Alva Chinn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alva Chinn
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|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Model |
| Known for | One of Halston's Halstonettes |
| Spouse(s) | Rashid Silvera (?–?) |
| Children | 1 |
Alva Chinn is a famous American fashion model. She became well-known for her work with top designers like Halston.
Contents
Early Life and Career Start
Alva Chinn has a diverse background. Her family comes from Chinese, English, Indian, and Black heritage. She grew up in the city of Boston. Alva was a very bright student. She was the valedictorian of her high school class, which means she was the top student.
While she was studying at the University of Massachusetts, Alva started modeling. She appeared in a college issue of Mademoiselle magazine. Soon after, she moved to New York City to begin her professional modeling career.
Her Work as a Model
Alva Chinn modeled for many famous fashion designers. These included Halston, Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Chloé. In the early 1980s, designer Gianni Versace chose her to model his collections exclusively. This meant she was the only model he used for a time. In 2004, Alva Chinn also worked with designer Stephen Burroughs on a special clothing collection.
The Halstonettes
Alva Chinn was part of a special group of models known as the Halstonettes. These models were favorites of the famous designer Halston. Other models in this group included Pat Cleveland, Anjelica Huston, Pat Ast, Karen Bjornson, Nancy North, and Connie Cook.
In 2019, Alva Chinn was interviewed for a documentary film called Halston. This movie was about the life and work of the designer. She also appeared on the cover of the first album by the music group Chic. This album, titled Chic, came out in 1977.
Awards and Recognition
In 2011, Alva Chinn received an award from the Huffington Post Game Changer Awards. These awards celebrated African American models. They were honored for their part in a special event called The Battle of Versailles Fashion Show.
The Battle of Versailles Fashion Show
The Battle of Versailles Fashion Show was a big fashion event. It took place on November 28, 1973. The show was held at the beautiful Palace of Versailles in France. Its main goal was to raise money to help restore the palace.
Alva Chinn was one of several models recognized for their role in this historic show. Other models honored included Pat Cleveland, Bethann Hardison, Billie Blair, Norma Jean Darden, Charlene Dash, Jennifer Brice, Barbara Jackson, China Machado, Ramona Saunders, and Amina Warsuma.
