Od svých 13 let se objevovala v reklamách a televizi, kdy ji zastupovala agentura Boutchou. Později se stala se modelkou u agentury Karin a pózovala pro Hermès, fotografa Chica Bialase.
Mélanie Thierry began her career as a model in France, then moved into acting. She began with a series of roles in French productions, and at the age of 17 appeared in the internationally distributed The Legend of 1900.