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She’s been booked and busy since the last time we spoke to her.
So much so that seven-year-old US model Aria De Chicchis has caught the attention of singer Beyoncé.
The young fashion mover and shaker was over the moon when Bey's team got in touch and said they wanted to send her merchandise from Ivytopia, the new collaboration between Adidas and the songbird's Ivy Park athleisure clothing line, Aria's mom, Pam Mbatani (45), tells us from their home in New York.
“I was so excited and happy when I received the gift because it was coming from Beyoncé and I'm a huge fan,” says an ecstatic Aria.
“I love the clothes, they just look beautiful. I love the prints on the jacket, the type of nature prints that they put on the pants and the skirt. I love the shoes – everything just looks amazing; and I mean amazing,” she adds.
Now Aria can add this coveted merchandise to the long line-up of fashionable ensembles in her closet.
When we spoke to her earlier in the year (YOU, 3 March 2022), Aria was making headlines for her fashion looks during the autumn instalment of New York Fashion Week, where she’s a regular front-row guest.
She’s carved an impressive career for herself in the fashion world since she was two years old, when she signed with New York Model Management, one of the largest agencies in the Big Apple.
She’s since appeared on fashion’s most-coveted pages like Vogue magazine, on billboards and commercials airing in various countries.
There’s no slowing down for the young model, who is juggling a career in fashion, singing and acting along with school.
“Aria has shot a commercial with a European brand which will be out this month in Europe and the US,” momager Pam says.
“She was also selected to join the National Children’s Chorus for the Lincoln Center after auditioning,” Pam adds.
In April, while visiting family in South Africa where Pam is from, the mother and daughter duo appeared on SABC3’s lifestyle show The Insider SA alongside Pam’s mom, Maggie (77).
“The trip to South Africa was amazing," Aria says. "I got to see my family and I even did a shoot on The Insider SA with my grandmother. I got to see my aunts and my cousins – it was so much fun.
“I went to an ostrich farm, I got to pet the ostrich, sit on it and sing a lullaby to it until it fell asleep."
And like the true star she is, Aria is getting ready to start Grade 2 at the exclusive The Epiphany School in Manhattan in September, after passing Grade 1 with flying colours.
“I’m an A student because I do great at school and the first letter of my name is an A,” she tells us.
Pam says they are hoping she’ll land more roles in films and commercials as well as more modelling gigs. But for now, Aria is enjoying the summer break and cannot wait for the next New York Fashion Week in September.
“I am totally looking forward to seeing the new designs they make, the wonderful people and the poses,” she says.
