An interview in Vibe from 1995
Model Chrystele is happy to be nappy. Three years ago she went au naturel after years of doing the chemical thing. "I thought the straight hair was really ugly, and I hated it," she says in her thick French accent. "I think it suits the white girls, but it doesn't suit my hair."
And she was right. In fact, the 22-year-old Chrystele has caused quite a stir in Fashion Land with that hair. Last year, while still a communications student, she tagged along with a friend to an open casting in Paris for a Benetton ad. After getting the job, she went straight to the runway. There she was, in the middle of Paris's fall '94 collections, with only one week of modeling experience under her Afro. "I was feeling like I was from another planet," Chrystele says, laughing. "Everybody wanted to touch me, and I'm, like, `Wow, it's just hair. Calm down!' "
Because of her striking looks, many are quick to assume she's of mixed parentage, but Chrystele is obviously bothered by the suggestion. "It's completely wrong. My parents are both from Caribbean islands. My dad is from Martinique and my mom from Guadeloupe," she huffs. "They're both black, and that's it. I am black girl."
Mimi Valdés
. Also I know Sunniva Stordhal is a different girl-I was just talking about that era of models that I used to be obsessed with but only remembered after being on TFS a while
I don't feel that I should have to say IMO every single time I express one. All I was getting at is that I can relate to what she said in the article.
I feel less stupid
