Naomi Campbell’s Staying Power

Last we heard from Naomi Campbell, she apologized to the airport officers she verbally assaulted over at Heathrow because of lost baggage. Campbell was sentenced to two hundred hours of community service for four charges, all of which she pleaded guilty to. Two other charges were dropped. Long known for a history of violent outbursts, this is not surprising of Campbell. The supermodel is said to be one of the more “ignitable” celebrities around. But then again, this should not overshadow what she has come to represent in the fashion industry.

Campbell’s high-profile modeling career

Modeling since she was fifteen, Campbell broke barriers and was the first black model to appear on the covers of Vogue Paris, Vogue UK, and Vogue Nippon. She was likewise the first black model to grace the cover of the venerable Time magazine. She has since appeared on more than five hundred magazine covers.

Her celebrity has transcended the ramp and fashion magazines. She graced Madonna’s Sex book and the music artist’s Erotica video. Campbell has likewise starred in Geroge Michael’s Freedom! 90 video, along with Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, and Tatjana Patitz.

This tells a lot of the 38-year old fashion icon, who says she keeps on going for the lack of black models in the industry. She refuses to retire, unlike the likes of Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and Cristy Turlington, her supermodel peers in fashion’s The Big Six and The Trinity.

A model for Storm Model Management in London, IMG Models in New York City, Marilyn Agency in Paris, and D’management group in Milan, Campbell says there are still very few black models in the fashion industry.

In an interview with Reuters in Nigeria, she says, “I’m very grateful for my career, but I worry for the girls after me for the opportunities they get — the way they get treated. And this is one of the reasons I still do what I do.”

According to Campbell, she does not do as many shows anymore but attends and counts the women of color. According to her, a fashion show in New York was the worst, last year; and now Paris’ Haute Couture just had one black model.

For July, Vogue Italy comes out with an edition that mainly uses black models. This is to highlight the issue and bring it to public focus. The issue will likewise feature black singers and actors, along with personalities such as Iman and Tyra Banks.

Sources:
Yahoo News
Wikipedia

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