Supermodel and Real Housewives of Dubai fame Chanel Ayan went through numerous traumatic experiences because of her abusive father, but she passed it all and has a beautiful family today.
Kenyan supermodel Chanel Ayan, aka Ayan Pillott, grew up in Malaba, Kenya, with five siblings in a typical Kenyan family.
Unlike most girls living in Kenya, who follow old traditions in a substantially male-dominated society, Ayan chose to pursue her passion for modeling. She moved out of her house when she was 17.
Ayan went to Brazil to pursue her career and eventually moved to New York, United States, where she got to walk on stage for brands like Chanel, Moschino, Dior, Tiffany&Co., Louis Vuitton, and so on.
Chanel Ayan also appeared on the reality show Real Housewives of Dubai, starring Sara Al Madani, Caroline Brooks, Lesa Milan, Caroline Stanbury, and Taleen Marie. However, her father and other family members are not proud of her.
Key Takeaways:
- Chanel Ayan moved out of her home and came to Brazil after a traumatic experience with her father.
- The model cum entrepreneur was forced for genital mutilation.
- Most of her family members, including her father and siblings, are not proud of her unconventional modeling and TV career.
- Ayan met her now-husband in Brazil and moved to New York after marriage.
Why Does Chanel Ayan Calls Herself a “Survivor” And Her Father a “Abuser”?
Growing up in a traditional Kenya, Ayan was only five years old when she was forced into genital mutilation.
Remembering her sufferings, she said, “I’m a survivor; I felt that my culture and my family utterly betrayed me. This is just a barbaric practice, and it shouldn’t be happening to young girls. “
Genital mutilation is done in young girls to ensure they are virgins until their marriage, for Ayan, a stranger “sewed” up her genitals.
Chanel Ayan did not have this experience alone; her father wanted her to marry a stranger when she was 14.
The reality TV star of Ethiopian cum Somalian descent said, “I’ve forgiven a lot of people in life but forgiving my father is the hardest thing I could do; if you know the stuff that he’s done to me, he wanted to marry me off at 14 years old.”
Furthermore, Chanel Aryan even remembered how her father abused her and her older sister; she said, “We were tied in the legs. Couldn’t pee. Couldn’t move. My whole entire life all he has done is beat me, He beat me so bad that I ran away with my other sister.”
She has been taking therapy since then to better her mental health. This was even shown in one of the episodes of The Real Housewives of Dubai.
Also Read: RHODubai Sara Al Madani Is A 2-time Divorcee And Mother Of A Son: Who Is She Dating Now?
Is Chanel Ayan In Talking Terms With Her Family? Are They Proud?
After a traumatic experience Chanel Ayan had with her father, she has not spoken with her father ever since she ran from her home.
One of her sisters back in Kenya asked for an explanation for her presence on the Real Housewives of Dubai. Ayan said, “My sister is very religious. She sent me a picture from the newspaper in Kenya and said, ‘Explain yourself. ‘”
Her other brother and sister are super proud of their sister. Her brother was proud of how Ayan presented herself on the show, and one of her sisters watched each episode.
Furthermore, her other family members and relatives write to Ayan saying, “Oh my God, you’re embarrassing us.”
Her family has a mixed reaction towards her success as a model, TV personality, and entrepreneur. However, her most extensive support system is her sister Irfan, who saved her from marrying at 14.
Chanel Ayan Discovered a New Life In Brazil After She Met Her Husband
After Chanel moved to Brazil to pursue modeling, she met Chris Pillott, an entrepreneur, through her sister. Ayan spoke to Vogue Arabia about her courtship, saying, “My sister introduced me to him. I met him in Nairobi at a restaurant. At the time, I was 17 and had just finished high school.”
In the same interview, she also revealed that she was already engaged to her cousin (as her traditional Islamic family followed the tradition of cousin marriage).
At the time of their first meeting, her future husband, Chris, 22, was graduating from his college in Brazil.
She chose to stay with her love of life and marry a white man, which was unconventional in her community.
The model cum entrepreneur said to Vogue, “Running away with a white man, that’s unheard of. The people in my community are thinking that’s unacceptable.”
After her marriage, she moved to New York, where her modeling career took off. Chanel has been married for 25 years, and the couple has a son named Taj.
Read More: Hoda Kotb, A Divorcee & Adoptive Mother of Two, Celebrated Her 60th Birthday With Ex-Fiance
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Sharmila Jayswal, a seasoned author and prolific writer, is a beacon of integrity and insight. Her deep-seated curiosity and passion for exploring the human psyche shine through in her thought-provoking commentary on a variety of topics, including celebrity culture and societal trends. Her previous experience as an academic writer has made her research skills profound and unbeatable. Combining her research skills as an academic writer with over 2 years of experience and thought-provoking commentary, she delivers exclusive content.
