CHANTAL

What is your preferred name and pronoun?
Chantal, she.

Where did you grow up?  
In the suburbs of Paris.

What generation are you?
Gen X.

What year did you start modeling?
'96.

Who were your first beauty icons? Who do you admire today?
I loved Yasmine Ghauri and Linda Evangelista. Today, I admire Nile Brunson; she was just signed by Ford Models. She’s tall, smart, healthy, exotic, and just beautiful (and she also happens to be my daughter).

How did beauty advertisements make you feel when you were growing up?
I always loved advertisements and the creative effort behind them. However, there was clearly a lack of diversity, and I was shocked and angry when I started modeling and realized that casting descriptions explicitly stated: no Blacks, no Asians. I didn’t understand how I could appreciate a product advertised on a Caucasian girl and find her fabulous, while it was assumed that clients couldn’t imagine their customers loving the product if it were worn by a Black or Asian girl.

How have you seen the beauty industry shift from youth to present day?
Today, it is definitely more inclusive, and I love it. However, I’ve also noticed a significant drop in rates, which still feels like you’re in the industry but not as well valued.

What effects has the inclusivity boom in beauty advertising had on you personally and/or professionally, for better or for worse? What about for your community?  
I believe it has been for the best. The fashion and beauty industry advertising, for me, is associated with art and has a direct influence on what society accepts and how it evolves. With the emergence of social media and diverse individuals shining on their own and attracting large audiences, it has become impossible for the industry to ignore.

In taking steps towards more diversity in beauty products and advertising, what are companies still doing wrong or what could they be doing better?
I see it slowly creeping back to what it once was; sometimes it feels forced, and the diversity appears to be an afterthought, always represented in the same way.

Do you have any thoughts on using AI in beauty advertising?
I think AI can be a great tool on many levels, but human beauty is deeply connected to emotions and energy. Therefore, AI advertising to me feels like it’s missing the point.

Did you always know you wanted to model, and what encouraged you to actually pursue it?
When I was younger, I always dreamed of traveling the world and discovering different cultures. I wanted to be a flight attendant, so when the opportunity arose to travel, get paid, stay in beautiful places, be pampered, and meet open-minded people, it was hard for the little girl from the hood to resist. Studying was encouraged in my family, not this bohemian lifestyle, so I studied at La Sorbonne and got my diploma as a backup. However, I ended up having a long and enriching modeling career. A few years ago, I felt the need to realize my entrepreneurial dreams by becoming a business owner, bringing the taste of France to American kitchens with my delicious organic French sweet and savory crêpes (check out http://www.crepeschantal.com ) . I absolutely love the balance of being a model and a businesswoman.

What do you think you personally bring to the fashion and beauty world?  
I hope this doesn’t sound too conceited, but I believe my personality reflects the journey I’ve taken. Through personal enrichment, as I achieve my goals and embrace who I am becoming, I bring positive energy and project confidence. These are qualities that fashion and beauty icons possess.

Anything else you would like to share?  
Thank you for giving me an outlet to express my thoughts in words and not just in images.