Devon Aoki hits the books and the runways
| 'I don't exactly fit into the status quo of what a model
should be' By: September 2, 1999 Hair: Renato Campora Source: cnn.com NEW YORK (CNN) -- Devon Aoki is the 16-year-old darling of the international modeling scene. Although she's short by runway standards -- 5 feet, 6 inches (1.7 meters) -- this United States-born, hazel-eyed beauty has one of the most sought-after faces in fashion. She's already worked for Chanel, Helena Rubenstein and Versus. Despite her high demand, the daughter of Japanese restaurateur Rocky Aoki of Benihana fame and London jeweler Pam Price says she's not about to sacrifice her education for star status. "I think if there ever was any point that I felt that I was neglecting school in any way," Devon says, "I'd reconsider the amount of time I'm in New York spending on fashion and re-devote that time to school. I want to graduate from my high school as a good student, rather than a good model." This good student studies in London, where she lives with her mother, stepfather and two of her eight siblings. Devon started modeling in England two years ago, after living in Los Angeles and and being discovered in New York at age 13. "Well, it first sort of began in New York," she says "when I met some people who were involved in fashion. I moved to London a year later, and they saw a picture that I'd done for Interview magazine, which was the first thing I'd ever done." Despite the interest generated by the picture, Devon says her modeling career took some time to get off the ground because she's been so busy with school. "I couldn't devote the kind of time that other full-time models can," she says. "But it's started up now -- I'm a full-time model, even though I'm actually a full-time student. Into the crystal ball ...Her work as a full-time student makes her father happy. Devon recently hosted an anniversary party for him in New York to celebrate his 35th year in business. He says he couldn't be prouder of his youngest child. "I'm very happy to see something like this happen to my life, to my kids," he says. "I have seven kids altogether, and before I die I want everyone to be successful. She's the smallest one, only 16 years old. Her future is, I think, great." Devon says that after graduating high school, she wants to live in New York, start college and continue modeling. Currently, she splits her time between school and work, and she considers work to be as much a learning experience as school. "I'm getting education just being a model," Devon says, "because I'm experiencing these sorts of different things. I've been to Paris quite a few times, and when I'm in Paris, I improve on my French. You learn whenever you go somewhere new." Devon says she likes the creativity of print and the excitement of runway. And what is it about her that designers find so attractive? "I think now in fashion there's definitely a diversity of models," she says, "as opposed to before where there was sort of maybe stereotypical models, or specific genres of models. I don't exactly fit into the status quo of what a model should be, or I don't exactly meet all the requirements. "I'm not very tall, but I think that this new sort of diversity makes fashion all the more interesting, and reflects our society because it's made up of all different shapes and sizes. I think it's important that it's starting to integrate its way into fashion." |
