Who’re you? Who’re we? We’re that bitch.
I’m prepared to wager that in case you are conversant in Shannon and Shannade Clermont, you’ll learn this listening to their voices from the fourteenth season of the truth TV cult basic, Unhealthy Ladies Membership. The 26-year-old trend and tv personalities have been gifted with a Midas contact for the era, granting them trend and leisure entry to the most important stars on the planet. The twins rub shoulders with everybody from Future to Nicki Minaj, and act as muses to Kanye West starring in paparazzi photographs of Kim Kardashian-West for the Yeezy Season 6 marketing campaign.
Their conjoined Instagram account has amassed over 1.6 million followers. Followers who coronary heart the Clermont Twins and their don’t-give-a-fuckness, residing their lives, exuding confidence, and the essence of being as shut as two twins could possibly be. Amidst public scrutiny and spending time aside, the 2 proceed to show the tenacity, ambition and grind they’ve had since transferring from Dallas, Georgia to the Massive Apple we all know as New York Metropolis.
Shannon and Shannade caught up with us over the cellphone in between a booked itinerary, catching flights – not emotions – and leveraging their social media to their benefit. The budding Mont Boudoir empresses gave us a name to speak in regards to the ups and downs of conserving it actual on social media, the purity of their relationship as sisters and enterprise companions, and the way they plan to slay the vacation season.
Ear cuff, ERICKSON BEAMON. @ericksonbeamon. Costume, MLAED. @mlaed. Boots, JEFFREY CAMPBELL. @jeffreycampbell.
WHO ARE THE CLERMONT TWINS?
The Clermont Twins are unapologetic, fierce, outspoken, trendy, wild, spontaneous – every little thing. [We’re] go-getters, fashions, actresses, leaders, and a twin energy duo. We’re simply so shut with one another and we’re so tight. We’re undefeated and we don’t let anyone maintain us again. Let’s not overlook trend icons!
WHAT ARE SOME OF MOST OFF-BRAND MISCONCEPTIONS OR CRAZIEST THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT YOU AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER?
Individuals assume that we don’t love ourselves. We’re so full of affection and we love ourselves a lot. Lots of people are very close-minded on social media, they mirror their very own insecurities, and persons are scared to be themselves whereas we’ve grown to be extra of ourselves. Persons are intimidated by that in order that they mirror that unto us quite a bit.
HOW DID YOUR EXPERIENCE IN GEORGIA INFLUENCE YOUR PERSONAL STYLES VERSUS WHEN YOU CAME TO NEW YORK?
We lived in Georgia and we have been residing in such a small city the place we noticed individuals carrying a whole lot of the identical issues. Rising up, our dad and mom at all times allow us to be artistic. Regardless that we’re twins, they allow us to have our individuality and have been at all times for us expressing ourselves; we even made our personal homecoming clothes.
Coming from New Jersey, we’ve at all times been true to ourselves and liked our personal private kinds. That made us wish to be in New York and be round different artistic individuals. We lived within the suburbs [which] motivated us extra to wish to do what we would like. We knew we needed to miss of this city and Georgia’s solely however so large, and we felt like we have been too large to remain there. Being in such a small house made us wish to department out extra.
WHEN DID YOU TWO FIRST GET INTO THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
Everybody in our household is creative. Our Dad can draw actually properly, our brother can too and our aunt was a designer she used to convey us to New York trend reveals. I keep in mind us having corduroy denims that we used to chop up and make purses out of them. In terms of trend, it’s not about labels, but it surely’s about the way you put on it and the way you place issues collectively. What makes you trendy is while you’re capable of make one thing out of nothing.
We knew from a younger age that we needed to go to highschool in New York for trend design. I’m [Shannade] and I went to highschool at Parsons and Shannon went to F.I.T. as a result of that the place we needed to be and that’s the place we’d find yourself. Going to New York from New Jersey at a very younger age, then going to Georgia in a very small city, we have been like, “Okay, no, this isn’t for us. We wish to be in New York and we have to work for the place we wish to be.”
Hat + Costume, BCALLA. @bcallabcalla. Necklace, UNDERPIN PR. @underpinpr. Sneakers, JEFFREY CAMPBELL. @jeffreycampbell.
HAVE YOU TWO ALWAYS BEEN AS CLOSE AS TWO TWIN SISTERS COULD POSSIBLY BE?
Sure, completely. All sisters and household bicker and combat, but it surely doesn’t change our relationship. We’ve at all times been so shut to one another so it’s like having a finest pal ceaselessly, somebody who’ll at all times have your again and has by no means needed to query your intentions about you. We now have twin associates who don’t share related pursuits, however we each share a ardour for lots of the identical issues and that’s what made us such a fantastic staff on high of being sisters and twins. We actually take pleasure in working with one another, uplifting one another, and doing issues that we each like to do.
WHAT’S THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHANNON AND SHANNADE? HOW CAN WE TELL YOU TWO APART?
Shannon: When you’re round us a little bit extra, you’ll know that Shan’s a little bit bit extra spontaneous and adventurous, extra of the social butterfly, and prepared to attempt new issues. I’m a little bit extra laid again and a homebody. That’s why we name one another Yin and Yang as a result of we even one another out. We couldn’t stay with out one another and we equal one another. The place we lack, the opposite one helps. That’s the way it works for us and it’s at all times been that approach.
BEING AS YOU TWO LIVE TOGETHER, HOW DOES IT HELP AND HURT YOUR RELATIONSHIP?
Shannon: I feel it helps our relationship as a result of it’s at all times good to have somebody round. We did have a second once we lived in two separate residences with a flooring between us, however we have been nonetheless at all times round one another. It was so pointless so we have been like, “Why are we residing by ourselves once we’re at all times with one another?” We do actually every little thing collectively so it simply is sensible. The one draw back is as we’re rising, Shan’s in a relationship and we’re rising into our personal selves – and naturally sooner or later I wish to get married and have youngsters.
Shannade: We do want our privateness. That’s a little bit little bit of what we’re coping with proper now. Like, “Okay, we’re getting older. Can we get our personal house? The place will we go from right here?” We’re simply looking for that steadiness as a result of we additionally work collectively. We now have to be shut sufficient to work collectively and see one another day by day.
HOW DID IT FEEL TO RESURFACE YOUR BAD GIRLS CLUB DAYS FOR THE #THATBITCH CHALLENGE?
Shannade: It’s so loopy and it was humorous to see how Tik Tok expands one thing so small as a catchy phrase that we at all times say. Once we did it at that second on BGC, we by no means even thought that was one thing that might be aired. It was hilarious that folks may now see our dynamic as twins and the way we’re each there to educate one another in a constructive approach.
Shannon: After I’m feeling down or when Shan’s feeling down, it’s like, “Don’t overlook who you might be, don’t let a man deal with you any form of approach, and keep in mind that you’re that bitch.” We even get a whole lot of messages from individuals in highschool who battle with individuals speaking all the way down to them, however these moments that we had helped that. What’s most essential for us is to ensure there’s at all times somebody on the market that may relate, really feel motivated, and be ok with themselves. When you already know who you might be, you don’t have to elucidate your self to anyone.
FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE A TWIN, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ANYONE THAT MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH SELF-LOVE OR CONFIDENCE?
It’s so good that we’re twins that may at all times uplift one another when a minimum of one among us is feeling down. It’s actually essential for individuals to have that assist system. For anybody that has household assist or not, it’s essential to offer your self a timeout to be there for your self. I do know it’s so frequent to say, but it surely’s so essential since you can provide so many different individuals consideration with out giving ourselves the identical consideration we want to be ok with ourselves.
It’s essential to know that nobody could make you cheerful however your self. It’s all in social media too as a result of it’s simple to get wrapped up in different individuals’s lives and really feel put down primarily based on what different individuals put out, however individuals put out what they wish to put out. Individuals simply see us as these sisters who don’t undergo something. We undergo our days too however I’m not gonna submit that I’m crying immediately. In a approach that’s nearly unlucky as a result of, on social media, individuals aren’t as delicate and don’t notice that we’re human too. It’s form of like conflicting to be extra private than we wish to as a result of it seems like somebody’s at all times gonna have one thing detrimental to say.
Earrings, SEVILLE MICHELLE. Necklace, ERICKSON BEAMON. Corsets, NUSI QUERO.
HAVE YOU TWO ALWAYS BEEN CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR BODIES?
We’ve at all times been this fashion, however sure circumstances made us be extra snug with ourselves. Once we have been going to businesses in New York, we have been like thirty kilos lighter than we are actually and so they have been telling us that we needed to lose extra weight. That discouraged us, however we realized that we didn’t come [to New York] for no’s. If I cease doing what I’m doing due to another person, how is that gonna make me glad? If I don’t consider in myself, nobody else will. We thought that if individuals don’t see us on this place, we’re gonna do it anyway and we’re gonna put ourselves on this place. That’s why we at all times make sure that to not restrict ourselves to 1 factor – we do runway, we do movies, TV, internet design. When you’re not gonna make room for me, we’re gonna make room for ourselves. No matter we do, we determined to do it ourselves as a result of nobody else may cease us or inform us what to do.
HOW HAS THE VISIBILITY OF BLACK WOMEN IN FASHION AND BEAUTY EVOLVED?
There’s positively extra work that must be carried out. Black girls at all times must attempt additional laborious. With us, we at all times must go a lot more durable than anybody else simply due to our pores and skin shade. There must be greater than only one or two Black fashions on the runway.
It comes from inside our personal neighborhood too and a whole lot of the criticism we get is from our personal individuals as an alternative of permitting individuals like us in our neighborhood to be uplifted. Similar to Jaden and Willow Smith, they felt like they have been shunned out of the Black neighborhood as a result of they’re completely different and one thing that folks aren’t used to. That’s relatable for us as a result of we’re completely different and we do what we wish to do. You must let individuals know that they do deserve these positions and so they should be in that house. If our personal persons are not permitting us to be inspired in any form of approach, it holds us all again.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BLACK-OWNED BRANDS AND DESIGNERS TO SUPPORT?
I at all times say Telfar. With Pyer Moss, each trend present has been such a second. He makes every little thing a second and the way he provides a lot affect to our neighborhood by means of his work is so superbly carried out. We’re by no means dissatisfied. With all of those [Black] designers, they at all times have one thing completely different to convey to the desk. They’re by no means all the identical and a whole lot of these Black designers are sometimes nicely extra versed and artistic than a whole lot of these manufacturers that get extra recognition than them.
HOW DID MONT BOUDOIR COME INTO FRUITION AND WHAT INSPIRED THE COLLABORATION ON SPECIFICALLY EYEWEAR?
We’ve had Mont Boudoir since 2017 so it’s been a very long time coming. We by no means gave up although lots of people assume it’s one thing new that we simply began. When Halloween got here round, everybody was carrying blonde wigs and large glasses to decorate up like us. We didn’t notice how a lot we liked protect shade. It’s a staple merchandise that everybody wants of their closet and we got here up with the shades to come back out with as a result of we really feel like everybody wants pair of sun shades. We didn’t notice that was our true branded look till everybody began dressing up as us for Halloween. Eyewear at all times completes the look and it’s an adjunct that’s wanted whether or not you’re dressing up or down. So long as you may have the right pair of shades on, you seem like cash. Even in my fitness center put on and I’ve my Mont Boudoir glasses on, I really feel good.
WHAT’S IT LIKE WORKING ON A BUSINESS TOGETHER AS SISTERS?
It’s most essential to have a enterprise with somebody who has the identical intentions, motivations, and drive as you. So long as once we give our enter we will come to a standard floor about what we each need, I do know it could work out. Even with our subsequent shades which might be going to come back out in January, we’re engaged on a brand new shade and we’re going backwards and forwards on what we would like it to be. We at all times appear to make it work and are available to compromise.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE CLERMONT TWINS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS?
I see us as the following Johnson & Johnson. I wish to create an empire and do every little thing. We now have so many alternative issues that we wish to do in life and I see ourselves changing into actually large businesswomen. We’re going to create a model larger than ourselves and one thing that leaves an impression for generations and generations to come back.
IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WHAT ARE FAMILY VALUES THAT YOU HOLD CLOSEST TO YOU DURING THE HOLIDAYS?
Respect, love, being form, and conserving these round you shut. Checking up on your loved ones and being appreciative of every little thing as a result of the vacations are the occasions to be probably the most grateful and feeling blessed. Holidays are our favourite as a result of we get to see our household and we make sure that to filter out our schedules for that as a result of that’s our rock. The vacations are a chance to offer again. Yearly we go to a homeless shelter to feed the homeless and it reminds us to be glad about your life.
WHAT ARE EACH OF YOU MOST THANKFUL FOR?
Shannon: Being right here and simply being current. We’re alive, however are we residing? I simply wish to be grateful to God for permitting us to be on this Earth, permitting us to only proceed what we like to do, and conserving us heading in the right direction.
Shannade: Me, Shannade, I’m extra grateful for simply being wholesome. Dwelling wholesome, having the ability to do what I’m capable of do, having these arms to write down these emails, a mouth to talk and toes to stroll. It’s so essential to be grateful for your well being. With a lot occurring on this world, I’m simply glad to be alive and wholesome.
WHAT’S THE BEST THING YOU TWO HAVE EVER GOTTEN FOR EACH OTHER?
Assist. That’s probably the most wanted. By way of the roughest occasions and probably the most tough occasions, and even our greatest occasions, assist is so essential. We don’t permit one another to not be there for one another. You’ll be able to spend probably the most cash, you may have one of the best items and presents, however your presence, your assist, and displaying up when it counts and when it issues is essential.
Hat, SARAH SOKOL. @sarahsokolmillinery. Necklace, ERICKSON BEAMON. @ericksonbeamon. Catsuit, ADOLFO SANCHEZ. @asanchezfashion. Sneakers, JEFFREY CAMPBELL. @jeffreycampbell.
CONNECT WITH THE CLERMONT TWINS
PHOTOS / Munachi Osegbu
STYLING + DIRECTION / Phil Gomez
MAKEUP / Gilbert Solis
HAIR / Preston Wada
VIDEO / Jacqueline Kulla + third Eye Productions
STYLING ASSISTANT / Mateo Palacio
PA / Melissa Gomez
STORY / D’Shonda Brown
EIC / Koko Ntuen
