Willow Smith isn’t exactly a stranger to fashion; she inked a contract with uber-cool agency The Society Management last year after starring alongside Cher and Winona Ryder in Marc Jacobs’ star-studded fall/winter 15 campaign. But the 15-year-old multi-hyphenate’s latest addition to her ever-expanding resume might just be her most impressive: she’s Chanel’s newest ambassadress.
“Thank you Karl Lagerfeld and the entire team at Chanel for expanding the perceptions of ‘beauty’ by picking me to be the new Chanel ambassador. I am honored,” Willow posted on Instagram, accompanied by a photograph of herself and Lagerfeld taken after the brand’s fall/winter 16 show this afternoon in Paris. She also posted a BTS shot with longtime pal Kendall Jenner, who walked for the house. A first post, hashtagged “#frontrowonly” saw Willow sporting a pair of Chanel’s cap-toed boots and her own pair of fingerless gloves, already a serious match for Lagerfeld’s signature look.
Smith’s affiliation with the storied French house is exciting for many reasons, but chiefly for the one she cited herself — the expansion of perceptions of beauty. Lagerfeld has long sought out free and forward-thinking young talent like Kristen Stewart, Elle Fanning, and Lily-Rose Depp to represent the brand. Though each of these women has a commendable career rooted in autonomy, they — like many of Chanel’s ambassadresses — are also white actresses. Having Gweelos in the mix isn’t just a positive step for representational diversity, her dynamic background and unique viewpoint can help the brand communicate with new audiences in new ways.
We’re very excited to see where Willow and Chanel’s new partnership leads, whether it’s to the runway or the boardroom.
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Text Emily Manning
Image via @gweelos