The most famous page in publishing!
I was in the middle of sitting my GCSEs when the email came in from the Lifestyle Editor of Country Life Magazine inviting me to star on their frontispiece. It detailed how the frontispiece was the first page of the magazine and one of the most prestigious pages in British publishing.
One of the most prestigious pages in British publishing.
The email shared how the likes of the late Queen Elizabeth and Daphne du Maurier had featured and how the page consisted of a single photograph, chosen by the editor from a collection taken by one of their commissioned photographers. This article wonderfully details how it was initially conceived to portray members of the aristocracy and introduce young women into Society: 12 Famous Frontispieces.
The email finished with the words: “I could think of no one I’d rather have gracing our pages.”
I could think of no one I’d rather have gracing our pages.
The GCSE revision stopped immediately! I phoned my Grandma who lives in a village where everyone has a Country Life Magazine subscription and that’s where the excitement really began! The shoot was booked in for June 17th, the day after my final GCSE exam – physics! What a way to start my summer!
The incredible Anya Campbell was the commissioned photographer and she was just wonderful. We shot a variety of looks in different locations, and it was very relaxed and natural, a far cry from my usual sultry and edgy modelling photography, with Anya having to shout on numerous occasions: “too sexy!” It was so much fun and I now have some lovely smiley images to add to my portfolio.
My feature appeared in the September 3rd edition 2025 and I obviously went straight out and bought loads of copies:
The photograph that was chosen for the frontispiece was just gorgeous. It literally looks like a painting:
The whole experience has just been magical and I am so proud and honoured to be part of such magnificent history.
…and for anyone wondering how I got on with my GCSEs:
