Cathy McGowan – Born in 1943

Before “influencer” was a word, Cathy McGowan defined British cool. She burst onto screens in 1963 as the face of Ready Steady Go!, a groundbreaking pop programme that helped shape the cultural revolution of the ’60s.

With her sharp Mod style and fearless energy, she became known as the “Queen of the Mods,” while Animals frontman Eric Burdon dubbed her “the girl of the moment.” Off-screen, she married actor Hywel Bennett in 1970, welcoming daughter Emma before their split in 1988. Since the ’90s, McGowan has shared her life with singer Michael Ball—now godfather to her grandson, Connor.