Overview of My Monday Morning: Twiggy
This episode features Twiggy, the iconic British model who became the “face of the ’60s,” discussing her new biographical documentary, her whirlwind rise to fame, and how she built a life beyond modeling. She reflects on fame arriving when she was still a teenager, the emotional experience of watching her life on screen, and the personal style, habits, and values that still guide her today.
Main Topics Discussed
Her new documentary
- Twiggy says seeing her life documented on film was emotional and surreal.
- The documentary includes footage of:
- Her parents, who have passed away
- Her daughter Carly as a child
- The painful and joyful parts of her career and personal life
- She especially loved seeing her Broadway work in My One and Only, which she calls a career highlight.
Her rise as a teenage model
- Twiggy was discovered at 15 and became famous at 16.
- She describes her rise as shocking and overwhelming rather than carefully planned.
- At the time, she didn’t fit the modeling standards of the era:
- She was very small
- Not tall enough for traditional agencies
- Distinctive in appearance, which made her stand out
- Her success happened extremely fast, moving from London to Paris and New York and working with major figures in fashion.
Fame, youth, and the viral Woody Allen interview
- Twiggy says fame mostly “went over her head” because it hit so young.
- She remembers the pressure and fear of being mobbed by crowds as a teenager.
- She revisits the famous Woody Allen interview where she was asked to name her favorite philosopher.
- Twiggy says she was panicking, not trying to be clever, and simply turned the question back on him.
- She understands why people now see it as a feminist or iconic moment, but says it was not enjoyable at the time.
Leaving modeling and choosing her own path
- Twiggy says she stopped modeling by choice after her early success.
- Once acting and performing opportunities came in, she pursued those instead.
- Her career expanded into:
- Acting
- Singing
- Broadway
- Other creative work
Monday Morning Routine and Daily Habits
Her approach to Mondays
- Twiggy says she does not have a traditional Monday routine because her life isn’t structured around a 9-to-5 schedule.
- She tries to live in the moment and focus on what she is doing that day or week.
Sleep, breakfast, and mornings
- She says she is a very good sleeper and gets about 8 to 8.5 hours a night.
- Her morning routine usually includes:
- Herbal tea
- Cereal
- Walnuts and blueberries
- A shower or bath
- She loves baths, especially in winter.
Exercise
- Twiggy does Pilates once a week and credits it with helping her back and core strength.
- She also walks a lot.
- She recommends Pilates to everyone and says she wishes she had started earlier.
Style, Beauty, and Fashion
Her beauty routine
- Twiggy says her famous eyelash-heavy look was something she created as a teenager.
- Today, she keeps her routine simple:
- Never sleeps in makeup
- Cleans her face with water
- Moisturizes well
- Goes makeup-free at home
- When she does wear makeup, it is quick and classic:
- Eyeshadow
- Mascara
- A bit of base, blush, and lipstick
- She says she can get ready in about 10 minutes.
Her clothing style
- She does not see herself as an “icon” in a grand sense, though she finds the label flattering.
- She loves designing and sewing clothes when she has time.
- Her personal style is heavily centered on:
- Tailored trousers
- Tuxedo suits
- Strong shoulders
- Classic silhouettes
- Bright colors
- She prefers being slightly underdressed to overdressed.
- She likes:
- Cowboy boots
- Sneakers
- Men’s-style tuxedos
- Her favorite clothing item of all time is a black tuxedo suit.
Her design philosophy
- Twiggy designs the kinds of clothes she would want to wear herself.
- She wants women of all ages to have stylish choices, especially women in their 50s, 60s, and 70s.
- Her inspiration often comes from classic tailoring and 1940s silhouettes.
Biggest Takeaways
- Her success was unplanned. Twiggy repeatedly says she never had a master plan; her career happened because someone noticed her unique look.
- Fame arrived too young to fully process. She became a global figure while still a teenager, which made the experience disorienting and sometimes frightening.
- She values practicality and authenticity. Her style, beauty routine, and daily habits all emphasize comfort, ease, and staying true to herself.
- Kindness is her guiding principle. The advice she returns to most is simple: be kind, because kindness comes back to you.
Notable Insight
- Twiggy’s most important life advice: “Be kind to people.”
- She sees kindness as both personally rewarding and urgently needed in the world.