The Twig

Twiggy (September 19, 1949) is an English supermodel, actress and singer. Twiggy born Lesley Hornby was raised in the suburbs of London. During her school years she was nicknamed "Sticks" by her schoolmates for her ever so slight frame.

At just 16 years old Leslie met Nigel Davies, a young dandy with a stall at the Chelsea flea market. Seeing major possibilities in the shy young girl he scooped her up and took her to fashionable hairdresser Vidal Sasson, and had her hair cut very short, boyish style. Then off to Mary Quant, the mod fashion queen of the '60s for new clothes. Finally, Nigel Davies, who would later go by the name of Justin de Villenueve takes his little Twiggy (a much better name for a top model) to meet the editors-in-chief of all the most important publications. The following day, her face appears in the Daily Express under the heading, "The Face of the Year."

With her waif like figure, boyish hair cut and striking eye lashes she created an image that would epitomise an era. Twiggy became the idol for millions of teenage girls of the sixties revolution. By the age of 17, Twiggy was one of the most famous faces on the planet: her photograph was even encased in a time capsule and sent into space. By this time in the sixties, Twiggy had already become a household name across the globe, an icon whose image graced the covers of Vogue, Tatler and even her own American publication Her Mod, Mod Teen World.

Then, four years later, the young woman who rode only in her Rolls-Royce and Jaguar, suddenly dropped out of the glamorous fashion world. The Reason? "You can't be a clothes hanger for your entire life!"