Devon Aoki

Early life

Aoki grew up in New York City, Malibu, California, and London, England. She attended high school at The American School in London.

Her father was former wrestler and Benihana restaurant magnate Rocky Aoki and her mother is Pamela Hilburger, a jewelry designer. Her father was Japanese and her mother is of German and English ancestry. She started modeling when she was 13, the same year her godmother introduced her to Kate Moss. She has an older sister and a younger brother, as well as four half-siblings including Steve Aoki. Aoki is also the aunt of fellow model Yumi Nu.

Career

Fashion

Following her runway debut in 1997, Aoki walked for brands including Balenciaga, Comme des Garçons and Chanel. In 1998, at the age of 16, Aoki replaced Naomi Campbell as the face of Versace. She has also been featured in advertising campaigns for Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, Hugo Boss, L'Oreal, Lancome and Tiffany & Co., and walked for designers including Versace, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg, Jean Paul Gaultier, Celine, Baby Phat, and Marc Jacobs.

Aoki has graced the covers of numerous international fashion magazines, including US' Ocean Drive, Vegas, Nylon, i-D, Interview, Elle Girl and UK's Wonderland; Korea's Cosmo Girl; France's Jalouse; Australia's Russh and 10 Magazine; Japan's Voce and Harper's Bazaar; and Malaysia's Her World. Additionally, Aoki has appeared on the covers of Vogue (American, Germany, Russia, Japan, Korea) and Numéro (Tokyo). In 2006, she posed for Singaporean photographer Leslie Kee for the charity photo-book Super Stars, which was dedicated to the victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami disaster.

In September 2007, she designed a capsule collection for Levi's Asian market called Levi's +D. Aoki described the collaboration by saying: "It's called Levi's + D, the D is for Devon. We're doing everything from denim to swimwear – you name it! I get inspired by vintage pieces you can't really get anymore." In 2017, she returned to the runway for Moschino's fashion show and appeared in advertising campaigns for "Sephora x Moschino" and Hugo Boss. In 2018, Aoki walked the runway for Jeremy Scott's eponymous brand, starred in an editorial for American Vogue and appeared in advertising campaigns for Moschino Fragrance, Nordstrom and Swarovski. In September 2019, she appeared in Harper's Bazaars "Bazaar Icons 2019" issue, photographed by Mario Sorrenti.

Acting

As an actress she has appeared in the films 2 Fast 2 Furious, D.E.B.S., Sin City, Dead or Alive, War, Mutant Chronicles and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead. She was cast as Tatsu Yamashiro in Arrow season 3, but was replaced by Rila Fukushima due to a scheduling conflict. She appeared briefly in the documentary films I'll Sleep When I'm Dead and Jeremy Scott: The People's Designer, the former being a documentary about her brother Steve.

Impact

She is considered as an icon in the fashion industry by models.com. In 2017, Dominic Cadogan of Dazed called Aoki a "cult model" and "one of the most recognizable alternative faces of the 90s". Cadogan continued by saying, "by the time she was 16, she was one of the most in-demand girls of the moment, with some of the industry's top photographers (including Juergen Teller, Ellen von Unwerth and Nick Knight) all transforming her in their images." In April 2019, Marie Claire listed her as one of the 15 supermodels of the 2000s who changed the face of fashion. L'Officiel USA called her "an eternal fashion It-girl", while I-D magazine wrote that Aoki is "one of those few faces that defined the turn of the millennium," and listed seven of Aoki's most iconic outfits.

In February 2019, Wonderland magazine reported that singer Rihanna channeled Aoki's look from the action film 2 Fast 2 Furious for her Fenty Beauty campaign. In the film, Aoki's character Suki drives her custom pink Honda S2000 wearing a white top and pink jeans.

Personal life

Devon Aoki is married to James Bailey, and they have one son and three daughters. She retired from full-time film acting in 2009 to focus on motherhood. Her daughter Alessandra appeared in Guess Kids' spring 2018 advertising campaign. Model and singer-songwriter Yumi Nu is Aoki's niece.

She modeled during the third annual charity fashion show presented by General Motors on February 24, 2004. Aoki and her half-brother Steve co-chaired the 2018 Red Cross Gala in San Francisco in March 2018.

Filmography

Music videos

References

References

1. (December 10, 2005). "Japanese in America". Lerner Publications.
2. (September 9, 2017). "The comeback of the year: Devon Aoki models for Jeremy Scott".
3. "Devon Aoki's Most Iconic Looks".
4. Team, i-D.. (February 12, 2014). "devon aoki was born with the face of a goddess!".
5. Spiegelman, Ian. (May 16, 2022). "Orange County's Yumi Nu Graces 'Sports Illustrated' Swimsuit Cover".
6. "Devon Aoki gives birth to baby boy (Vogue.com UK)". Vogue UK.
7. "Devon Aoki".
8. "Devon Aoki".
9. (October 5, 2016). "Devon Aoki Has Us Seeing Double in Jeremy Scott for Wonderland Magazine".
10. "Devolution - Devon Aoki".
11. (May 29, 2007). "Devon Aoki Designs For Levi's - Denimology".
12. (October 9, 2007). "Actress Devon Aoki in Tokyo with Levi's, Toga in the parking lot and more". The Japan Times Online.
13. (June 22, 2008). "Devon Aoki + Levis".
14. Dazed. (September 10, 2017). "Cult model Devon Aoki's most memorable moments". Dazed.
15. (January 2024). "Devon Aoki for Sephora x Moschino {{!}} ONE MANAGEMENT BLOG".
16. (August 10, 2018). "Memories of Devon Aoki's Modeling Days". CR Fashion Book.
17. (August 1, 2019). "Bazaar Icons 2019: The independents".
18. "Devon Aoki on Instagram: "@mario_sorrenti 🌹 thank you"".
19. Barker, Lynn. (June 6, 2003). "Devon Aoki: Racer Chick". Teen Hollywood.
20. (August 10, 2018). "Memories of Devon Aoki's Modeling Days". CR Fashion Book.
21. (July 1, 2014). "Devon Aoki Joins CW's 'Arrow'; Syfy's 'Ascension' Rounds Out Cast". Deadline.
22. "'Arrow' casts 'Wolverine' actress to replace Devon Aoki".
23. (August 27, 2014). "Rila Fukushima Joins 'Arrow', Riley Voelkel Cast In 'Point Of Honor'". Deadline.
24. "Devon Aoki - Model". MODELS.com.
25. Liao, Marina. (April 9, 2019). "How Many of These Iconic 2000s Supermodels Do You Remember?".
26. "Devon Aoki: All her Best '90s and Y2k Outfit Inspiration—Fast and Furious, Chanel Model".
27. Kendall, Zoë. (September 11, 2020). "7 of Devon Aoki's most iconic outfits".
28. "FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA on Instagram: "#UNLOCKED the shade!🔓💕 @badgalriri slaying our new hot pink #STUNNA Lip Paint that drops on February 12 at fentybeauty.com, @sephora,…"".
29. (February 7, 2019). "Rihanna channels Devon Aoki for Fenty Beauty {{!}} Wonderland Magazine".
30. Bedolla, Daise. (September 12, 2017). "Traveling With Kids: '90s Supermodel Devon Aoki and Away Show How It's Done".
31. Overland, Haley. (November 7, 2012). "Supermodel-actress Devon Aoki is pregnant!".
32. (December 10, 2020). "Bliss! #evelyn @jbailey13b ❤️".
33. (January 30, 2018). "GUESS Kids Spring 2018 Collection".
34. (March 8, 2018). "Dying over #mylilface and her @guess campaign ❤️😵👀 #Alessandra".
35. Spiegelman, Ian. (May 16, 2022). "Orange County's Yumi Nu Graces 'Sports Illustrated' Swimsuit Cover".
36. Sweeney, Katie. (March 14, 2018). "Devon And Steve Aoki To Chair Red Cross Gala This Weekend".
37. Sweeney, Katie. (March 19, 2018). "Inside The Star-Studded Red Cross Gala".
38. "THE 11th CRITICS' CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS WINNERS AND NOMINEES".