loubry and asked what her thoughts were on the controversial photoshoot, she calmly replied, “I admit, I was shocked during the photoshoot. But let me be precise: the only thing that shocked me is that the necklace she wore was worth €3 million!”
12. Coming Back with A Bang
When Thylane Blondeau started working again, she got large backing from the social media world. Despite participating in a controversial advertisement when she was just ten years old, she continued to model with a fresh start.
As she entered her teenage years, she worked more, and started to gain a significant following on social media. Her decision to walk back into the fashion world was a huge success as her number of followers on Instagram grew rapidly. As of now, she has over 3.3 million followers on Instagram
13. Creating a Big Wave
Thylane Blondeau had a different childhood than her peers. As she continued modeling after a little break, she built an impressive following on Instagram in a short time.
Everyone in the fashion world started to notice her, and she knew how to sweep everyone off their feet with her fierce game. She was only 14-years-old when the world-famous, Elite IMG International Modeling Agency gave her a contract.
14. Did She Like Her Lifestyle?
People who are in the fashion world and those who follow it can quickly tell you modeling can be tough. So, did it mean that Thylane, who was modeling at a very young age, liked her lifestyle? Although Thylane took a break from modeling for a few years, some people had concerns regarding her will in the decision.
In an interview with Teen Vogue, Thylane answered the question. She said that she enjoys working as a model and is quite satisfied with how she is building her career. She added, “My favorite part of the job is meeting new photographers and makeup artists,” she said. “I love to try on all the clothes, too!”
