Edie Campbell, as of today, has reached her modelling zenith. Hot off the press, the British model has been announced as the new face of Yves Saint Laurent Parfums and will be the face of the house's forthcoming (as yet under wraps) scent later this year. And boy, did YSL Beauty choose wisely.

It's been fizzing away for several seasons now, but there's something really special about Edie. In the same way that there was also something special about Kate Moss. Edie has traversed through the innocence of being a horse-mad teenage girl to becoming the fashion industry's favourite face, all the while retaining a sense of who she is as a human. With that, she is the Tilda Swinton of models. She is napalm for photographers.

"fashion editors love her because she has originality by the bucket load"

And yet, attempting to quantify that caustic, magical element of Edie's success is hard. Eminent hair stylist Luke Hersheson told me that fashion editors love her because she has originality by the bucket load. No matter the shoot or the fashion photograph, her personality still comes through. Remind you of anyone? 

I've seen it backstage too. Where most models these days will come decked out in head to toe designer labels, with next season's bag to match. Edie rocks up in beaten up Vans plimsolls, her hair in a scruffy Bam Bam style ponytail atop her head and an attitude of quiet nonchalance; not because she doesn't care about her work, but because she knows there is more life than modelling itself. 

While our oft-confessed love for Daria Werbowy still burns strong, we have a feeling that one day in the not too distant future, Edie may well usurp it entirely. 

Click the gallery for a whistlestop tour through Edie Campbell's beauty evolution.