Francisco Lachowski

Francisco Lachowski, known as Chico, is a Brazilian model whose appeal combines athletic confidence with an unusually open, expressive face. He can look imposing in a designer campaign and disarmingly casual a moment later, a quality that has served him across luxury fashion and American sportswear. His audience also extends beyond the people who follow those clothes, with a devoted online following that has made him a personality as well as a fashion image.

Originally from Curitiba, Francisco entered modeling at seventeen after taking part in a fashion presentation organized by his cousin. Winning the Brazilian stage of Ford’s Supermodel of the World competition in 2008 led to an international career. Karl Lagerfeld photographed him for Dior Homme’s fall 2009 campaign, giving him an early introduction to fashion at its most exacting.

Campaigns for Balmain and Tommy Hilfiger established different sides of his appeal. Steven Klein’s Balmain photographs placed him in a heightened luxury setting, while his 2016 Tommy Hilfiger advertising alongside Gigi Hadid drew on his ease and physical energy. Francisco singled out both experiences when speaking to The Daily Front Row, crediting the Balmain booking with opening professional doors.

His relationship with an audience has been more personal than a succession of campaign photographs. After fan pages and attention outside shows began shaping a public image for him, Francisco used Instagram to share his own life, including his relationship with fellow model Jessiann Gravel Beland. The couple met in Japan in 2010 and have three children. Family became part of how people knew him, alongside the work.

Tennis supplies another connection between Francisco’s public image and his life away from fashion. A serious player before modeling, he told Interview that the expense of pursuing the sport professionally had put that ambition out of reach. Returning to it as a player and enthusiast gives his athletic image a personal foundation, rooted in a passion that predates his first casting.