Chico Magnet
From the country that brought us Gisele, Brazil’s latest export is Wilhelmina’s Francisco Lachowski. This 25-year-old has graced campaigns for Tommy Hilfiger and Balmain, enchants 1.6 million followers on IG, and was anointed models.com’s Male Model of the Year (Readers’ Choice). Naturally, we sat him down for a background check! By Eddie Roche PHOTOGRAPHY BY Ramona ROSALES
What do you like to be called? If you’re from Brazil and your name is Francisco, your nickname will be Chico. There’s no way around it! I’ve been called Chico my entire life. It makes me feel welcome and warm. Chico it is! Would your younger self be shocked to see you now? Yes and no. If I start doing something, I really want to succeed. Once I got the chance to be a model, I FA S H I O N W E E K D A I L Y. C O M
knew I’d be able to reach the top. Everything started when my cousin designed fashion and she had a presentation. They needed people who looked like models, and there was some pay. I was 17 and had nothing to do, so I did it. A modeling agency ended up asking me to come over to the agency and they made me do classes, which seemed a little weird. After the courses, they told me about a modeling contest, which I ended up winning, and then I went to São Paulo for
another one, which I also won. I ended up on MTV Brazil. The next step was going to Paris. Soon after, you were shooting the Dior Homme campaign with Karl Lagerfeld. I didn’t really speak French or English at the time. I arrived early, and he showed up after a few hours. He took a few shots, and he found a model who spoke English who could translate for those of us who didn’t speak. But then he’d stop and go for tea for two hours. All props to him. What gig has been your favorite? The Balmain campaign was one of my favorites because it opened up a lot of doors. Steven Klein shot it, and he’s always such a nice guy. The Tommy Hilfiger campaign with Gigi Hadid was nice, because I didn’t realize I was shooting the campaign—I thought it was a lookbook. Of the top models that I’ve worked with, she was the nicest and so kind to everybody. Your wife, Jessiann Gravel Beland, is also a model. How did you meet? I was working in Japan for two months, and the models go out there at night. She was dating my roommate at the time, but she preferred me. Now, we’ve been together for three years with two kids. Are you enjoying your newfound fame? It’s funny, this fame I have. Ever since I started modeling, I’ve been getting a lot of attention from young girls. In my second season, they were waiting for me outside of shows. The same thing that happens to Lucky Blue Smith. I had a crazy fan page and YouTube channel and this and that. There were rumors that I was gay. It got out of control. I decided to control it myself on Instagram. I started showing my life and my girlfriend at the time. The models.com award is a big deal. I know! Everybody looks to it for guidance. I won the Readers’ Choice award, and Jordan Barrett won the Industry’s Vote. I like him a lot. We met last year, and we do work together. He’s like my little son. I call him my child. He’s one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen in my life. What did you think of [designer] Carlos Garciavelez? His designs are super comfortable. I wanted to take some home. He’s really talented! Good luck to you. Thanks! You always need luck. ß a boy and his band Lachowski with Gigi Hadid for the Tommy Hilfiger holiday campaign and getting up close and personal with Riley Montana for Balmain eyewear.
g r o o m i n g b y c l a u d i a l a k e /c o n ta c t n yc ; c o u r t e s y
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