| Source:
kblvd.com
Devon Aoki is not your typical 16 year old. As the new star of Chanel's
spring/summer 1999 campaign, this young hapa is on her way to become
one of the most recognizable faces in the fashion world. Having already
worked the runaways for the last 2 years, this spring her fresh young
face will have top billing in a flurry of new advertisements launching
Chanel's new line.
The daughter of Benihana restraunt chain-owner Rocky Aoki, Devon
was discovered by a photographer while backstage at a Rancid concert
she had crashed. Soon afterwards, her star skyrocketed when she
signed up with Storm Model Management, which represents covergirls
Kate Moss and Eva Herzigova. At only 5'6" with a serious pout
and an angular face sprinkled with freckles, industry insiders have
labeled her both the "punk nymphet" as well as the '90's
"It Girl" after seeing her stomp down the runway.
She quickly became the darling of notable photographers like Ellen
von Unwerth, Karl Lagerfeld and Mario Sorrenti, and was included
in Visionaire, an avante-garde collection of photographs
before anyone knew who she was. As one of the few Asian faces in
the fashion industry and one of the first to land such a major ad
campaign, Aoki recognizes the significance of her popularity. "I
think as time moves forward, there is more room for ethnic diversity."
she says. "It's important that there is a change, especially
in fashion."
|