Discovered on Instagram and Booked for Yeezy
Alton Mason was discovered on Instagram in 2015 at age 17 while studying acting and dance. Though skeptical at first, he soon signed with an agency and booked his first major gig – walking in Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 2 show at New York Fashion Week in February 2016.
This launched promising young model Mason’s career. He went on to present a Gucci Cruise 2018 show and star in a Gucci Pre-Fall 2017 campaign. By early on landing huge gigs with top designers, Mason gained industry recognition.
Hand-Picked by Karl Lagerfeld to Make History
In 2018, Mason met late legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld during a photoshoot for the designer’s eponymous brand. Lagerfeld personally photographed Mason for the campaign and then picked him to walk in Chanel’s 2018 Métiers d’Art show at the Met.
On December 4, 2018, Mason became the first black male model to walk the runway for the luxury fashion house in its 109-year existence. It was a groundbreaking achievement – “a moment I’ll never forget,” Mason raved on Instagram.
Paving the Way for Diversity
Mason has continued displaying his versatility by modeling for brands like Louis Vuitton and Off-White and appearing on magazine covers.
With his barrier-breaking Chanel debut and ascending career, the model hopes to inspire greater racial diversity in fashion. “We made history,” he proudly declared. Mason stands out as a pioneer expected to achieve even greater firsts.
