Dawn Scott
As one of the remaining long-term residents of the famous Chelsea Hotel, what can you tell me about what's happening here? Is everything political at the Chelsea?
Man-Laï
Everything is business here.
Dawn
What was your life like before you moved to the Chelsea? Where are you from?
Man-Laï
I was born in Paris to a Belgian mother and a Chinese father. After that, they moved to Belgium. I grew up there and started modeling before the end of high school. I thought it was really easy to make money, so I felt like I didn't need a career. At that time, I spoke five languages—and decided to study German and Italian, adding to the languages I already spoke.