Chanel moved swiftly into the fashion game. She is already a muse for Phillip Lim, has walked for the likes of Marc Jacobs and Dolce and Gabbana, and counts Tyra Banks as a mentor. She was named one of the top supermodels of 2007 by Vogue. With a name like Chanel Iman, could a girl possibly aspire to be anything other than a supermodel? We think not. Born December 1, 1990, in Atlanta, Chanel Iman Robinson began practicing her poses not long after learning to walk. Named for her mother favorite designer and a cousin, Chanel started masquerading as a model for Halloween in the first grade. Years of studying magazines and striking poses at home landed her third place in Ford Supermodel of the World contest. Almost immediately, the Korean-African-American beauty debuted on the catwalk for the likes of Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs, Derek Lam, Proenza Schouler, Dolce and Gabbana, and Alexander McQueen.
Soon the long-legged stunner was booking major campaigns and mingling with her mentors. Chanel sat down with legendary model Iman, who interviewed her for Vibe. She has also appeared on The Tyra Banks Show to discuss the challenges facing African-American models, and now Chanel calls on the daytime diva for guidance. Chanel moved swiftly into the fashion game. She's already a muse for designer Phillip Lim and has a signature move: She winks at an audience member as she turns at the top of the runway. Rumors continue to swirl that Anna Wintour once caught a wink, if so, it did not hurt Chanel career, as she surfaced among Vogue select crop of new supermodels in May 2007.
