Devon Aoki

Devon Aoki, age 25, has already had an impressive modeling career that includes numerous ad campaigns and playing the bride of Lagerfeld five times over. In Europe she may be better known as Chanel's icon, but in the U.S. she is also a famous actress and has been working regularly in Hollywood since 2003. Far from being content with wearing these two hats, however, Aoki has also recently signed with Levi's to create a clothing line and is considering launching her own label.

Aoki is the daughter of a prize-winning Japanese wrestler, Rocky Aoki, and Pamela Hilburger, a German-English jewelry designer. In 1982, Aoki was born in New York, but her parents soon moved to Malibu where she discovered a real love for water and would spend hours swimming and snorkeling. When she was 10, her family moved back to New York where she was discovered while attending a concert and offered a modeling contract.

From that point on, things moved rather quickly. Her godmother belonged to the posh world of fashion and introduced her to Kate Moss who became her mentor. Aoki's parents divorced and her mother took her daughters to England when Aoki was 14. Her unusual face and slender silhouette allowed her to pick her agency (despite her lack of height), and she chose the same as Moss.

A real bond was forged between the two girls. Aoki was pleased to learn that in addition to being beautiful, Moss was also welcoming, easy to approach and ready to do what she could for those she trusted. Aoki was a part of this group and Moss helped her enter into the fashion world. Throughout her adolescence, Aoki spent equal time on her studies and modeling, and had no problems turning down a photo session if it interfered too much with her schoolwork. The fact that she could allow herself these liberties meant that her career had taken off.

At the beginning of her career, even though she was only 14 years old, she posed for Björk's CD cover, a photo that was reprinted by Visionnaire magazine. She also posed with Moss for Interview. The star-maker photographers were quickly charmed by the small, angelic-exotic face of this new arrival. She worked with Steven Meisel for Vogue, Mario Testino for Vogue U.K., and with Karl Lagerfeld and David LaChapelle.

Lagerfeld literally fell under her spell even though Aoki was far from the master's aesthetic criteria: she only measured 1m68 (5'6") and her beauty was very atypical. Aside from photographing her for many Chanel campaigns, Lagerfeld had her close his shows for five consecutive years in a wedding dress. When asked about this, Aoki laughs and says that at least in wedding gowns, she will have the experience needed when the time comes.

She was only 14 years old when she did her first Chanel show. She entered into a world where she met girls she had only ever seen in magazines. Far from taking offense at her presence as a guest star, several models, e.g. Erin O'Connor and Karen Elson, took her under their wings. She went on to show for Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, and Fendi.

In 1998, following a dispute between Donatella Versace and Naomi Campbell, the latter lost her contract and Aoki was asked to replace her as Versace's icon. Then it was Lancome's turn to take interest and Aoki became one of the faces of the beauty brand.

In 2003, when she was at the top of her modeling career, it was Hollywood that started to notice her. After getting a small role in a musical, she landed a supporting role in 2 Fast 2 Furious, which made her known to the American public. In 2005, she appeared in Sin City and her character was brought back in Sin City 2.

When asked which she prefers between acting and modeling, Aoki replies that they are two different pleasures: a fashion show is very intense, but the instant is fleeting and at the end of the show everyone goes home, whereas during a film shoot, your coworkers become almost a second family. There are intense, adrenaline-charged moments, especially during the filming for War in which she plays along side Jet Li. Recently posing for Peter Lindbergh for the Hugo Boss campaign, she was reminded how much she liked modeling and is very happy not to have to choose between the two careers.

Far from contenting herself with her double-sided career, Aoki, who has for a long time wanted to get into fashion design, has just launched a line of jeans in collaboration with Levi's, at first to be distributed exclusively in Japan. She came up with an adjustable waistline that would eliminate the necessity of unbuttoning the top button after a good meal.

As for her personal life, she remains discreet. She lives in Los Angeles, adores Paris and loves losing herself among the bookstores and the art galleries. She also looks out for her little sister, Elliot Paige Price, 13, who is beginning in the modeling world. She still loves the water and takes off for Maui at every possible chance.

At 25, Aoki manages her image like a master. It has been more than 10 years since she began her career and she does not seem ready to give it up.