ABBEY ROAD
20-year-old Elle Clancy might be following in her big sister’s footsteps but it’s her mum she turns to first for advice
WHILE having Abbey Clancy as a big sister has opened doors, younger sibling Elle still goes to her mum first when she needs advice.
The 20-year-old is following in her big sister’s footsteps as a model. Abbey, 32, was runnerup on Britain’s Next Top
Model in 2006, and since 2015 has presented the series. Abbey has also gone on to appear in Sports Illustrated and on the covers of Marie Claire, Elle and Esquire.
But it’s their mother who gave Elle her best bit of advice. She said: “It was to never, ever change how you would be as a person
for anyone. My
boyfriend’s really good at that as well.
“If I’ve got a meeting or a job or a launch that I’m going to and I’m like, ‘I don’t know what to wear’, he says, ‘What would you wear if we were to go out?’ He’s really supportive.”
Not that Abbey, who gave birth in January to her third child with ex-England footballer Peter Crouch, isn’t fully behind Elle. Far from it.
In fact, Abbey has been there for her younger sister right from the start as one of her biggest supporters.
She sat in the front row when Elle walked in Liverpool Fashion Week aged 13 and boosted her profile by taking her young sister to the BRIT awards and to London Fashion Week shows.
Elle, who has landed her first swimwear campaign for Debenhams, said: “She is 12 years older than me, so I’ve grown up watching her and how she’s made her career, but she’s always stayed normal.
“She’s always been Abbey, she’s always been a big sister first, which is so important to me.
“So watching her and how she’s done it has been great – learning to just keep happy and healthy.”
Health is something very important to Elle.
She was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, which caused acne breakouts and weight gain, but exercise and a careful skincare regime have kept her symptoms under control.
She said: “I was quite embarrassed about it at first and I didn’t really know how to handle it.
“Now, I am really open about talking about it and anyone that I can help, I will.”
The Debenhams shoot isn’t Elle’s first time in front of the camera.
She started modelling aged 14 but took a break for a few years and started training as a hairdresser, which she still does at London’s Larry King salon.
She admitted: “I backed off a little bit and I’ve come back into it again, which I’m absolutely loving.
“I feel like mentally I’m more prepared, I’ve grown up a bit.
“I do work hard on my body, but it’s important to feel good and feel healthy and strong.”
Elle is the latest talent in the Clancy clan, joining Abbey, brothers Sean, a professional footballer, and John, lead singer with the indie band Judas.
And Sean’s dedication to fitness is handy for Elle when it comes to keeping in shape.
She said: “It’s quite lucky actually, my brother came up with this piece of equipment called a KO8, it’s a suspension and resistance band.
“You can take it anywhere. I do a lot of running and I have recently joined Kobox, the boxing gym, which I am addicted to. I try to stay away from weights, I’ll do a little bit. I mix it up.”
Showcasing Debenhams’ new Faith range in a series of sultry poses, Liverpoolborn Elle radiates confidence as she shows off all her handwork.
But she did admit to having a few butterflies before the shoot.Elle said: “I was a bit nervous doing it.
“It was quite a big job for me personally, so I wanted to look good and for the whole team to be happy with how the pictures came out.”
The model jetted off to Tenerife to shoot the campaign – but confessed it wasn’t as glamorous as it may look.
She said: “It was freezing.
“Yeah, it is hard work. You’re up early to be in hair and make-up and get yourself ready to get the good light, which starts at 6am.”
As well as being inspired by her big sister, Elle admires other models.
She said: “Rosie Huntington-Whiteley I love, I think she is absolutely stunning, and with what she wears she always looks amazing.
“Winnie Harlow is a massive inspiration to me. I think with the skin condition that she has (vitiligo), you could be down or negative.
“But she’s totally turned it around and made it such a positive thing and turned it into a career, which I think is amazing.”
If the swimwear collection is a success and Elle is in demand, soon there will be lots of young girls copying her style. But the fame isn’t going to her head. She laughed: “I’m not very girly, which is quite strange for a girl coming from Liverpool – I think I’m the only one.
“I’m quite tomboyish and like to dress bohemian, with packed on rings and tied little tops and jeans or skirts.”
The Faith swimwear collection is available at Debenhams now.
I wanted to look good and for the team to be happy with how the pictures came out