Agyness Deyn (born
Laura Hollins on 16 February 1983
) is an English
model and
singer. Deyn has been hailed as "the fashion industry's next great
supermodel".
Early life
Deyn is from
Failsworth in the
Metropolitan Borough of Oldham,
Greater Manchester.
[Tomboy Agyness is Britain’s top model - News - Oldham Advertiser][Chippie girl to conquer the world - News - Manchester Evening News] The daughter of a nurse, Lorraine, and second of three children she attended All Saints RC High School, as well as
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School and Sixth Form in
Waterfoot,
Rossendale.
Deyn's name was apparently coined to further her modelling career after she consulted her mother's friend, a
numerology expert who advised her of the most 'fortuitous' way to spell the name 'Agnes'.
[Vogue May 2007] It was reported that her mother Lorraine and sister Emily have both changed their surname to Deyn, while Lorraine has changed the I in her first name to Y.
[How Agyness Deyn's name ensures fame and fortune]
Deyn's working life started serving part-time aged 13, at a
fish and chip shop in
Ramsbottom. Even at an early age she had an eye for style and by 17 she had already had her head shaved. "I’ve had short hair since I was 13, and when I was 17, I had a skinhead."
In 1999, she won the Rossendale Free Press "Face of '99" competition, aged just 16.
[Agyness is Britain’s top model - News - Rossendale Free Press] She then moved to London, working in a fast-food restaurant during the day and a bar at night but admits: "It didn’t quite work."
During this time she says she was also at college in Hull, studying
drama and music.
Career
Modelling career
Deyn's biography states that she was spotted while shopping with fashion designer
Henry Holland in
Kentish Town,
London[www.vogue.co.uk/biographies/080422-agyness-deyn-biography.aspx]. She then signed with SELECT model management. Currently she is signed with Models 1 in the UK.
In May 2007 she was featured on the cover of
Vogue from USA, alongside
Doutzen Kroes,
Caroline Trentini,
Raquel Zimmermann,
Sasha Pivovarova,
Jessica Stam,
Coco Rocha,
Hilary Rhoda,
Chanel Iman, and
Lily Donaldson as the new crop of
supermodels.
[Hit Girls - American Vogue, May 2007]
She has also been featured on the covers of: UK
Vogue, the
Observer Woman supplement,
The Sunday Times Style,
Pop,
Grazia,
Time Style & Life,
Vogue Italia, and numerous other international publications.
[models.com/models/Agyness-Deyn]
As for professional endorsements Deyn has appeared in advertisements for
Anna Sui,
Blugirl by
Blumarine,
Burberry,
Cacharel,
Gianfranco Ferré,
Moussy,
Maison Gilfy,
Shiseido,
Giorgio Armani,
Mulberry,
Paul Smith,
Reebok and
Vivienne Westwood. While garnering such prestigious contracts she is currently the face of the new
fragrance The Beat by
Burberry,
Gold by Giles Deacon at
New Look replacing
Drew Barrymore,
Jean Paul Gautier's fragrance
Ma Dame,
Shiseido (replacing
Angelina Jolie), and childhood friend
Henry Holland's label
House of Holland.
In May 2008 Deyn was guest editor of
i-D magazine. The issue was devoted to her and includes articles written by and about Deyn, as well interviews she conducted with fashion insiders such as
Vivienne Westwood.
In June 2009, the
Daily Mirror reported that Deyn had quit modelling to spend more time with her boyfriend. The newspaper quoted a source as saying that modelling had started to bore Deyn and that she had hired an acting agent to pursue an acting career in British
independent films.
Musical career
Deyn provides vocals for the single "Who" by
Five O'Clock Heroes as well as featuring in the video. The single was poorly received by
NME, who gave it only a 2/10.
[Five O Clock Heroes - Five O’Clock Heroes Feat Agyness Deyn - Track Reviews - NME.COM] The single charted at #109 in the UK.
[Zobbel UK Chart Database]
Until recently she was a member of the now defunct group Lucky Knitwear.
[Agyness Deyn Profile in the FMD-database. Accessed 2008-06-10.] It has been rumoured that she has formed another band, 'Gene Jacket', with friends Jackson Pollis and Alanna Masterson, but this is yet to be substantiated.
Personal life
Deyn has dated Josh Hubbard of
The Paddingtons,
Albert Hammond, Jr. of
The Strokes[ The New York Observer] and
Miles Kane from
The Last Shadow Puppets and
Rascals.
She has lived in
Primrose Hill, London and
New York City.
[Agyness Deyn - Model Profile - Fashion on New York Magazine]
Agencies
