Agyness Deyn

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".

Deyn is from Failsworth in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, Greater Manchester 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'. 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.

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. 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.

Deyn's biography states that she was spotted while shopping with fashion designer Henry Holland in Kentish Town, London. 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.


Deyn on the catwalk in Anna Sui, February 2008She 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.

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 2009, Deyn landed the new Uniqlo campaign and appeared in a commercial with Gabriel Aubry.

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.
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. The single charted at #109 in the UK.

Until recently she was a member of the now defunct group Lucky Knitwear.
Deyn has dated Josh Hubbard of The Paddingtons,Albert Hammond, Jr. of The Strokes and Miles Kane from The Last Shadow Puppets and Rascals.

She has lived in Primrose Hill, London and New York City.