I don’t want to be known as the black model. I want to be recognized as Chanel Iman, a personality.
I drink a lot of protein shakes and do a lot of weight lifting.
I have had the privilege of working with the best in the business, from photographers to designers to magazines. There’s not much more to ask for but I’m still looking forward to one day working with photographers Mert and Marcus, Tim Walker and Nick Knight.
It usually takes an ethnic girl – I’m not saying black, I’m saying ethnic, let’s make that clear – twice as long. We’ve gotta work extra-hard to stay in the game and stay with the girls who do well but aren’t ethnic.
I’m a Christian girl. I pray every night and before meals and before I go on stage not to fall.
In a couple of years, I’ll be the most glamorous woman, hopefully.
I used to dress up as a model for Halloween, like every year.
That’s my next journey – to be a great actress.
It takes time to be who you really want to be. It doesn’t happen overnight.
At the end of the day, I feel like I have no one to blame but myself if I’m not satisfied with how I look on the runway.
Honestly, I try to forget Fashion Week once it’s over. I just want to go home and rest and just forget I even did it. It could drive you crazy! It’s just show after show after show, and you’re missing your family and they feel really far away. You don’t go to sleep. You work for a month.
You learn to be comfortable in your own skin, and your body changes throughout life, so you can’t sweat the small stuff.
The first time my friends saw me in a magazine I was so excited.
No babies for me until I’m in my 30s! I’m focused on my career right now. I can’t even take care of my dog.
My taste in music originates from my culture and heritage, and from traveling the world and listening to all kinds of fun sounds and bits.
Music is everything to me. I wake up and go to bed with it. I listen to all genres, depending on my mood.
Mostly I’m proud to be an African-American woman, but I’m glad I have a universal look as well.
Let me say this: I think men are a full-time job, and I’m young and I already have one job. I’m just focused on my career.
I’m really into natural and organic products.
I don’t get facials. The last time I got a facial was when I first started modeling when I was 15 or 16. It made my face completely break out.
I’m thinking of slowing down on modeling and branching out to other things. I want to pursue some new and old dreams and start making them happen.