A lively discussion has erupted online after a woman, once labeled the 'most beautiful girl in the world', posted a recent photo of herself.

Thylane Blondeau was frequently featured on magazine covers and photographed at major fashion events as a child, first catapulting into the limelight when she was just three years old.

Her rise to fame began when she caught the eye of an agent from the fashion industry icon Jean Paul Gaultier at an event on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

With her striking blue eyes, golden skin, and flowing locks, she became a favorite among numerous top-tier talent agents, including those from Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana, L'Oréal Paris, and Versace. She is best known for gracing the cover of Vogue Enfants.

The beauty skyrocketed to fame as a toddler (Instagram/@‌thylaneblondeau)

As the portfolio of this French star - who has also collaborated with Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss - expanded, she was soon dubbed 'the most beautiful girl in the world'.

Blondeau's career began to slow down when she reached seven, allowing her to enjoy several crucial years of education like any ordinary child.

Now a 24-year-old woman working part-time as a model and a fashion and beauty entrepreneur, she has recently posted several photos on social media, showcasing her current appearance.

Her recent photos have sparked considerable debate, with many criticizing the expectations tied to the nickname she received as a child.

Still exuding stunning beauty, the former child star - daughter of French footballer Patrick Blondeau and TV presenter Veronika Loubry - retains the thick brows, long eyelashes, and full lips that propelled her to stardom nearly two decades ago.

Blondeau looks vastly different to how she did as a child (Instagram/@thylaneblondeau)

After the new photos were reshared by the New York Post, a critic voiced concern about her past title: "It’s unsettling to label a child as the most beautiful in the world, it’s unusual."

Another person agreed: "Judging the beauty of six-year-old children and ranking them globally highlights our cultural issues."

A third person added: "All little girls are beautiful."

In 2018, Blondeau expressed to the press her desire to distance herself from the 'most beautiful' label.

"Even today, people tell me, 'You are the most beautiful girl'," she told The Telegraph at the time.

"And I reply, 'No, I'm not; I'm just a person, a teenager'."

Reflecting on her early fame with a Gaultier agent, Blondeau recalled: "My mom said, 'No, she's not with an agency, she can't do this'.

"Jean Paul Gaultier insisted, 'She must be there tomorrow'. So my mom thought, 'Why not?'.