Emma Thynn, Viscountess Weymouth

Emma Thynn, Viscountess Weymouth (née McQuiston; born 19 March 1986), commonly known as Emma Weymouth, is an English chef, model, and philanthropist. If her husband, Ceawlin Thynn, Viscount Weymouth, succeeds his father, Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath as the 8th Marquess of Bath, she will become the first Black marchioness in British history.

Early life and family

Emma McQuiston was born on 19 March 1986 in London to Suzanna McQuiston, an English socialite, and Chief Oladipo Jadesimi, a Nigerian oil magnate who is the executive chairman and a founder of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics company.^[1][2] She was raised in South Kensington.^[3]McQuiston has a half-sister by her father, Amy Jadesimi, who serves as the chief executive officer of LADOL. Through her mother she has a half-sister, Samantha McQuinston^[4], and an older half-brother, Iain McQuiston, who is the husband of Viscount Weymouth's aunt, Lady Silvy Xerne Thynne.^[5][6] McQuinston served as a bridesmaid in her half-brother and Lady Thynne's wedding and has known her husband since she was four years old.^[7] She was head girl at Queen's Gate School and later attended the University College London to study art history.^[8][9] After university she studied classical acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.^[10]

Marriage and children

McQuiston and Viscount Weymouth announced their engagement in November 2012. They were married at Longleat House, the family estate in Wiltshire, on 8 June 2013.^[11] Upon her marriage McQuiston became Viscountess Weymouth. The wedding ceremony was not attended by the groom's parents, Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath and Anna Gyarmathy.^[12] His father boycotted the ceremony after a feud with the Viscount over changes made at Longleat.^[13] His mother was banned from the ceremony by the Viscount after repeatedly making racist remarks regarding McQuiston.^[14][15]

Viscountess Weymouth is the first black viscountess in the United Kingdom.^[16] When her husband succeeds his father as the Marquess of Bath, Viscountess Weymouth will become the first black marchioness in British history.^[17][18][19] She stated that she has experienced racism and prejudice from other members of the British nobility.^[20]

Viscountess Weymouth gave birth to her first child, The Honourable John Alexander Ladi Thynn, on 26 October 2014.^[21] By surrogacy at a private clinic in West Hollywood, the couple had another child, The Honourable Henry Richard Isaac Thynn, on 30 December 2016.^[22][23] The use of a surrogate was due to health problems that Viscountess Weymouth was suffering from.^[24] The children's paternal grandmother, The Marchioness of Bath, is banned from visiting the children due to her racist remarks.^[25]

Career and philanthropy

Visountess Weymouth works as a brand ambassador for Fiorucci. She has modeled for Dolce & Gabbana, walking in runway shows at Harrods.^[26] She is a financial supporter of the Women's Institute. She also runs her own lifestyle website.^[27] The Viscountess is a chef and has her own online cooking show, Emma's Kitchen, where she cooks historic recipes such as chitterlings, as well as her own creations in the kitchens of the Longleat estate.^[28][29][30] She regularly hosts Emma's Afternoon Tea at Longleat, using all local ingredients for the tea and food.^[31] In June 2017 she hosted the first annual Longleat Food and Drink Festival.^[32] She is also a contributing editor at Huffington Post.^[10][33] In February 2018, Viscountess Weymouth walked in Dolce & Gabbana's Secrets & Diamonds fashion show in Milan.^[34]

Titles and styles

• 1986 – 8 June 2013: Miss Emma McQuiston
• 8 June 2013 – present: Viscountess Weymouth

References