British Empire Medal for Daphne Selfe in Queen’s Honours List 2019

Daphne Selfe, at 90 years of age, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for 2019. She was recognized for her services to women and fashion.

The New Year honours lists recognise the achievements and service of people across the United Kingdom and The Commonwealth. The New Year Honours List was published in The Gazette, the official newspaper of the Crown, on Thursday 28 December 2018. Along with the Birthday Honours, they are the most significant announcement of civilian and military gallantry awards.

The British Empire Medal (formally the British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown. It was created in 1922 to replace the original medal, which had been established in 1917 as part of the Order of the British Empire.

Daphne has been modelling for 70 years, beginning in 1949, and is officially recognized as the oldest professional fashion model. She was born in London, England, in 1928, and started her career as a model at the age of 21.

Daphne is delighted and rather stunned to be celebrated in this way and looks forward to sharing further news about this prestigious award during 2019, she said in an email.

I attended her 90^thbirthday in June 2018, which was a spectacular outing at the Century Club in London.

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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