Topshop's new muse Lily Jean Harvey on juggling A-levels with modelling jobs

The 17-year-old is the face of Topshop's spring/summer 2017 campaign
Rising star: Lily Jean Harvey in her ES Magazine photoshoot
Nick Hudson

She is the latest face of Topshop, following in the footsteps of Cara Delevingne, Gigi Hadid and Taylor Hill. But Lily Jean Harvey has to juggle her burgeoning career with studying for her A-levels.

The model, 17, told ES Magazine her grammar school was "very full-on", adding: "Quite often when I come back after doing a shoot people are like, ‘How was it?’ And I’m like, ‘Good, but kind of tiring’ and people are like: ‘How is it tiring?’ It’s easy to underestimate how much work is in these things."

Harvey, who lives with her parents and younger sister in Newark, Nottinghamshire, was spotted aged 14 outside King’s Cross St Pancras on the way to a One Direction gig.

Her first shoot was with Alasdair McLellan for the 35th anniversary edition of i-D magazine in 2015 and she has also featured in Miss Vogue. She learned she would front Topshop’s spring/summer 2017 collection late last year.

Lily Jean Harvey for Topshop - SS17 campaign

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Of her rising profile, she said: "It is kind of overwhelming and it is sort of weird when you get random people commenting on your photos. I was thinking of starting a private Instagram but I think you kind of just have to get over it. Most of the people mean well."

Lily Jean Harvey in her ES Magazine photoshoot
Nick Hudson

She said the modelling world was changing and hailed plus-size US model Ashley Graham for "doing good things in fashion".

She added: "There are beginning to be waves of body positivity and people are much more appreciative of unique features."

Harvey also spoke about the controversy that erupted during Paris Fashion Week after casting director James Scully condemned the "sadistic and cruel" treatment of young women.

He alleged Balenciaga models were forced to stand in an unlit stairwell for hours. The fashion house sacked those believed to be responsible and apologised. Harvey said: "It definitely exists and it’s something that needs to be talked about."

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