Sophie Dahl, the English author and model, has vividly recalled the pivotal moment that launched her supermodel career, while addressing the cruel jibes she faced about her size 14 figure at the time. The 48-year-old, who is married to singer Jamie Cullum, took to social media on Sunday to share a nostalgic throwback photograph from 1997, capturing her appearance at Lainey Keogh's knitwear show in London.
The Defining Catwalk Debut
This event marked Sophie's first ever catwalk show, a breakthrough orchestrated by former magazine editor and stylist Isabella Blow. Blow had discovered Sophie before her 18th birthday, famously finding her 'crying and smoking a cigarette on her doorstep'. On the runway, Sophie made a bold statement, dazzling in a sheer dress that revealed her black underwear as camera flashes illuminated her. This look was particularly significant, emerging after the 'heroin chic' era of the 1990s and challenging prevailing fashion norms.
Headline Controversy and Personal Reflection
Following the show, Sophie's image splashed across tabloid headlines the next day, with one notably mocking her size 14 figure with the phrase: 'Absolutely Flabulous Dahling!' In her recent social media post, Sophie revealed a poignant detail: her then flatmate stuck the picture and headline on their fridge, but she did not notice the inserted 'L' in 'flabulous' for about six months, simply reading it as 'fabulous'.
Resharing the snap, Sophie reflected on the disconnect between appearance and emotion, writing: 'I'm always so curious about what people are feeling versus how they look like they're feeling - I remember being terrified, but look a haughty, possibly homicidal, Diana the huntress.'
Supportive Responses and Career Impact
Her post garnered an outpouring of supportive messages from followers and peers. Model Daisy Lowe replied: 'Always and forever a stunning beauty'. Other comments praised the era, with one saying: 'Love this so much. The 90s were a great, great decade. How we danced!' Another recalled: 'I remember this like it was yesterday! I worked on this show … you were so sweet, polite and mesmerising and so so seductive!'
Personal Life and Marriage Insights
Sophie and her husband Jamie Cullum, with whom she shares two daughters, Lyra, 14, and Margot, 12, rarely make public appearances together. Their last joint sighting was at the launch of 'Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop' in 2024. In a 2021 interview with Red magazine, Jamie shared insights into their decade-long marriage, stating: 'Loving her has challenged my perceptions about what it means to live, love and think'.
He emphasised the importance of 'growing to meet each other' in a long-term relationship, noting their shared interests in reading and cooking for friends. Jamie added: 'She is also a straight talker, and I prefer people like that. I guess the definition of love is when you are able to reveal both your best and worst sides, and that person still loves you.'
This reflection not only highlights Sophie's resilience in the face of body-shaming but also underscores her enduring influence in fashion and her cherished personal life, marking a significant chapter in her journey from a terrified debutante to an iconic figure.
