Britain’s oldest supermodel Daphne Selfe dead at 97: Fashion world pays tribute to ‘legend’ who defied ageism and inspired ‘greynaissance’

Britain’s oldest supermodel Daphne Selfe has died aged 97, her family has announced.

The groundbreaking model, who became a household name after relaunching her career at 70 – and later starring in a Dolce & Gabbana campaign and British Vogue – died on Saturday.

Her agent Chantal Murray at Models 1 told the Daily Mail: ‘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.’

Daphne’s family shared a post on Instagram on Monday to announce her death, which was understood to be from natural causes, featuring a photo of pink magnolia blossom against a blue sky with the dates ‘1.07.1928 – 21.03.2026’.

Tributes have poured in from across the fashion industry, including from model Erin O’Connor, 48, who wrote: ‘RIP wonderful woman and fashion icon x.’ 

Photographer and model Alistair Guy added: ‘She was my greatest friend and muse, I will miss you so much wonderful Daphne. Please rest in peace.’

Another photographer, Julia Fullerton-Batten, commented: ‘I am so so sorry… I photographed Daphne for my Mothers and Daughters project.’

Born in Edmonton, North London, Daphne’s extraordinary seven-decade career began when she won a modelling competition for the cover of a local Reading magazine in the late 1940s after working in the fashion department of John Lewis.

But it was her remarkable late-career renaissance that cemented her status as a fashion icon.

After marrying Jim Smith, who worked in theatre and television production, she stopped modelling to raise their three children – Mark, 70, Claire, 66, and Rose, 65 – in Hertfordshire, where she lived for the rest of her life.

Following the death of her husband Jim, who had suffered various strokes, in 1997, Daphne restarted her career at 70 when she was approached by the brand Red or Dead for London Fashion Week in 1998.

The timing, she later reflected, was ‘fortuitous’ as she could never have travelled abroad while caring for her husband.

‘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,’ she said at the time.

‘I was looking after him as he’d had various strokes and things and I had to do things for him. I couldn’t have gone abroad before, which obviously modelling takes, and that was very exciting because I hadn’t really been abroad. I’d been to the Isle of Wight and that was about it.’

After walking the catwalk for Red or Dead, Vogue magazine invited her to be part of an article on ageing shot by Nick Knight, where a scout from Models 1 said they wanted Daphne on their books. 

She remained with the prestigious agency for more than 20 years.

Her agent, Chantal, previously described Daphne as having ‘an incredible spirit and energy about her which is totally enchanting’, adding that ‘she has incredible bone structure and poise which made her stand out’.

Her career saw her photographed by Mario Testino and modelling for Dolce & Gabbana, as well as appearing in campaigns for Nivea, Gap and Primark.

She was named the world’s oldest professional fashion model by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Speaking about her unexpected success, Daphne 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.’

The silver-haired icon became a symbol of what the media dubbed the ‘greynaissance’ – a movement celebrating older women in fashion. 

In 2015, she set up the Daphne Selfe Academy to give women of all ages the benefit of her industry experience, teaching professionalism, positive thinking and healthy living.

Known for her boundless energy and dedication to fitness, Daphne practised yoga from the age of 20 and continued with ballet and Pilates exercises throughout her life.

‘Taking care of your health is the most important thing because modelling is hard work if you do it properly,’ she advised. ‘It’s long hours, lots of hanging about, lots of physical activity, and also you need a good work ethic.’

She was equally forthright about beauty standards, once saying: ‘I don’t do retiring’ and ‘A big smile is better than Botox.’

On going grey naturally, she reflected: ‘I can’t understand why so many women whose hair has lost its colour feel compelled to douse it with dye. 

‘Going grey is nature’s way of complementing an older complexion. It was an extraordinary relief to be embracing my natural self, no longer clinging onto the past.’

She said of ageing: ‘Everybody should remember they’ve got the potential to take up something again, or start to do something different. It’s never too late. People can do all sorts of things.’

In her later years, while living in a care home, Daphne continued to maintain close relationships with her three children and four grandchildren, as well as making appearances at high-profile events including the Royal Variety Performance.