French model Thylane Blondeau, once famously dubbed the “world’s most beautiful girl,” has married actor Ben Attal. The 25-year-old model wore a stunning couture wedding gown for the ceremony in Paris, with photos from the celebration quickly going viral across social media.
But alongside the congratulations, public attention has once again turned to the story that has followed Blondeau for most of her life.
Blondeau first stepped into the spotlight at just four years old, making her runway debut for Jean Paul Gaultier. A few years later, international media crowned her the “world’s most beautiful girl,” and by the age of 10 she found herself at the center of controversy after appearing in a Vogue Paris editorial that sparked widespread backlash.
The photos featured Blondeau wearing low-cut dresses, high heels, heavy makeup and expensive jewelry. Critics accused the magazine of sexualizing a child, with many calling the images “inappropriate” and “disturbing.” The editorial ignited an international debate about the boundaries of children's fashion.
At the time, Blondeau’s mother, Véronika Loubry, dismissed the criticism. She said the only thing that truly shocked her about the shoot was that her daughter had been wearing a necklace worth around €3 million.
Despite the controversy, Blondeau went on to build a successful modeling career, working with luxury brands including Dolce & Gabbana, L'Oréal and Miu Miu. In 2018, she was once again unofficially named the “world’s most beautiful girl,” although she has repeatedly said she has never taken the title seriously.
“Even now, people tell me, ‘You're the most beautiful girl in the world,’” Blondeau said in a previous interview. “And I always answer, ‘No, I'm just a normal person.’”
Her story has returned to the spotlight as concerns continue to grow over the impact of childhood fame. Researchers and child welfare experts have increasingly warned that constant public scrutiny, industry pressure and the sexualization of minors can have lasting psychological consequences later in life.
With the rise of social media, those concerns have only intensified, as child models and young influencers are now exposed to unprecedented levels of public attention and online scrutiny.
Today, Blondeau has established herself as an adult model, launched her own beauty brand and continues to work with major international fashion houses. Yet her story remains one of the most widely discussed examples of the hidden cost of childhood fame.
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