At 76, This Is What Supermodel Twiggy Looks Like Today – Photos

What started as a teenage weekend job would catapult her into fashion legend. And now, she's telling it all, from tearful triumphs to her glamorous, no-surgery beauty routine.

At 76, Twiggy, born Lesley Hornby, remains one of fashion's most recognizable figures, and a new documentary revisits the journey that made her an international icon. The supermodel has reflected on the whirlwind that transformed her life long before she ever imagined a career in the spotlight.

How Twiggy Took the World by Storm in 1966

Twiggy's rise began in 1966 when she was just 16 and still balancing school with a weekend job at Leonard Lewis's Mayfair salon. She had recently been given the cropped blonde hairstyle that would soon become her signature, and Lewis displayed a photo of her on the salon wall.

That simple gesture changed everything. A visiting fashion editor from "The Daily Express" noticed the image and booked Twiggy for a shoot. She was unveiled to the world under the headline "Twiggy: the Face of '66."

From that moment, her career accelerated at a remarkable speed. "I was so young when it happened to me. I hadn’t even thought about a career. I was still at school. My vague ambition was to become a fashion designer, as I loved making my own clothes. But then the world had other ideas," she noted.

After that first introduction to the public, what followed was a wave of interest that turned the once-unknown schoolgirl into the era's most sought-after model. Twiggy drew the attention of influential figures like Diana Vreeland. She found herself in front of legendary photographers, including Richard Avedon and Cecil Beaton.

Her sharp, doll-like features and distinctly modern style became emblematic of Swinging London, resonating far beyond Britain. One memorable image by Melvin Sokolsky shows her on a Manhattan street, surrounded by people wearing masks of her face. This was a striking sign of just how strongly her image had captured the global imagination.

"Looking back at it all, it's almost like watching somebody else," Twiggy acknowledged. The supermodel added, "I'm always asked, 'What was it like to be a teenager then?' But I think when you lived through a time, you never stop to think, 'Isn't this is amazing? Aren't we lucky to be young?'"

A Beauty Icon with Secrets to Share

Over the years, Twiggy has shared the routine and preferences behind her well-known beauty standards. Eye makeup has always been her focus; during her discovery in the 1960s, the look centered on false lashes. She enhanced it by drawing the lower lashes that later became known as her trademark "twigs."

She no longer relies on false eyelashes and has avoided them for about three decades, but she still gravitates toward a smoky eye. Lip products are not a major part of her routine, and she typically sticks to a selection of soft pink shades and a touch of gloss.

Twiggy deals with very dry skin, so moisturizing after every shower remains essential for her. As for her hair, she has been maintaining highlights since she was 16, when Lewis of the House of Leonard gave her the iconic bob and Daniel Galvin applied her first set of highlights.

She has always been blonde, though her natural hair color is a mousey brown, which provides a versatile base for going lighter or darker. She has favored full fringes since the late 1980s, approaching her forties at the time.

While she has never had plastic surgery, she has said she would only consider it with an extremely skilled surgeon. However, she insisted, "I would never use Botox because in my mind it’s poison."

Her wardrobe contains almost every color, though she tends to avoid yellow because of her fair skin and blonde hair. Her favorite shades are cobalt blue, purple, and orange, with orange being the most prominent color in her collection.

Over the years, her style has remained largely consistent, favoring skinny jeans, tailored jackets, and even tuxedos for black-tie events. She plans outfits from the feet up, choosing shoes first based on how much walking she will be doing and building the rest of her ensemble around them.

From Fashion's Darling to Broadway Star

Even with her extraordinary success in fashion, Twiggy had long imagined a different path. This led her to step away from modelling and move toward acting in the early 1970s. A pivotal dinner with director Ken Russell opened that door when he offered her the leading role in his 1971 musical "The Boy Friend."

Russel fought the studios to secure her casting, and his confidence proved well placed. Her performance as Polly earned her two Golden Globes, and the experience revealed a new creative world she had not explored before.

With a stronger sense of ownership over her career, she expanded into music, releasing several albums and touring, a journey that eventually brought her to a sold-out show at the Royal Albert Hall.

She also hosted her own variety program in the mid-1970s. Her screen work continued alongside these ventures. She starred in the 1981 television adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion," a role she considers her most meaningful.

In the early 1980s, Twiggy received an unexpected invitation from acclaimed actor Tommy Tune to join him in the George and Ira Gershwin musical "My One and Only." She initially assumed he was offering her a film role.

Later, Twiggy learned that he wanted her for the stage — a completely new challenge for her. The Broadway production, which ran from 1983 to 1985, is something she now regards as the highest point of her career.

"I'm proudest of that because I really thought I couldn't do it, and I did. In fact, I worked so hard, I had tonsillitis by opening night. But I'll never forget that thrill on stage. There's nothing like it," she gushed.

The Revival That Redefined Her

Twiggy eventually returned to modelling in 1993, a comeback that felt instinctive and familiar to her. She has described this later chapter in the industry as far more empowering, particularly as an older woman.

In the early 2000s, her work with Marks & Spencer drew significant attention, with the media noting that her campaigns played a major role in revitalizing the struggling retailer. In a nod to her early interest in fashion design, she also collaborated with the brand on a clothing collection.

Her later success in fashion campaigns opened the door for another venture. She created Twiggy London, her own womenswear and accessories line, with the Home Shopping Network in the United States.

The range ran from 2010 to 2020, and she found this chapter of her career especially fulfilling, drawing on her lifelong love of making clothes and hands-on creativity.

Her Life on Film and Personal World

Now 76, Twiggy has no plans to step away from her career. She is revisiting her early years in a new documentary about her life, titled "Twiggy," and directed by Sadie Frost. The project began lightheartedly, sparked by a conversation when Frost appeared on her podcast "Tea with Twiggy."

The film traces how a teenager from north-west London became the defining face of a decade. It also captures the spirit of the swinging sixties with a look that reshaped beauty standards.

Alongside recording new music, she is actively involved in promoting the documentary. There is also the possibility of Ben Elton's musical based on her life moving to the West End. It had a limited run at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Southwark in 2023.

"The first time I went to see it, I cried the whole way through. It made me think, 'I've really done quite a lot with my life, haven't I?'" she shared.

Work aside, Twiggy shares her life with her second husband, actor and director Leigh Lawson, and spends her time between London and Suffolk. She is also a mother to her daughter Carly, from her first marriage to the late Michael Witney.

Wellness, Balance, and Thriving in Her Seventies

In her seventies, Twiggy is still a stunning beauty. She shared that she follows a low-maintenance wellness routine and takes care of herself for both personal and professional reasons.

Pilates plays a central role in her fitness regimen, especially after a serious back injury several years ago. She has credited three years of regular practice with transforming her wellbeing. She has also tried yoga, though she does not consider herself particularly skilled at it.

Furthermore, staying active with her grandchild provides a natural, energetic workout. Twiggy also enjoys a glass of wine, favoring rosé in the summer, and balances it by drinking plenty of water.

While she does not follow a strict diet, she is mindful of her eating habits, consuming most foods in moderation unless she dislikes them. From her teenage years to the present, Twiggy's life has been a whirlwind of varied pursuits, and she continues to thrive today.