Annelies Maria Francine shares a lot with Audrey Hepburn — Belgian heritage, a passion for mid-20th century fashion, killer bone structure, a vivid imagination and, if her 38.6k Instagram followers (at time of publication) are any indication, a promising career already budding in her teens.
The 17-year-old student, currently studying history at the University of Leuven, has big dreams of making it in the world of fashion and modeling, and a work ethic to match. Her first order of business? Creating an Instagram account in which she deftly transforms herself into the notable faces of Hollywood’s Golden Age and beyond — including, of course, the Roman Holiday starlet.
“I have always loved using makeup and hair to transform myself into other people and movie characters,” Francine told Marie Claire. “A year ago I cut my hair into a pixie cut and people started telling me I looked like Audrey Hepburn. I wasn’t very familiar with anything Old Hollywood related at all, but when I looked her up I fell in love with the elegance of vintage silver-screen glamour!”
The Insta-sensation’s natural gift for costume design clearly stems from her great-grandmother, who used to craft clothing for Annelies’ grandmother and her two sisters. Annelies’ account features a touching homage to the gifted seamstress: “My great-grandmother made this dress for my grandma when she was 18. She always tried to recreate the latest fashion for my grandmother and her two sisters to wear,” she captioned a photo of herself in a sea green, light purple and black striped frock, her vintage makeup en-pointe, her 50s-style coif immaculate.
While we wait for Annelies to spill her secrets on her promised YouTube channel, we invite you to admire all that the beauty prodigy’s already put forth:
[ via Marie Claire ]
