What was the birth name of 1960s fashion icon Twiggy?

The 1960s fashion icon Twiggy was born Lesley Hornby.

Lesley Hornby was born in Neasden, London, in 1949. She began modeling as a teenager and became internationally famous after her distinctive short haircut, large eyes, thin frame, and dramatic false-eyelash makeup captured the look of London’s youthful fashion culture.

Her modeling career rose rapidly during the mid-1960s, when newspapers and magazines popularized the nickname “Twiggy,” derived from her slender appearance. She became strongly associated with the mod movement, short hemlines, graphic makeup, and the swinging-London image.

Twiggy later expanded into acting and singing, appearing in the 1971 film The Boy Friend and receiving two Golden Globe Awards for her performance. She is often grouped with models such as Jean Shrimpton and Veruschka, but those were different figures. “Twiggy” was her professional name; Lesley Hornby is the name recorded at birth.