Chanel Iman

A veritable black diamond, the young Chanel Iman, with her mixed heritage and adolescent mischievous candor, possesses the unconventional beauty of a 21st century top model. This combination of characteristics was sure to set off fireworks in the fashion world that has literally fallen at her feet, Anna Wintour included.

The scene: a New York fashion show. The models are cool, the music pulsing, the VIPs are sitting in the first row - nothing out of the ordinary disturbs the cogs of this kind of well-oiled machine, until... While the other models stop and turn at the end of the catwalk, a young newcomer strikes a pose and just before turning, winks at a woman with square cut bangs and large black sunglasses seated nearby. The young, audacious model's name is Chanel who in one second, seduced André Léon Talley and the editor in chief of Vogue.

Chanel Iman Robinson was born in 1989 in Atlanta. Her father is African-American and her mother (China Robinson) is half-Korean and half-African. They moved from Atlanta to Culver City, California. As a child, Chanel found her name bizarre and unpopular; she even went so far as to change it to Britanny in junior high school. She was far from understanding the potential of her name in the career she dreamt of having.

Iman was obsessed about one thing since she was a child: to become a model. Her entourage encouraged her but her mother thought she was too young to try. Nevertheless, Iman's aunt finally convinced her mother and took the 13-year-old Chanel to visit the agencies. The result was instant, and China's cell phone (at the time a flight attendant) began to ring off the hook with all the agencies wanting to book her daughter.

Iman, with her long legs, immense smile, laughing eyes, wasp-like waistline and killer charm attracted a lot of attention. She finally decided to sign with Ford and quickly began learning the ropes by posing for catalogs and teen magazines.

It did not take long for Ford to understand that Iman had everything to make her a star. The agency sent her to Paris. Iman's life changed completely: she quit school, and her mother quit her job to dedicate herself completely to her daughter by becoming her teacher and chaperon and guardian.

In 2006, Chanel won third place in the Ford competition, then walked for Anna Sui, Derek Lam, Marc Jacobs, and Proenza Schouler. She was instantly noticed. Her slender figure, cosmopolitan face, freedom of spirit on the catwalks and habit of winking at someone in the public during the shows quickly transformed her into an "it" girl.

She went from show to show in Milan and Paris. Her mother was always at her side and the world of fashion became accustomed to her. China made sure that her daughter did not jump the gun nor get carried away with the outrageousness of the business in which she was growing up. She gave her an allowance and put the rest of her earnings away for when she would become an adult.

Iman posed for United Colors of Benetton, Gap and Bottega Veneta (photographed by Annie Leibowitz). Her consecration came later, however, when Anna Wintour chose her for the May cover of Vogue with 9 other girls representing the new generation of top models. She then found herself booked for all the shows and solicited for numerous ad campaigns, e.g., Nina Ricci, Alexander McQueen, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Victoria's Secret Pink.

Iman drew the attention of Tyra Banks (also from California), who decided to take her under her wing. Banks became her mentor, warned her about the vices in the business, shared her experiences and gave her many pieces of professional advice. The best advice Banks could give, according to Iman: "Plan the end at the beginning," i.e., start planning for your life after modeling right away because the success and the glory will not last forever.

Despite being pushed into the spotlight, Iman remains a teenager whose candor and simplicity make her irresistible. No one took offense when she did not recognize Paul McCartney, nor when she called a pair of $800 sandals awful, provoking an apoplectic seizure from her makeup artist.

However, Iman could care less; she continues to shop at Forever 21 on Melrose Avenue and to play soccer with her friends when she has the time. She is a typical teenager who goes crazy for the latest Ipod seen in Vogue or for the latest must-have seen on one of her colleagues from the shows. She can drive for miles with her friends and loves to sleep over at her best girlfriend's New York apartment.

Despite everything, if Iman takes certain liberties on the catwalks (that could be considered somewhat risky), she is also extremely professional. She considers her work as a career and not just a job, and understands that all her acts, gestures and attitudes will contribute (or not) to making her a top model. She is very happy to be a part of those girls with an exotic beauty (like Jourdan Dunn) that the fashion world is finally embracing, adding to the different races now seen on the catwalks and in the magazines.