In an emollient world in which a brand of filtered, glossy fiction is valued over reality, traditional boundaries of privacy are becoming increasingly blurry.
After all, when society rewards those who share unsolicited minute by minute updates on their existence, the temptation to forgo privacy in lieu of perceived fame, fortune and notoriety holds a seductive pull.
In the case of adults making their own, freely informed decisions, one might argue that this is not inherently a sinister concept. Indeed, why shouldn’t the effervescent and beautiful capitalise from their improbable good looks and toned physiques?
Whether anyone truly understands the implications of blithely eschewing their privacy in the pursuit of such a desirable existence is, of course, open to debate, though free thinking adults should surely be left to make their own decisions.
In the case of children, though, the issue is a far more complex and divisive one. Sharing photographs of minors online is a polarising topic that sparks passionate debate over issues of privacy, and child modelling is a similarly fiercely contested concept.
Can modelling seriously be considered a healthy pursuit for a child, an industry in which looks are prized above all?
Thylane Blondeau was dubbed the “most beautiful girl in the world” as a child in 2005, and unwittingly became part of the debate over child modelling.
Having been asked about being a teen model, and her previous time as a child model, Blondeau was dismissive of criticism;
“Well, Kate Moss started modeling at the age of fifteen, and that was a little while ago,”
“So, no. I’m not too young. If you have a good agency and people who take care of you… it’s perfect.”
Blondeau was four years old when she “stormed onto the fashion scene”, according to the Daily Star, and appeared on the cover of Vogue Enfants by the age of six.
Far from being put off modelling by her past, Blondeau says that she loves her career, “My favourite part of the job is meeting new photographers and makeup artists” she explains, “I love to try on the clothes too”.
Now 16-years-old, Blondeau already has a wealth of modelling experience to look back on, and has also dipped her toe into the world of acting in recent times. She also has a considerable following on Instagram, as well as enjoying a plethora of other pastimes, including boxing, drumming and skateboarding.
Thylane Blondeau is the daughter of the television presenter Veronika Loubry and former football player Patrick Blondeau, at just 13-years-old she was featured on the front cover of Jalouse magazine, who cast her as the “new Kate Moss”.
These days, she is represented by IMG models, who also represent the Hadid sisters among other high profile names.
While it is brilliant to see Blondaeu carving out a career for herself, sometimes we just need a little dose of reality. Here, Hilary Duff posts an empowering photo with a strong message for body shamers.
