Agyness Deyn Biography
The girl who hails from Greater Manchester who turned her life around with a shaven head, an eye for style and the nerve to take herself off to London, certainly sets a new standard for attaining the title of ‘super model‘!
Agyness Deyn was born in Greater Manchester on February 16th 1983, as Laura Hollins, to a mother who was a nurse and as the second of three children. Attending All Saints Roman Catholic School and continuing on to Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammer School she finally finishing her education at Waterfoot, Rossendale, Deyn was always aware of fashion and exhibited an eye for style at an early age.
At the age of 13 Deyn cut her hair short and by the age of 17 she had shaved her head altogether. Working in a fish and chip shop was not the vehicle that would take Agyness to where she wanted to be in the world of fashion but having her head shaved would certainly get her noticed, when in 1999 she won the Rossendale Free Press ‘Face of ‘99’ competition.
With that achievement under her belt, Deyn felt London was calling and she packed her bags and moved to the Big Apple where she took a job working in a fast food chain by day and worked as a barmaid at night. She also had a period of attending school at that time in Hull.
But it was a visit to Models 1 that would change Deyn’s life forever after the world renowned modeling agency spotted potential in the young Agyness. Since joining the agency her career has taken off and she has been hailed as the fashion industry’s next great supermodel.
Agyness’s career saw her gracing the cover of Vogue USA in 2007 alongside the newest faces to fashion such as, Lily Donaldson, Hilary Rhoda and Coco Rocha. 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.
Deyn’s professional endorsements include Burberry, 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.
Breaking away from the world of the catwalk and fashion, Deyn attempted a career in music and was offered the chance to provide vocals for the single Who by Five O'Clock Heroes as well as featuring in the video. The single was poorly received by the New Musical Express, who gave it only a 2/10.
Until recently she was a member of the now defunct group Lucky Knitwear. In 2008 it was rumoured that she had formed another band, 'Gene Jacket', with friends Jackson Pollis and Alanna Masterson.
Deyn’s person life has so far been peppered with celebrity romances including Josh Hubbard of The Paddingtons whom she dated for four years and Manchester United footballer Ryan Gigg's whom she dated for two years. In August 2008, she announced her engagement to Albert Hammond, Jr. of The Strokes.
Agyness was named Laura Hollins at birth but was persuaded to change her name by a numologist friend of her mother’s who suggested she rename herself Agnes and that she should spell in a slightly different way
Deyn currently lives in New York City after leaving the Primrose Hill, London in 2008.
