Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath

Emma Clare Thynn, Marchioness of Bath (née McQuiston; born 26 March 1986), styled as Viscountess Weymouth from 2013 to 2020, is a British socialite and fashion model.^[1] She is married to Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath. In 2020, she became the first black marchioness in British history.^[2]

The Most Honourable The Marchioness of Bath
Personal details
Born	Emma Clare McQuiston (1986-03-26) 26 March 1986 (age 39) South Kensington, London, England
Spouse	Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath ​ ​ (m. 2013)​
Children	2
Parents	Oladipo Jadesimi Suzanna McQuiston
Education	University College London London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupation	Fashion model, socialite

Early life and education

Thynn was born on 26 March 1986, in London, the daughter of a Nigerian father and an English mother.^[3] Emma was raised in South Kensington.^[4]

Her father, Chief Oladipo Jadesimi, is a Nigerian oil billionaire who is the executive chairman of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Company and is a titleholder in the Nigerian chieftaincy system, while her mother, Suzanna McQuiston, is an English socialite.^[5][6] As a result of an affair between her parents, her father did not live with the family, but she has reported having a positive relationship with him.^[7]

She has several half-siblings, including Amy Jadesimi.^[2][8]

She attended University College London to study art history.^[9][10] After university, she studied classical acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.^[11][9]

Career

After her marriage, she became chatelaine of Longleat's estate and safari park.^[12][13] There, she founded the food and lifestyle brand Emma's Kitchen.^[12][14] She was featured alongside her husband in All Change at Longleat, a three-part documentary filmed in 2014 and broadcast on BBC One in September 2015.^[15]

In 2017, she became a brand ambassador for Fiorucci.^[16] She also modelled for Dolce & Gabbana, walking in runway shows at Harrods.^[17]

In February 2018, Thynn began working as a fashion editor at British Vogue.^[18][19] She is also contributing editor at HuffPost.^[11][20]

She ran a business called Emma’s Kitchen, which sold baked goods and homewares and hosted recipe demonstrations at Longleat, specifically in the estate's Victorian basement bakehouse.^[7]

From September 2019, she was a contestant in the 17th season of the BBC television programme Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec.^[12] The couple were eliminated in week seven. She became involved in a voting controversy after a staff member at Longleat House offered to pay for colleagues' votes in her support.^[21]

On 18 September 2021, she was a contestant alongside Lauren Steadman in the "Strictly" celebrities special of Pointless; her duo was the first eliminated duo of the episode.^[22]

In 2023, Emma and her husband, Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath, hosted Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, at Longleat House. The visit was part of the Rededication of the 43rd Wessex Division Service held at Longleat, the family seat of the Marquesses of Bath. Prince Edward met with the Marquess and Marchioness of Bath and their two sons, John Thynn, Viscount Weymouth, and Lord Henry Thynn.^[23]

In August 2024, Thynn took part in the nineteenth series of Celebrity MasterChef on BBC One, where she was eliminated in the third heat.^[24] The same year, Emma was announced as an ambassador for Victoria’s Secret. The campaign featuring Thynn was filmed at Longleat, her family’s estate in Wiltshire. Her appointment was part of the company’s broader efforts to update its brand image.^[3]

In 2025, Emma was named "Best Hostess" in Tatler's Country House Awards.^[25]

Personal life and engagements

As chatelaine, Emma has been actively involved with the legacy of Longleat House and its monetization efforts to ensure its sustainability for future generations. These initiatives were originally started by Ceawlin’s grandfather, Henry, who opened Longleat to the public and established the first safari park outside Africa.^[7]

Emma was present at the opening of Il Borro Tuscan Bistro in Mayfair, London, in November 2021. The event was attended by several notable figures from British society, including Lady Mary Charteris and Lady Amelia Windsor.^[26]

She was among the guests at the Royal Ascot Gold Cup dinner held at The Ritz in London in May 2022. The event took place in anticipation of the Royal Ascot races and included a presentation of Garrard’s Gold Cup for 2022.^[27] Emma participated in the opening event for the Africa Fashion exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum on June 2022. The exhibition presented a collection of garments and textiles from various African countries, emphasizing both historical and modern styles.^[28]

In September 2022, Emma was present at a launch event at Claridge’s in London marking the release of A Visible Man, the memoir of Edward Enninful, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue. The event was hosted by Vanessa Kingori and included guests such as Kate Moss and Idris Elba.^[29] In October, Emma co-hosted a private dinner at Sir John Soane’s Museum in London with Wes Gordon, Creative Director of Carolina Herrera. The event brought together guests from the fashion and cultural sectors such as, Lady Frederick Windsor, Lady Mary Charteris, Olivia Buckingham, and musician Eve. The dinner took place in the museum’s historic setting, surrounded by its collection of art and antiquities.^[30]

In November 2022, Emma attended the unveiling of the annual Claridge’s Christmas Tree in London, designed that year by Sandra Choi for Jimmy Choo. The event featured a sculptural tree composed of mirrored panels and lights, accompanied by a live gospel choir performance. The Marchioness was among several notable guests, including actress Golda Rosheuvel and Lady Mary Charteris.^[31] This same month, she attended a private opening event for Bacchanalia, a restaurant in London’s Mayfair district. Other attendees included Naomi Campbell, Lady Amelia Spencer, Lady Eliza Spencer, Lady Clara Paget, and Lennon Gallagher.^[32] She also attended a book launch event in London for Venetian Gardens, authored by Derry Moore, 12th Earl of Drogheda, and broadcaster Monty Don. The event brought together guests from the fields of art, literature, and media. Other attendees included Countess Mountbatten of Burma and makeup artist Mary Greenwell.^[33]

In April 2023, Emma attended the opening of the summer season at Studio Frantzén’s rooftop terrace at Harrods in London. Guests included Lady Clara Paget, Lady Mary Charteris, and Julia Restoin Roitfeld.^[34] In the summer of the same year, she travelled along the French Riviera and the Amalfi Coast, visiting locations including Saint-Tropez and Portofino. During this time, she was seen in the company of various public figures, including former basketball player Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union.^[35] In November, she attended the launch of the Louis Vuitton Christmas tree at Claridge’s in London. Other attendees included Lady Mary Charteris, Olivia Buckingham, and Dame Joan Collins.^[36]

In 2024, Emma attended Prince Michael's 82nd birthday celebration, accompanied by her manager and friend, Elaine Foran.^[37] In December 2024, she attended the annual Claridge’s Christmas Tree unveiling in Mayfair. Other attendees included Olivia Buckingham, Lady Victoria Hervey, Lady Violet Manners, and Alice Naylor-Leyland.^[38]

In February 2025, Emma attended the Warner Music x Hennessy BRIT Awards afterparty in Mayfair. Held following the annual BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena, the event was attended by figures from the music and fashion industries, including Charli XCX,^[39] Ella Henderson, Jess Glynne, and others. Emma was photographed alongside fashion designer Christian Louboutin.^[40]

Marriage and issue

Emma first met Ceawlin when she was four and he was 16, at the wedding of her half-brother Iain McQuiston to Ceawlin’s aunt, Lady Silvy Cerne Thynne. Over the following two decades, they saw each other only occasionally at large family gatherings.^[7]

Emma and Ceawlin Thynn, Viscount Weymouth married on 8 June 2013,^[41] in a ceremony attended by 355 guests.^[3] Upon her marriage, she became Viscountess Weymouth.^[12][42] The wedding in 2013 drew attention due to the absence of her in-laws.^[3] It was reported that Lady Bath did not attend, with some speculating that she felt the marriage would affect the family's heritage.^[43]

Emma became the first member of the British aristocracy to have a child via surrogacy after medical advice indicated potential health risks associated with pregnancy. Emma and her husband, Ceawlin Thynn, welcomed their son, Henry Thynn, at a private clinic in the United States. The couple, who had a two-year-old son, John, opted for surrogacy after Emma was diagnosed with a brain bleed and a pituitary gland disorder during her first pregnancy. Medical professionals advised that a second pregnancy could pose serious health risks. The condition caused significant pain and led to the baby being delivered by caesarean section.^[44]

When her husband succeeded his father as the Marquess of Bath in 2020, she became the first black marchioness in British history.^{[45][46][42][13]}