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Sarah-Jane Duncanson “Trinny” Woodall (born 8 February 1964) is a British businesswoman, beauty expert, and television presenter. She is the founder of the successful makeup brand Trinny London, launched in 2017. Before starting her own company, she became widely known for helping people improve their style on TV.
Trinny was born in Marylebone, London. She is the youngest of six children, including three half-siblings from her father’s first marriage. Her father worked as a banker, and her grandfather, Sir John Duncanson, played a major role in the British steel industry during and after World War II.
At the age of five, she was given the nickname “Trinny” by a family friend, Ronald Searle, the creator of the St Trinian’s cartoons. She attended boarding schools in England, France, and Germany. Trinny has shared that school life was sometimes difficult and she often felt overshadowed by her older sister.
In 1996, Trinny began a fashion column called Ready to Wear with Susannah Constantine for The Daily Telegraph. They used themselves as examples to show women how to dress well with affordable high-street clothing. Their honest and practical advice quickly became popular.
Trinny and Susannah became household names as presenters of the BBC makeover show What Not to Wear, which started in 2001. Their direct and confidence-boosting advice helped many people feel better about their appearance. The show won a Royal Television Society Award and received BAFTA nominations. They also featured on American TV, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, and later moved to ITV to present more makeover programmes.
Alongside their TV success, Trinny and Susannah wrote several bestselling fashion books, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. In 2017, Trinny launched Trinny London, a makeup brand that grew rapidly and became a global beauty success. In 2023, she introduced a new book and podcast titled Fearless.
Trinny has one daughter, Lyla. She was married to Johnny Elichaoff from 1999 to 2009. Today, she continues to inspire many people through beauty, style, and confidence-building.
Trinny Woodall stands at 5 feet 10 inches (177.8 cm) tall.
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