A Texas fourth-grader’s school project turned into a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with the Simon Le Bon, frontman of Duran Duran, in London.
When fourth-grader Ava Meyers was asked to write about a family member’s “brush with fame,” she could have turned in a simple story. Instead, the White Rock Elementary student from Richardson, Texas, decided to create her own celebrity encounter.
Over Christmas break, Ava traveled with her family to London for a wedding. While staying in Putney, her mom Zahra discovered something surprising: Simon Le Bon, the lead singer of Duran Duran, lived nearby. For Ava, the discovery was thrilling. “It felt like fate,” her mom later recalled. What began as a casual idea—“Wouldn’t it be fun to walk by his house?”—quickly grew into something much bolder.
On Christmas Day, encouraged by her 83-year-old relative Nick, Ava gathered her courage and knocked on the rock star’s door. Simon’s son-in-law answered first, then his wife, who gently told Ava she would go fetch Simon because, after all, it was Christmas. To Ava’s amazement, the frontman himself appeared with a warm smile. He introduced himself—“I’m Simon Le Bon, and I’m in Duran Duran”—gave Ava a hug and a kiss on the cheek, and posed for photos on his front porch.
For Ava, the moment was pure magic—a Christmas surprise that would become the highlight of her year.
The Teacher Who Sparked the Story
The entire adventure traces back to Ava’s teacher, Miriam Osborne. A veteran educator in Richardson ISD, Osborne has been teaching for over 15 years and is well known among her students for her love of Duran Duran. Her classroom is a shrine to the band, decorated with vinyl albums, Funko Pop! dolls of each member, and even a working landline phone—a playful nod to her dream of one day receiving a call from Simon Le Bon himself.
Osborne’s fandom began in El Paso in the 1980s, when she was growing up as the daughter of Syrian immigrants. Living with hearing challenges that sometimes made her feel isolated, Osborne found a sense of connection through the band’s glamorous videos and synth-driven sound. “Duran Duran was my bridge to pop culture,” she has said. “They helped me feel less alone.”
So when she gave her students the “brush with fame” writing assignment, she revealed her own story: she had once seen Duran Duran in concert. Then she pushed her class to go further. “Don’t just write about something ordinary,” she told them. “Think bigger. Make it memorable.” Ava took that challenge literally—and carried it all the way to London.
How a Fourth Grader Found a Rock Legend
For the Meyers family, the London trip was planned around a wedding, but Zahra’s Google search about local celebrities gave Ava’s imagination a spark. With her project looming, she saw an opportunity: what if she could meet her teacher’s idol in person? It seemed impossible—but Ava decided to try.
The idea of knocking on the door of a world-famous musician is intimidating at any age. For a fourth-grader, it took extraordinary courage. “She was nervous, but also determined,” her mom said. “Nick kept saying, ‘Go on, you’ll never forget this.’ And he was right.”
The family’s persistence paid off. Not only did Ava meet Simon, but she also experienced his kindness firsthand. He didn’t just politely greet her; he embraced the moment, hugging her, kissing her cheek, and chatting warmly. Ava later told her teacher: “I thought he might just wave, but he was so kind. He made me feel like I was really important.”
A Viral Encounter
When Ava returned to Richardson after the break, she had more than just a few photos for show-and-tell. She delivered a detailed, hour-long retelling of her adventure, captivating her classmates with every step of the story. Osborne was floored by what her student had accomplished. “You told me to take it one step further, so I did,” Ava reminded her with a proud grin.
The story spread quickly. Parents and teachers shared it around the White Rock Elementary community, and soon NBC DFW picked it up. From there, it went viral online, circulating through fan groups and social media networks. Admirers praised Simon Le Bon’s generosity and Ava’s courage, calling it one of the most heartwarming celebrity encounters they had ever seen.
The meeting has already changed Ava’s life in small but meaningful ways. Inspired by Simon, she has enrolled in guitar lessons at Dallas Piano Academy, beginning her own musical journey. “I think music might be part of my life now,” she said.
Duran Duran’s Lasting Impact
The story also shines a light on Duran Duran’s enduring influence. Formed in Birmingham in 1978, the band quickly became one of the defining acts of the 1980s. With hits like Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf, they sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Their glamorous videos helped shape MTV culture, and their mix of glam, new wave, and dance-rock gave them staying power across decades.
The band’s career has been marked by reinvention, from the early years of New Romantic fashion to experimental albums and worldwide tours. They won two Grammys, two Brit Awards, and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. Even in recent years, they’ve remained prolific, releasing Danse Macabre in 2023, an album blending new songs with reimagined classics.
Duran Duran’s classic hits remain fan favorites decades after their release
For Osborne, the band was a lifeline during her adolescence. For Ava, their music is now tied forever to a memory of bravery, kindness, and connection. Two generations linked by the same soundtrack.
A Lesson Beyond the Classroom
What started as a simple school assignment became a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Ava’s willingness to go further than expected—and the support of her family—turned an ordinary project into a story that touched fans around the world. Her teacher’s encouragement and Simon Le Bon’s kindness combined to create a moment that will live on not only in Ava’s memory but in her community as well.
The story shows the power of mentorship and imagination, and the ripple effects of bold ideas. A 10-year-old’s courage knocked on the door of music history, and got an answer.
Feature Image from Wikimedia Commons