What was the real name of the 1960s British model known professionally as Twiggy?

The real name of the 1960s British model known professionally as Twiggy was Lesley Hornby.

She adopted the name Twiggy from the nickname “Twigs,” which referred to her very slim figure. Her short hair, large eyes emphasized with heavy lashes and androgynous styling made her one of the defining faces of London’s 1960s fashion scene.

Twiggy rose to prominence after her image was featured in the British newspaper the Daily Express in 1966. She quickly became associated with the youth-oriented “mod” look and helped popularize a fashion ideal distinct from the mature glamour of earlier postwar stars.

Her career extended beyond modeling. She worked as an actress and singer, and she later used Twiggy as her professional name. Twiggy is often confused with Jean Shrimpton, another major British model of the 1960s, but they were different people with separate careers and public images.