Chappell Roan never thought she’d find her place in the fashion world.
”I thought that fashion was really exclusive and I felt like I could never really be a part of that because I didn’t even know what Urban Outfitters was or whatever,” the Grammy Award winner said from the podium on Thursday night during the Daily Front Row’s 9th annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Then she met stylist Genesis Webb on her first magazine shoot for V. The rest, as they say, is history.
“I was so drawn to her. I was kind of scared of her, and in the best way, I was like, oh, she has tattoos. This girl is not afraid of a neck tattoo. I love this, and her hair is so long and beautiful and black. I was just mesmerized by how sweet she was to me because I’d never been treated that way in the fashion industry. It made me realize that maybe this isn’t as exclusive as I thought.”
Roan, on hand to present Webb with music stylist of the year during a starry ceremony, then recalled the specific details of that magazine cover shoot that took place on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “We were in a car, like a Toyota Camry, and she was dressing me in a ball gown. Did not know this bitch at all — naked in a Toyota Camry dressing me in this ball gown on [the] Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was not chill,” Roan recalled to laughter from a crowd that included honorees like Tyra Banks, Hailey Bieber, Brad Goreski and stylist duo of Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald. “And this girl was sweet to me and it’s like what I really fucking needed. I knew right then that what I was missing was feeling understood, and finally I found her. Finally, I found someone that understood me and that I didn’t want to be pretty all the time. I want to look weird.”
On that note, Roan then mentioned how at that very moment nobody in the room could see her mouth, which was covered by an elaborate McQueen creation. “There’s no one who makes me feel cooler or more cunt or more powerful or more Chappell Roan than Genesis. Thank you for taking a risk on yourself and moving from Oklahoma, and thank you for taking risks with me,” she continued. “We’re really lucky we get to do this. And fashion is, I feel like, a part of me now because of you and you taught me that fashion maybe isn’t that exclusive and that a girl in music can feel like a supermodel so thank you. You deserve this award. I love you.”
Hosted by Matt Rogers, the Daily Front Row ceremony also saw honors handed out to Adriana Lima (fashion comeback of the year), Alexx Mayo (makeup artist of the year), Betsey Johnson (lifetime achievement award), Dimitris Giannetos (hairstylist of the year), Brad Goreski (style curator of the year), Hailey Bieber (beauty innovator of the year), Tyra Banks (fashion icon award), and Wayman + Micah (men’s stylist of the year). Program presenters included Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Amanda Nunes, Beverly Johnson, Dixie D’Amelio, Jen Atkin, Lizzo and Selma Blair.
In accepting, Webb praised Roan for “not only being the visionary that you are but allowing and making space for other people’s visions” as well. “Working with you isn’t just styling and storytelling. It’s really just magical and we feel the magic all the time. The fact that we’re both here today is just really crazy because a year ago it was just really different and very grateful,” Webb continued. “But you’ve redefined what pop can look like and in doing so, have redefined what’s possible for creatives like me and the creatives in this room.”
Roan, Webb and Daily Front Row’s Eddie Roche.
(Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Daily Front Row)
Makeup artist of the year Alexx Mayo, presenter Jen Atkin, beauty innovator of the year honoree Hailey Bieber, presenter Roan, honoree Webb and lifetime achievement award honoree Betsey Johnson.
(Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Daily Front Row)
Fashion icon honoree Tyra Banks poses in front of the DAOU Vineyards bar.
(Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for DAOU Vineyards)
Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph is flanked by honorees and styling duo Micah McDonald and Wayman Bannerman.
(Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Daily Front Row)
Presenter Amanda Nunes, fashion comeback of the year honoree Adriana Lima, makeup artist of the year recipient Alexx Mayo, and presenter Lizzo.
(Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Daily Front Row)
Lifetime achievement award winner Betsey Johnson does the splits in front of presenter Selma Blair.
(Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Daily Front Row)
Host Matt Rogers speaks onstage during the Daily Front Row’s 9th annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards.
(Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Daily Front Row)
