What was Twiggy’s real name before she became a 1960s fashion icon?

Twiggy’s real name was Lesley Hornby.

Born in London in 1949, she began her career as Lesley Hornby before gaining the nickname Twiggy because of her extremely slim frame. Her short haircut, large eyes, and distinctive mod makeup became closely associated with the youth culture of 1960s London. The Daily Express helped popularize the name Twiggy in 1966, and it became her professional identity.

Twiggy was discovered while working at a hair salon in London, where she met hairdresser Leonard Lewis, known professionally as Vidal Sassoon. Sassoon created the short geometric haircut that became one of her signature features. Photographer Barry Lategan also played an important role in bringing her look to wider attention.

Twiggy later worked as an actress and singer as well as a model. She won two Golden Globe Awards for The Boy Friend in 1971. Her career is often treated as a bridge between traditional fashion modeling and the celebrity-driven image culture that followed.