You’d think after sixty years in the spotlight, a person might want to just kick back and fade into the background. Not Twiggy. Honestly, if you saw her at the Burberry show during London Fashion Week a few months ago, you’d know exactly what I mean. She was there in a sharp black suit and those signature sunglasses, looking every bit the "It Girl" she was dubbed back in 1966.
So, let’s get the big question out of the way first. How old is Twiggy? As of today, January 16, 2026, Twiggy—or Dame Lesley Lawson, if we’re being formal—is 76 years old.
She hit that milestone on September 19, 2025. It’s kinda wild to think about, isn’t it? This is the woman who basically defined an entire decade before she was even old enough to buy a drink in a New York bar. She was just 16 when she became "The Face of '66."
The Girl from Neasden Who Changed Everything
Twiggy wasn't born into royalty or fashion elite. She was Lesley Hornby, a skinny kid from Neasden in north-west London. Her dad was a carpenter; her mum worked in a printing factory. She actually wanted to be a fashion designer, not a model. She used to sew her own clothes as a teenager because she was "obsessed" with fashion but didn't have the budget for high-end labels.
Everything changed at a hair salon.
She went in to see celebrity stylist Leonard Lewis. He wanted a "guinea pig" for a new short haircut. He spent hours on her, cropping her hair into that famous blonde pixie cut. He hung a photo of the result in his salon. A fashion journalist spotted it, and boom—the rest is literal history.
It’s easy to forget how radical she looked back then. Before her, the 1950s were all about curves and Hollywood glamour. Then came this 5'6" girl who looked more like a "twig" (hence the nickname). She was androgynous, elfin, and completely disrupted the status quo.
Life Beyond the Runway
A lot of people think she just did the modeling thing and then vanished. Nope. By the time she was 20, she "retired" from modeling because she didn't want to be just a "clothes peg" forever.
She pivot-stepped into acting and singing with the kind of success most people only dream of.
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- The Boy Friend (1971): Her first movie. She didn't just show up; she won two Golden Globes for it. One for Best Actress and one for Most Promising Newcomer.
- Broadway: She spent nearly two years starring in the musical My One and Only, earning a Tony nomination.
- TV Legend: Younger generations probably know her best as the kind-hearted judge on America's Next Top Model alongside Tyra Banks.
Why Twiggy Matters in 2026
Lately, there's been a massive resurgence in Twiggy-mania. A new documentary simply titled Twiggy, directed by Sadie Frost, premiered recently (late 2024/early 2025). It’s a great watch if you want to see the "real" her—self-deprecating, funny, and surprisingly grounded.
She’s also been incredibly vocal about aging naturally. You won't find her chasing the "frozen" look. Instead, she swears by Pilates. She started it about ten years ago after a back injury and says it basically "turned her life around."
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The Damehood and Her Legacy
In 2019, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to fashion, the arts, and charity. She’s famously told the story of how she thought the official letter from the palace was a tax bill at first.
She’s still married to actor Leigh Lawson—they’ve been together since 1988—and she’s a devoted mum to her daughter Carly and a proud grandmother.
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Actionable Takeaways for the Twiggy Fan:
- Watch the Doc: If you can find Sadie Frost's Twiggy documentary on streaming, do it. It covers her transition from a working-class Londoner to a global icon with a lot of heart.
- Try Pilates: If you're over 40 and struggling with back pain or mobility, take a page out of Twiggy's book. She recommends it to everyone for core strength.
- Check out "Tea with Twiggy": Her podcast is still a goldmine of great conversations with other legends like Joanna Lumley.
- Embrace the "Natural" Look: Twiggy’s current style is all about classic tailoring and being comfortable in your own skin—a great lesson for any age.
Twiggy remains proof that you don't have to stay in the box people put you in when you're 16. She’s been a model, a singer, a Broadway star, a TV judge, and a Dame. At 76, she’s still showing us how it’s done.