Daphne Selfe, celebrated as Britain’s oldest working supermodel and a trailblazer for older women in fashion, has died at the age of 97, her family has announced.
Selfe, whose remarkable modelling career spanned more than seven decades, passed away on Saturday from natural causes. Her family confirmed the news on Instagram on Monday, sharing a photo of a pink magnolia blossom against a bright blue sky with the dates “1.07.1928 – 21.03.2026”.
Her agent, Chantal Murray of Models 1, paid tribute to the iconic figure. “It’s very sad. She was absolutely incredible. She was such a joy to work with and she was just so inspirational. She was a very kind person, too.”
Tributes quickly poured in from across the fashion world. Model Erin O’Connor wrote: “RIP wonderful woman and fashion icon x.” Photographer and model Alistair Guy also shared a message, writing: “She was my greatest friend and muse, I will miss you so much wonderful Daphne. Please rest in peace.” Photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten added: “I am so so sorry… I photographed Daphne for my Mothers and Daughters project.”
Born in Edmonton, North London, Selfe’s journey into modelling began in the late 1940s when she won a competition to appear on the cover of a local Reading magazine. At the time, she was working in the fashion department at John Lewis.
After marrying theatre and television producer Jim Smith, she stepped away from modelling to raise their three children — Mark, Claire and Rose — in Hertfordshire. Following her husband’s death in 1997, Selfe unexpectedly returned to the industry at the age of 70, after being approached by the fashion brand Red or Dead to participate in London Fashion Week in 1998.
Reflecting on the timing, she once said: “It timed itself rather well, it was just after my husband died that I got the shoot and I could never have done it when he was alive.”
Her comeback quickly turned into a new chapter of success. Vogue invited her to participate in an article on ageing, photographed by Nick Knight, which led to a contract with Models 1. She remained with the agency for more than two decades.
Over the years, Selfe worked with major photographers, including Mario Testino and modelled for brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Nivea, Gap and Primark. She was eventually recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s oldest professional fashion model.
Her message about ageing resonated widely in the fashion industry. Speaking about her later success, she once said, “You don’t have to be that young, you can be whatever age now. I’m still managing to go at 90, so why not? If you’ve got the experience and the know-how, you can do anything.”
Selfe also championed natural beauty and confidence in ageing, famously saying: “I don’t do retiring” and “A big smile is better than Botox.” In 2015, she founded the Daphne Selfe Academy to share her experience with aspiring models of all ages, promoting professionalism, positive thinking and healthy living.
Even in her later years, while living in a care home, Selfe remained closely connected to her family and continued to attend high-profile events such as the Royal Variety Performance. Her legacy helped reshape attitudes toward age in fashion, inspiring what many described as the industry’s “greynaissance”, a growing celebration of older women on the runway and in campaigns.
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