house of
ChANeL
IMAN
Set design Anne Koch (CLM) Retouching La Boutique Special thanks Ahmad Larnes at Splashlight and DriveIn24 Model Chanel Iman (Ford N Y) Photo assistant John Guerrero Stylist assistant Ronald Burton
Makeup Eric Polito using NARS (Community NYC) Hair Dennis Gots using Bumble and bumble (Community N YC)
Derek BlasBerg let’s talk about the name.
Chanel Iman My middle name comes from
my cousin, who was named Iman, but he’s a
boy. And Chanel comes from a book on Coco
that my mom was reading when she was preg-
nant. She admired how Coco triumphed over
struggles. It was going to be Gabrielle Iman or
Chanel Iman. Chanel Iman was way chicer.
DB Did your mother want you to go into
fashion?
CI She actually wanted me to play basketball.
My father is a basketball coach, so I grew up
playing ball. I was really good.
DB Do you want to keep on hosting or break
into acting?
CI Acting. That’s my next project. I have an
amazing coach in L.A., and I’ve been out on
auditions. Hopefully you’ll see me in a couple
of things soon. Crossing my fingers.
DB Tell me about the tattoo on your finger.
CI I have three tattoos, and they all mean
something. I love tattoos. I’m obsessed with
them. I have to slow down, though, ’cause I
am a model. I have one on my ring finger, it’s
a red heart—it’s for when I meet the lucky man
who will be my husband. He can [she sings]
“put a ring on it!”
DB What are the others?
CI I have a clothes hanger on the back of my
neck, with Chanel Iman written below it. It sym-
bolizes me being a fashion model. And then
[pointing to her ankle] I just got this one. It’s
a sketch of me on the catwalk, giving my sig-
nature wink.
DB are there any models you look up to?
CI Tyra Banks. She’s my mentor. She’s doing
her thing, and I’m so proud of her. I think she’s
proud of me too.
DB Tyra’s built herself an empire. Is that
something you want to do?
CI Of course! Who doesn’t want to have an
empire?
Chanel Iman in NYC, March 2009
Shirt marc Jacobs Necklace anne koch
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