Gabrielle Chanel, known as Coco Chanel, was born in 1883 in France to a humble family. After her mother's death, she was placed in an orphanage where she learned to sew. During a brief career as a singer, she went by the nickname "Coco." She later became a successful fashion designer in Paris, the center of fashion, creating the Chanel brand and products like the Chanel No. 5 perfume. Coco Chanel revolutionized women's fashion and died in 1971 at age 87, leaving behind a renowned global brand.