Dear Daphne. ‘World’s Oldest Professional Model, Dies at 97. Starting in 1949, she had an on-and-off career that lasted for 75 years. But her biggest success came late in life, modeling for labels like Dolce & Gabbana.’
@nytimes
I first met Daphne taking photographs of photographer
@rankinarchive for the
@britishfashioncouncil and the launch of
@allwalkscatwalk which she was a part of, created by
@franklinonfashion @debrabourne and
@erinoconnor This continued with me photographing the full cast for their campaign at Rankin's studio and onto a live photography shoot with
@i_d_ma.gazine at the
@nationalportraitgallery
I then started working for the NPG creating adult educational shoots in their basement studio. This included Daphne kindly posing for me replicating a shoot in the style of the current retrospective exhibition by the iconic photographer
@bailey_studio
Daphne then appeared in my exhibition
‘On His Knees’ which also features other female icons in fashion as Erin O’Connor and
@carolineissa with
@exposurelondon
I also photographed Daphne for an article about her fashion life for the
@theindependent magazine.
She had a massive love for cats and painted my cat Winston in my home. Which still resides above my fridge!
Then came my ‘Strong Women’ exhibition, a decade ago where she inspired me to photograph her and other inspirational women including the Hollywood actor
@melaniegriffith and London fashion designer
@savannahmiller
I also helped host her 90th birthday being on the arts board
@century_soho which was such a delight.
Our final collaboration was my directorial debut for my first short film ‘Love Thee’ where she narrated and starred with producer
@tilly.wood previewed
@theofficialselfridges
Daphne had such presence, kindness and an understanding towards everything we did together. She was such a great and supportive friend to me, I know she will be missed so much by not only myself but so many who loved and connected with her.
Daphne Selfe 01.07.28 - 21.03.26
•
#daphneselfe #worldsoldest #supermodel #friend #restinpeace