How Did Chanel West Coast Get Famous? Looking Back at Her Career

Flash to the past. Chelsea Chanel Dudley (a.k.a. Chanel West Coast) has come a long way over the years, having first captivated fans while appearing on MTV’s Rob Dyrdek’s hit show, Fantasy Factory. She now boasts over three million followers on Instagram and has continued to expand her resume. In her bio, Chanel lists her talents as a “rapper, singer, and professional laugher.” Curious about her rise to fame? Look no further, as we’re breaking it down below.

TV Time

Chanel, 30, and Rob reportedly met through mutual friends in 2008. Not long after, she appeared on his MTV reality series Fantasy Factory as his receptionist. During a 2009 episode, she showed off her lyrical prowess while taking on pro skater Steve Berra in a rap battle. Due to the show’s success, it was renewed for a fourth season, which aired in 2011 — around the same time she appeared on The Hard Times of RJ Berger, where she made her acting debut.

Chanel-West-Coast-love-and-hip-hop — MTV

Striking a Pose

Chanel also put her good looks to use by modeling from Maxim and Rob’s “Reckless” clothing brand. “I’m really good with my angles in pictures, but I do watch what I eat,” she told HollywoodLife about her sultry social media photos in 2019. “I think finding the right clothes that flatter your body is everything because in the past, I wasn’t as aware.” Chanel did note that she would never “do any pictures fully nude,” so it looks like she won’t ever be doing Playboy.

Music Career

The blonde beauty has collaborated with several notable artists, having been signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment in 2015. So, who has she dropped songs with? YG, Snoop Dogg, Safaree Samuels and French Montana just to name a few. During a recent interview, Chanel opened up about her new single called “The Middle” and revealed why she wanted to get more vulnerable at this point in her life.

“I wanted to make a song that expressed my true inner feelings at the time,” she told The Fresh Committee. “I’m very private and good at masking my sadness with a laugh. Wanted people to see that even people with money and nice things aren’t always happy.”

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Making Strides

Even though Fantasy Factory ended in 2015, Chanel has continued to secure new gigs on television. She was a cast member on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood in 2017.

Chanel previously told In Touch exclusively, “It’s really cool to finally be on a show where I’m able to show more of my life and who I really am as a person. I’ve been on TV for years, but I’ve always been kind of a side character. And it hasn’t really shown my music at all. And being a part of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood — I’m showcasing my music and I am so excited about that.”