Roger Taylor’s Daughter Tigerlily: Modelling Struggled with Body Image, But Father’s Fame Helped

Queen drummer Roger Taylor’s daughter has revealed that years spent in the modelling industry left her battling crippling insecurities about her looks – even though she’s grateful her famous surname helped ‘open some doors’.

The Tatler cover star, whose mother is former actress Debbie Leng, began modelling as a teenager but the industry’s obsession with appearance quickly took a toll on her self-esteem.

‘I started modelling when I was about 17,’ she said on the Outspoken Beauty podcast. ‘I think that, more than anything, would be the thing that I found quite difficult – just with self-image, body image, being so hyper-critical of the way I look all the time, because that was the industry. That probably was the biggest struggle.’

Tigerlily, who has fronted campaigns for lingerie brand Bluebella and modelled for Urban Outfitters and Charlotte Simone, said she was far from prepared for what the industry would demand.

‘I was young and naive and kind of didn’t know what I was doing,’ she admitted. ‘I always struggled with confidence and identity. You wonder who you are a lot of the time when you’re in that world.’

Now, Tigerlily – who has gone on to found a luxury, sustainable press-on nail brand called Claws by Tiger Taylor – says she’s finally learning to let go of the insecurity that shadowed her twenties.

‘I think I was so concerned with the way I looked and so self-conscious and so insecure for, like, my whole life really,’ she said. 

‘It’s only when you stop caring so much that you realise how unhealthy it is – the negative self-talk and everything. When you look back you’re like, “How was I living like that?” I’ve only just started to figure out who I am.’

While she’s still working in fashion, she’s grateful she never felt the pressure to conform to the industry’s punishing demands and unrealistic aesthetic requirements.

‘Luckily, I was never like a high fashion runway model. I’m five foot six and just not that vibe,’ she explained. ‘But I think it was more just being young… and not really knowing who I was.’

The daughter of one of rock’s most famous drummers – Roger, 76, has been with Queen since its inception in 1970 – Tigerlily grew up surrounded by fame. 

But she insists that despite her father’s global stardom, she’s managed to stay grounded.

‘I love him. He’s probably, like, my favourite person. He’s hilarious,’ she said of her dad. Her unusual childhood, however, was challenging at times.

Tigerlily attended the £55,000-a-year Bedales boarding school in Hampshire, where she shared a dorm with supermodel-to-be Cara Delevingne.

‘It was quite an interesting childhood, a bit chaotic probably,’ she said. ‘Obviously that whole world is so normal to me, but it was definitely a lot of travelling around and probably not the average childhood.’

She added: ‘There’s definitely ups and downs to every situation, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve travelled to so many incredible places and I feel so privileged to have had those experiences. 

‘Me and my siblings – we’re all, I think, far older than our age just because we’ve seen and done so much.’

Tigerlily is one of Roger’s five children from two previous relationships. He shares his eldest son Felix, 45, and daughter Rory, 39, with his first wife Dominique Beyrand, whom he married in 1988 before later separating.

With his former long-term partner, Debbie Leng, he has Rufus, 34, a drummer who plays with The Darkness; Tigerlily and singer Lola, 25. Roger has been married to his current wife, actress Sarina Potgieter, since 2010.

Tigerlily, who is in a long-term relationship with music producer Mkulu Lee, is keenly aware that her famous surname has opened doors – something she’s not afraid to acknowledge.

‘I view the term “nepo baby”… like, obviously I’m not delusional. I know who my dad is and I’m not ashamed of the fact that my dad’s successful,’ she said. ‘I’m really proud of him and I think he’s done amazing things.

‘Obviously, I’m not in music and my dad’s not in fashion or beauty, but 100 per cent in modelling the name definitely helped and opened some doors – just people being interested.

‘But I do believe that the name might open the door, but you’ve got to do the work and walk through it yourself.’

She continued: ‘I think it’s good to acknowledge the fact that I am privileged to have had that helping hand and not try to deny it or shy away from it. 

‘I think it’s just good to acknowledge that.’