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In case you didn't know, Chanel Iman is kind of like Teen Vogue royalty. She's one of the OG supermodel — along with the likes of Jourdan Dunn and Karlie Kloss — who slayed the runways, posed for Victoria's Secret, and broke down major barriers. Naturally, when we got the chance to chat with her at Revolve's Summer Party last weekend in the Hamptons, we were pumped. Check out all she has to say about the current state of diversity in fashion, making it as an actress, and why you need to get the hell to the polls and vote this November.
Teen Vogue: First of all, we love your dress. What made you choose it?
Chanel Iman: I don't know. They had a whole bunch of clothes for me to choose, and I always like a simple, black dress for stuff like this. I don't know, you can't go wrong. It's timeless, you look back at your pictures and it's like a classic, black dress. This one’s X by NBD.
TV: Totally. Why are you here today?CI: I did their campaign a year ago, and I always feel like Revolve throws really fun events. It's like a girls get-together. I'm always for girl power.
TV: You’ve been on the cover of Teen Vogue twice. — Once with Karlie and Ali, and once with Jourdan Can you tell me, do you have a favorite memory from either one of those shoots, or something that really sticks out to you about why those shoots were important to you?
CI: Well, when I was on it with Karlie, it was so much fun because I don't think I knew I had the cover till it came out. I was a subscriber to Teen Vogue since I was 13, so that was really exciting. But shooting with Jourdan, it was just such a powerful cover because we were both, at the time, on top of our game. And we still are, but we were really at the highest of our careers as black girls. I always like to look at magazines with girls that I could relate to, and to do a cover like that, it was a moment for both of us. When we were first starting out, Jourdan and I were both the same age, so people were always trying to make us compete against each other. But we realized as we got older, that brought us closer. Now we're the most supportive of each other — we're like sisters.
TV: How do you look at diversity in fashion now versus when you first started?
CI: I think it was a struggle when I first started, just because it was always one black girl per show, or campaign, or whatever it was. I couldn't stand it, because I just felt like I was being judged a lot, rather than accepted for who I was. I feel like fashion's opened up a lot with having rappers in campaigns, and more color on the runway, but of course there's room for more of it, and more diversity. It's nice to be part of a culture change.
TV: Totally. Are there any girls right now that you've seen that excite you? Any upcoming models that excite you, or that you're rooting for, cheering on?
CI: Imaan Hamaam. I think she is gorgeous.
TV: Last year, you were in Dope, which was a huge career moment for you. Can you talk more about that transition from modeling to acting, and why you decided to do that?
CI: It was super exciting for me to be a part of this film, because it was a challenge for me as a model going into acting. This character that I played was a very edgy character — it was one where I felt comfortable with myself. I just wanted to do something different and something exciting, and something that I would be proud of later on in life. I felt like Dope would be one of those projects that I always have with me in my archive of things that I've done and I've achieved.
TV: Right. It was so incredible to see you on screen, and see you unleash that. Is acting more in your future, or what do you think?CI: Yeah, definitely. I'd love to do a lot more acting. I'm very grateful for anything that comes my way, but in the meantime, I just focus on being the best that I can be as a person and as an actress. I work on my talent every day with my acting coaches, and hopefully something will come through.
TV: Is there anything you’re working on now that excites you?
CI: I just got a crazy editorial. Maybe I can talk about, for Italian Vogue, and that's exciting. Doing an editorial for Italian Vogue, or French Vogue, or American Vogue, it puts you back on the map. I just feel like if I continue to work with great photographers and great stylists, that I won't ever leave the fashion industry. I always want to have one foot in the door. This is where I was raised, basically, so I know it. I also just got nominated for the Teen Choice Awards as a Choice Model. So go vote!
TV: What advice do you have for girls who want to get into modeling?
CI: I say keep your family close. Have confidence within yourself. For me, I survived the industry because my family was really tight. I've had really bad, bad experiences, and really good ones as well, but when I felt lonely, they were there to pick me back up. My family's definitely helped me to fight for the things that I dreamed of.
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TV: That's so important.CI: But, you also have to have confidence with yourself, because there is a lot of rejection. Rejection should uplift you more than it takes you down. When someone says that you can’t do it, it should motivate you and push you to want to do it that much more. That helped me a lot.
TV: Totally. When you look back on your career that you've had, now that you're 25, what would you say is your biggest highlight?
CI: My biggest highlight would probably be Teen Vogue and Vogue.
TV: Speaking of Vogue, in 2011, I saw that you co-hosted an event with Anna Wintour, and you designed a backpack to raise money for Obama. We’re now entering a new election cycle. What advice do you have for teenagers now that a new election is coming for us?
CI: Every vote counts. It's very important for everybody to vote. We are the new generation of voices. We have a voice, and it's our generation, so we have to take care of it. As young people, we’re pushing the future.
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