Chanel Iman Dishes On Whether She Will Be The Next Tyra Banks Or Naomi Campbell

W Editors' Blog caught up with Chanel Iman pre-Paris Fashion Week to talk about what's going on in the wonderful world of the 20-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel. Here are our favorite Qs and As from the interview. For more, head over to WMagazine.com.

What do you think about everything that has been going on with John Galliano? Well, I think that John Galliano is a genius. I've been working with him since I was young, and I admire him. I just wish for him the best.

There have been a lot of images or editorials over the last couple of years that feature all black models -- you just appeared in one called "The Black Allure" for Italian Vogue's February 2011 issue. How do you feel about these types of spreads? Do you feel like they are gimmicks or do you think they help take steps toward more inclusion in fashion?
Edward Enninful is an amazing stylist for Italian Vogue, and he called me up and he asked if I would be a part of that story. Of course I said yes. I think that anything that's going to help better the community and [allow it] to stick together and stand strong, I'm definitely going to be a part of. The story came out beautiful.

So you find them empowering?
I think that [diversity] is becoming a very very huge thing for the market. I think that it's 2011, and it's definitely time for change. And I'm just really grateful to be a leader in helping that change.

Do you see yourself as the Tyra Banks or the Naomi Campbell for the next generation?
No, I look at myself for who I am. I think those girls are good at what they do, and they have an amazing name for who they are. I'm my own person, and I want people to know me for who I am.

Read the rest at W. And to see Chanel in the "Black Allure" spread, click here.

Comments

[Susan Shaffer]

03:42 PM on 03/13/2011

chanel iman!
is that her original name?

[MrUniteUs]

12:26 AM on 03/12/2011

Move over Chanel-Iman say hello to Fallynn Rian

http://www.myspace.com/fadouble/photos/60033123#{%22ImageId%22%3A60033123}

[European1919]

06:40 AM on 03/10/2011

3 uglies trying to convince the world otherwise.

[Ty LaRue]

08:19 PM on 03/09/2011

No, and No again. Cute girl but she's not in their league

[Pema]

05:19 PM on 03/09/2011

ditch the fur.

[BlackYowe]

03:19 AM on 03/10/2011

She needs it she has 0 body fat.

[BebeLush]

01:40 PM on 03/10/2011

Hahahahahahaha!

[Pema]

02:29 PM on 03/10/2011

lol...

[dre31]

02:08 PM on 03/09/2011

Chanel Iman is working those runways. She is giving it to the people. Thats how you got to do it. I love her body type. She is so skinny and beautiful, which is a great turnon. Work it Chanel Iman and give it to the girls for more years to come.

[Pema]

05:22 PM on 03/09/2011

why is skinny good? it is contributing to unhealthy life style.

[BebeLush]

01:41 PM on 03/10/2011

So is fat.

[1jadednewyorker]

09:49 AM on 03/09/2011

She was born to model: Who would name their child Chanel-Iman. Bravo to her mom!

[Yam716]

01:51 PM on 03/09/2011

Yep. Her mother picked a perfect name! She must have been clairvoyant!

[OBAMAMOI]

08:22 AM on 03/09/2011

Nobody beats My gurl Naomi...

[Sunflo]

02:22 AM on 03/09/2011

She seems like a sweet gal but my goodness she is worryingly skinny.

[eemccoy72]

09:22 PM on 03/08/2011

I wonder if she'd still find Galliano "amazing" if he'd praised slave days or thrown around racist statements?! I don't expect much from someone who'd wear a coat made out of tortured animals anyway...

[Absolute]

09:03 PM on 03/08/2011

Oh please. She is the first Chanel Iman, not the next anyone else. Once again we see another tiresome attempt to deny a black woman her individuality.

[IhateFOXNews]

04:50 PM on 03/08/2011

Chanel Iman will become the next Chanel Iman.

It's like one black model has to vacate one of a few empty spots reserved for black models in order for another one to take her place.

[OBAMAMOI]

08:22 AM on 03/09/2011

Ditto

[Natalee]

04:06 PM on 03/08/2011

or Christy, or Carla, etc...

[lovbug]

03:29 PM on 03/08/2011

Chanel Iman is coming into her own womanhood and style. She should not be compared to any other. You go girl. I love her.

[andrewsullar]

03:15 PM on 03/08/2011

Call me cynical, but I doubt Ms Iman would be so insensitve and indifferent to Mr Galliano's remarks if they were directed towards people of her ethnicity. Her indifference to remarks which praise genocide, calls someone "Jew face", and laughs about gassing their grandparents is appauling. Hopefully people will remember her callousness when somewhere down the road in her career she claims to be a victim of racism. I won't be sympathetic.

[Jacob31]

04:54 PM on 03/08/2011

I don't think you can find what a person said in the moment of inebriation deplorable without denouncing all that makes the person. I think Chanel Iman recognizes that Galliano has championed diversity of races, religions, cultures throughout his career and that in a moment of weakness he said something he wished he had not said. I think this is what Chanel Iman was saying. She was not being callous at all. She was simply stating what those who know this man intimately are saying. This is the concordant note that the whole fashion world is striking, because this is the world that Galliano belongs to. They are the ones who know him, the real man.

[nancynancy]

03:28 PM on 03/09/2011

Agreed. If Galliano had so much as whispered the N-word, Chanel Iman would have gone apoplectic.