Who is Chanel Ayan?
Chanel Ayan is a Kenyan supermodel, TV personality, businesswoman, and social media influencer. Known popularly for her exceptional modeling abilities, Chanel Ayan has walked in several modeling competitions and fashion events. Having appeared in numerous commercials, she came into the limelight when she was selected as a cast member of a TV reality show called The Real Housewives of Dubai.
Chanel Ayan (Credit: @chanelayan Instagram)
Quick Biography
Real Name: Pillott Ayan
Famous As: Chanel Ayan
Date of Birth: June 7, 1978
Birth Place: Malanba, Kenya
Profession: Model, Businesswomen, Social Media Influencer, TV Personality
Nationality: Kenyan
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Family: Lucas Salves (Husband)
Early Life
Chanel Ayan was born on June 7, 1978, in Malanba, Kenya, a small town on the Kenya-Uganda border. Chanel’s real name is Pillott, and she was raised with her five siblings. She is in her mid-40s and will turn 46 on June 7, 2024.
Chanel had a strict upbringing due to her father’s drinking habits. Chanel’s mother single-handedly raised her along with five other siblings. Chanel completed her schooling in her hometown at a local private school in Kenya. Chanel was raised both in Kenya and Uganda in her early days.
The credit for her successful modeling career goes to her Swedish cousin, who told her she could become a supermodel. Her cousin brought her fashion magazines and inspired her to start modeling. Chanel, after that, began participating in sporting events and today is one of the most successful models in the industry.
Career
Chanel began modeling at an early age in her home country, Kenya itself. She participated in local fashion events and appeared in commercials for brands such as Coca-Cola and Bazaar. 18 Chanel moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil, and worked as a model.
After working in Brazil as a model for a few years, Chanel then moved to the United States of America, where she worked with Elite Models in New York. In addition to that, she has also been on the covers of several publications, including Vogue.
Model Chanel Ayan ( Credit: @chanelayan Instagram)
Later, in 2005, Chanel moved and settled in Dubai. Due to her unique abilities, Chanel has been featured in the campaigns of world-famous brands such as Chanel, Dior, Tiffany & Co, and Louis Vuitton. Besides that, she is the first black woman to work on an advertising campaign for Emirates and Dubai tourism.
Ayan is not only a model now but Dubai’s first black supermodel, being the cover of a Dubai-based magazine. Chanel has also appeared in several TV reality shows, “The Real Housewives of Dubai” being one of them. It was trendy when she appeared in 2022.
Today, Chanel not only works as a supermodel but also owns makeup brand AYAN Beauty, which she launched with the help of her makeup artist, Toni Malt.
Personal Information
Chanel Ayan stands at a height of 5 feet and 10 inches. Also, her body weight is around 60 kg. With body measurements of 34-23-34, Chanel possesses a body that serves perfectly for modeling.
Ayan has beautiful black colored eyes and hair. Her charming and stunning personality is also one of the reasons for her successful modeling career.
Relationship
As mentioned earlier, Chanel was raised by her mother along with her five siblings. While she has not disclosed her parent’s names, Chanel’s siblings are well-settled. One of her brothers is an engineer at Apple, while the other is a lawyer. One of her sisters works for a tourism company in South Africa; the other works as a nurse in Sweden.
Chanel Ayan with her Husband and Son (Credit: @chanelayan Instagram)
Now, talking about her relationship, Chanel Ayan is a married woman. She is married to Luca Salves. The couple is said to have met in Brazil when Chanel was 17 and Luca was 22. The couple got married before moving to Dubai.
According to her Instagram, the beautiful couple is blessed with a son named Taj, also a model. He has been seen walking on ramps of different kid’s fashion events.
Networth
Chanel has worked in the modeling industry for over 20 years, featuring in some of the world’s most famous brands. Also, having owned a makeup brand, Chanel’s net worth is estimated to range from $2 million to $3 million.
Trivia
- In 2021, Chanel became the head of the runway for Miss Universe UAE.
- According to Chanel’s interview with Vulture, she plans to move back to the U.S.A. shortly if her son Taj wants to.
- Chanel was the victim of forced genital mutilation at the age of 5 and was almost sold to marriage at an early age.
- Chanel loves traveling and is an avid traveler. She has visited several destinations, including Bali, India, Tokyo, and Prague.
- She has worked with Rihanna for her makeup brand called Fenty.
- As per her interview with Vanguard, she changed her name to Chanel, inspired by the true story of Chanel in the film Coco Before Chanel.
Video
Video Credit: @Hayu (YouTube)
FAQ’s
What happened to Chanel Ayan as a child?
Chanel Ayan had a tough childhood due to her father’s drinking habits. She was forced into genital mutilation and female circumcision, a practice in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. This was done to ensure she remained a virgin until she got married. Also, she was almost sold to marriage at an early age.
How did Chanel Ayan meet her husband?
In her interview with Bravotv.com, Chanel mentioned that she met her husband, Luca Salves, through her sister. Her sister introduced her to Luca Salves.
Who are Chanel Ayan and Ubah Hussan?
Channel Ayan and Ubah Hassan are cousins. Ubah is a Somali-Canadian model, businesswoman, and TV personality.
Social Media
The famous supermodel Chanel Ayan is active on social media platforms and often posts through her handles.
She is on Instagram with the handle @chanelayan and has a following of 441K on her Instagram.
Her X handle is @chanelayan, and she has 51.6K followers.