Alexa Chung

With legs that go on forever, an Elle magazine cover, a hype-crowd A-list address book, a deliciously sulky pout combined with a girl-next-door look, Alexa Chung, the new British darling is on the verge of becoming this season's Kate Moss.

he has an inner circle of friends that includes Agyness Deyn and Kelly Osbourne, she is omnipresent during the fashion weeks, pounced on by the fashion paparazzi, dates the singer of the Arctic Monkeys and speaks her mind. It goes without saying that Chung is the new "it" girl; even if she detests this label, the 25-year-old English lass is without a doubt one of those girls that draws the light and pulls focus.

As for her inherited beauty, Chung owes her almond-shaped eyes to her Chinese father and her porcelain skin to her English mother. She grew up in the Hampshires surrounded by her bothers and sister, the former having succeeded in turning her into a real tomboy.

She trained in ballet, but much preferred jazz music and tap shoes. Despite being fundamentally happy in her family life, she felt the need already at the age of 11 to pack her bags for London. She dreamed of becoming a photographer or a fashion journalist.

However, at 16 she would meet those who would change her world. She attended a music festival wearing baggies and flowers in her hair when she caught the attention of a modeling agency and was quickly offered a contract. If modeling was not exactly one of her dreams as a young girl, she was nonetheless flattered and excited at the idea of penetrating the world of fashion that had fascinated her for so long.

She posed for numerous "teen" magazines, Urban Outfitters, and many catalogs. She incarnated the perfect adolescent: dynamic, athletic, cheerful and a bit tomboy. Later, she would refuse a photo session in which she was asked to take her top off -- she does not consider it necessary to pose topless. As well, as she hopes one day to have a career in journalism, she would prefer not to see playmate-style photos reappear at the wrong time.

Alexa knows what she wants, and her sturdy character gives her the strength to make choices and go where she believes her future waits for her, even if it is not easy. At the age of 23, she quit modeling, in part because she felt that she began to have eating problems, and in part because she wanted to pursue acting and journalism.

In 2006, she made her debut in television as the co-host of the show Popworld, a morning program where she delivered sharp and intelligent interviews with popstars from Paul McCartney to Gwen Stefani, passing via Christian Lacroix. The program was discontinued in 2007, but Chung rebounded as the host of a BBC3 program combining cinema and music, then began to penetrate the world of "Fashion TV" by interviewing models in an unusual and offbeat way. Chung performed all of this with talent, confidence and a good sense of humor, a cocktail that the audience ratings adored.

Chung may have a stylist for her various TV shows, but when she is out on the town, she is the one who decides her look. In fact, it would be a mistake to delegate this task, so good is her taste on the subject. She adores Chloë Sevigny's collections, mixes vintage pieces brilliantly and knows how to show her amazing legs without ever appearing too sexy. A sworn night owl, Chung likes to stay out until all hours and hit all the festivals with her accomplices, including Daisy Lowe, the Geldof sisters and Agyness Deyn.

However, Chung has recently slowed down her party pace a bit due to her heavy professional load. She admits that she no longer has the time to respond to emails, pay bills, or even eat, resulting in her weight loss.

Yet she fantasizes about almond croissants from the corner bakery, although she is never able to stop by. Unappetizing meals served on trays and the fact that she, ever since she learned that her pony had been sent to the slaughterhouse, is a vegetarian do not make things any easier.

Nevertheless, Chung adores her life, her new house in East London (which she shares with Alex Turner), as well as her rampant work schedule. She is thankful that she is no longer a model, as she could not tolerate being a voiceless clothes hangar. In any case, if at the moment her soirees end at 10pm and she finds herself sensibly under her comforter Facebook-ing, Alexa Chung is without a doubt a young woman about whom we will continue to hear.