Naomi Campbell Wins Fashion Icon Award

Naomi Campbell's fuming over the lack of modeling opportunities for black and ethnic models has paid off. She received the Fashion Icon Award at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Front Row charity event last Saturday.


The Front Row event was created to honor black and Latino fashion professionals and while making her acceptance speech, the supermodel also took the opportunity to continue voicing her sentiments on racism in the fashion industry.

While the 39 years old supermodel has considered herself fortunate to be working in the fashion industry for over 25 years, progress still needs to be made. Calling the lack of minority models in the industry as "injustice," Naomi Campbell stressed:

"Nelson Mandela always told me to speak my mind and the consequences will take care of themselves... There is a small group of people whose minds we have to change because we are living in a multicultural society."

Aside from Naomi Campbell receiving the Fashion Icon Award, other honorees of the Front Row event include Fashion Institute of Technology's president Dr. Joyce F. Brown, makeup artist Sam Fine, and Oprah's hairstylist Andre Walker. The Avant-Garde award was given to the late Michael Jackson and was accepted by his brother Marlon Jackson.

Naomi Campbell's Confidence Is Waning

At 39, Supermodel Naomi Campbell's fiery confidence is waning. No matter how she would like to sashay on the catwalk forever, she's now feeling the pressure of staying young and fears she will soon lose her looks as she nears 40s.


"I'm not immune to being insecure - especially as I'm getting older. But I love what I do, so I have to put in a little more effort. I do pilates every day. I'll carry on doing runways until people stop wanting my services," the British babe was quoted as saying.

During the London Fashion Week last month, a nervous Naomi Campbell walked on the runway in skimpy outfits.

"Going out on that runway and having everyone looking at my backside was petrifying. I still get nervous, in some ways I have to be nervous. I don't want to to be too confident out on the runway because it's about the clothes. Not about Naomi."

Naomi Campbell Attacks For Dropping Black Models During Recession

Black supermodel Naomi Campbell now attacks companies for dropping black models in times of recession and says:

"This year, we have gone back all the way that we had advanced. I don't see any black woman, or of any other race, in big advertising campaigns."

Naomi Campbell has notably appeared in the Black issue of Vogue Italia last year, the sole magazine issue that has exclusively featured black models in its publication. Looking back, the 39 year-old model now observes:

"That made some noise, but, unfortunately, we are the same as before. People, in the panic of the recession, don't dare to put a girl of color in their campaign, full stop. Nor of any other race. It's a shame. It's very sad."

Despite the said dropping of black models this year, Naomi Campbell has made starring appearances in two major campaigns.

This achievement, however, is something that the black model has to work extra hard for. In an earlier magazine interview, she has been quoted as saying "You know, the American president may be black, but, as a black woman, I am still an exception in this business. I always have to work harder to be treated equally."

Fashion designer Bruce Oldfield supports Naomi Campbell's claim in an interview with Mandrake:

"It's absolutely true that black models will be not as popular for advertising companies and magazine covers as white girls. In a recession, it's probably doubly difficult for black girls to get a booking. In this climate, things are worse, but it is compounding a problem that already exists. Cover editors are going to choose white over black. Naomi is not far off the mark."

Noted teen model Chanel Iman, however, believes that making a successful career in modeling is not only a tougher challenge for black models but for ethnic models in general. Appearing in the September cover of i-D magazine with fellow black models Arlenis Sosa, Jourdan Dunn, and Sessilee Lopez, the 19 year-old American fashion model says:

"It usually takes an ethnic girl - I'm not saying black, I'm saying ethnic, let's make that clear - twice as long. We've gotta work extra-hard to stay in the game and stay with the girls who do well but aren't ethnic. Some girls can skip seasons, but us ethnic girls, we cannot skip a season, because that'll kill us."

Aside from Naomi Campbell, there are other black and ethnic celebrities who are presently fronting top advertising campaigns - Rihanna, Queen Latifah and Daria Ramirez for CoverGirl; Beyonce and Freida Pinto for L'Oreal; and Eva Mendes for Calvin Klein Underwear and CK Jeans.

Despite these remarkable commercial ads featuring black and other ethnic models, there is still no denying that white models are more prevalent in the fashion and beauty industry. But as some people say, big advertising companies are guided by profits rather than race - if black and ethnic models are contributing to large company profits, there is no way for them to be dropped.

Naomi Sims, First Black Supermodel, Dies At 61

First African-American supermodel Naomi Sims has died of cancer yesterday, August 03, 2009. She was 61.


Once bullied by her classmates because of her height, Naomi Sims has risen to become one of the most successful black models while still in her teens.

She has been the first African-American model to appear on the covers of Ladies Home Journal in 1967, The New York Times Magazine's Fashion of the Times in 1967, and Life Magazine in 1969. (Her magazine appearances - the 1967 New York Times fashion magazine cover and the 1969 cover of LIFE Magazine - are now on display in the Metropolitan Museum's "The Model As Muse" exhibit.)

According to reports, Naomi Sims was turned down by modeling agencies in the late 1960s. Undeterred by rejection, the black model went to photographers and finally persuaded Gosta Peterson to capture her for the cover of The New York Times Magazine's Fashion of the Times supplement in 1967. (It was this image which would later appear in the MET's "Model as Muse" exhibit.) She has also sent out the image to advertising agencies and was earning $1,000 within a year. The image has her land a national AT&T TV commercial campaign wearing Bill Blass.

Her phenomenal appearances on top magazine covers has paved the way for her worldwide recognition in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She has also modeled for prestigious fashion designers Halston, Fernando Sánchez, Teal Traina, and Giorgio di Sant' Angelo.

Because of popularity, Naomi Sims was later offered a lead role in the Hollywood film Cleopatra Jones but she chose to turn down the role because of racist portrayal of blacks in the movie.

When she retired from modeling in 1973, she started her own beauty business and launched a successful wig collection. Her design posted an annual sales of $5 million by 1978.

Naomi Sims also became a successful author in her later years. She wrote five books on modeling, beauty and health including "All About Health and Beauty for the Black Women," "How to Be a Top Model," and "All About Success for the Black Women." She also has an advice column for teenage girls in Right On! Magazine.

Naomi Sims always acknowledged that her success has come from using her race as an advantage. Her early works and advocacy for the black race has helped established the identity of today's black supermodels like Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Jourdan Dunn and other upcoming top models of African descent.

"It's 'in' to use me, and maybe some people do it when they don't really like me. But even if they are prejudiced, they have to be tactful if they want a good picture," Naomi Sims once said after establishing her multi-million beauty empire.

Naomi Campbell Attacks Again

Naomi Campbell attacks again. This time, the victim is a celebrity photographer named Gaetano Di Giovanni.


The attack has taken place in the island of Lipari, just off the coast of Sicily.

The supermodel has been on Italian vacation with her super-rich main squeeze Mikhail Prokhorov. The lovers have just made their way to the island by yacht after spending time in the south of France.

The 39-year old beauty may have find her Italian get-away a very intimate moment so that she refused to share it with the media. Seeing the paparazzi taking pictures of her romantic vacation, the Naomi Campbell that we all know has taken the matters in her own hands by attacking the unfortunate snapper.

"First she hit with her bag, screaming at me and then she tried to slap me. I managed to avoid her – but her nails still got my eye. For a few seconds I could not see a thing. I could hear that her bodyguards and her boyfriend were trying to drag her away."

With her reputation for attacking, fiery Naomi Campbell should have played the main part in Shakira's She Wolf video.

Why Naomi Campbell Didn't Attend The Met Costume Institute Gala

Honoring the role of supermodels as fashion muses, the opening of the 2009 Metropolitan Costume Institute Gala last Monday was the night of supermodels so to speak.

But amid the sea of beautiful faces, where was the famous supermodel Naomi Campbell?


The British muse was a no-show at the gala. Was it because Tyra Banks also attended the event?

Not quiet - Azzedine Alaïa was supposedly the reason.

According to reports, the designer was displeased that Anna Wintour only allowed one photograph of his work to be displayed at the exhibition so he asked the supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Stephanie Seymour (who were supposed to wear his designs to the gala) not to attend the event.

Alaïa was quoted as saying, "(Anna Wintour) has too much power over this museum." This was denied by the exhibit curator, Harold Koda, who said that Anna Wintour was not involved in curating the shows - the decision to exclude Alaïa was actually because the designer wanted to have a single designer exhibit, something that was discordant with the Met policy.

A lame excuse or not, Azzedine Alaïa's influence over his muses was great. A spokesperson for Naomi Campbell told the press, "As Naomi has been the muse of Azzedine Alaïa for 23 years, she feels she doesn't want to attend unless she can represent his work."

Naomi Campbell Is Retiring - Says Who?

Ok, she's 38. But who says Naomi Campbell is retiring?



The new wave of rumors about Naomi Campbell's retirement has sparked after the British supermodel told a magazine that she will be scaling down catwalk shows to focus on motherhood:

"It'll be 25 years next year. In terms of fashion shows, I don't really see myself doing every show everywhere. I'm a woman and I'd like to be a mother one day."

Aside from the retirement rumor, Naomi is also said to be moving to Russia to live with Vladimir Doronin, her billionaire boyfriend.

Before the rumor makes a negative impact on her catwalk career, Naomi Campbell is once again forced to dismiss reports that she is retiring. Her spokesperson clarified, "She's absolutely not retiring from fashion. She loves what she does for a living and she's not planning to retire."

Naomi Campbell Models For Mumbai Victims

Wearing saris and local Indian outfits, supermodel Naomi Campbell models on the Mumbai runway for the Lakme Fashion Week. Her catwalk appearance is a tribute and fund-raising campaign for the victims of last year’s terror attacks in Mumbai.


Fiery Naomi Campbell shows her tender side as she helped raise funds for Mumbai’s emergency medical services. Through her gorgeous model physique, she steals everyone's attention in the charity show dubbed as “Mai Mumbai” – the solidarity event against the Mumbai terror attacks which is participated by 27 celebrated Indian designers and 21 International designers.

The 39-year old supermodel may be widely known for throwing tantrums but beneath the diva-like attitude, she’s also active in charity works. She leads a charity called “Fashion for Relief,” which has also raised roughly £700,000 in 2005 at the New York Fashion Week for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. After Mumbai, Naomi Campbell will head to South Africa to help an orphanage in Cape Town and meet Nelson Mandela.

Asked about her views on doing fashion shows for charity works, she answered:

"I don't do it for public adulation, even though I want the public to see it. What matters to me is that we make our contribution, as a fashion society, because many people feel that fashion designers or people in fashion are superficial and we don't give and we don't care. It's not true. We do care. Like you have actors do something. You have them do a presentation, you have the singers do a concert, this is our contribution, and this is what we do.”

It’s a good thing Naomi Campbell does modeling not only for profit but also for philanthropic endeavors. Because of her influence in the modeling industry, many fashion people will soon follow her altruistic examples.

Good Karma might have strike Naomi Campbell this early – she not only lifted the hearts of Mumbai victims but also impressed the Indian people. Now, Bollywood film executives are approaching her for future movie projects.

Supermodels Cradle Babies In Maternity Ward

Modeling is not just about strutting on the runway or posing on glamorous magazine covers with your drop-dead gorgeous body. Though fashion models are always known for sophistication, the fame that comes with the title can get them closer to the public, far more than just the “catwalk queen, international-party-chic” image.

And this time around, supermodels Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford are on a humanitarian campaign as they cradle babies in maternity ward.

Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford recently visited Nigeria to attend the This Day Africa Rising concert. While visiting on the country, the supermodels dropped by the maternity ward of a clinic in Lagos. The fiery supermodel Naomi Campbell particularly showed off her domestic side as she lifted some of the babies with an expert touch.

Aside from the supermodels cradling babies in the maternity ward, Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford also helped distribute sack loads of gifts to expectant and new mothers in the small clinic. The models were obviously extending great publicity and support not only to the This Day Africa Rising concert but to the general aim of showing the continent in a positive light.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell Against Lack Of Black Models

At times, she could be the grumpiest and most irate supermodel to date. But on one side, she is the great Naomi Campbell – one of the most popular black fashion models of her time, and probably the most passionate one when it comes to bringing the girls of her color to the same catwalk fame she enjoys.

"I don't do so many shows anymore, but I do count how many girls of color they use in the shows. It happens to be last year New York was the worst. Now at Paris Haute Couture there was only one black girl out of all the shows. It cannot be a trend." the black British supermodel said.

Naomi Campbell takes pride in representing her race on the catwalk, the reason why she's still active in modeling at the age of 38, and after more than two decades on the international runway. "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."

Because she is one of those influential figures who had criticized the lack of black supermodels on the catwalk, she felt grateful for Italian Vogue which has recently featured mainly black models in its July edition - highlighting the problem of fashion designers favoring fair-skinned over dark-skinned models.

"For me, it is something that is history-making. Something that I'm going to keep forever," she said about the magazine. Naomi Campbell has photos on the Italian Vogue July edition, along with Supermodel Tyra Banks, Supermodel Iman, and other black actors and singer.

As for her own personal experience with racism, the Supermodel Naomi Campbell simply said, "I'm a fighter."

Naomi Campbell Cosies Up To Her Designer

At 38, Supermodel Naomi Campbell must have already learned that when you want to make it big in modeling, you also got to have a cozy relationship with fashion designers. The 5' 9 ½'' model must have learned this lesson by heart as she recently cosied up with her fashion designer, literally.

Naomi Campbell and YSL fashion designer Stefano Pilati appeared in the August '08 cover of i-D Magazine. On the photo, the black supermodel cosied up to the designer in all her nakedness. A lovely 26-inch hair extension peered in to cover parts of the supermodel's body.

As lovely as the supermodel and the photography itself, Naomi Campbell's photo with YSL's Stefano Pilati reflects the intimacy of fashion designers with their models – the vital connection that both models and designers need to achieve fashion perfection.

Naomi Campbell Sculpture

Supermodel Naomi Campbell will be immortalized in a sculpture through the help of British photographer Nick Knight.

In one of the sculpture, Naomi Campbell will be straddling the barrel of a large tank. In another, there will be a “circle of three Naomis, like The Three Graces."

Known for his personal, experimental vision resulting in magnificent work of arts that exist outside the conventions of fashion photography, Nick Knight will be using three-dimensional scanners, to create a series of sculptures of the Supermodel Naomi Campbell.

This breakthrough in photography is something that Nick Knight obliviously has taken pride of as he said, “Photography is changing completely, and one of the things that's doing this is 3-D scanning.”

"You get a 360-degree view of her, and because it's all digital, that data can be used to output real objects. You can lay one image over another and create sculptures that would never have been conceived if you were chipping away at marble."

Aside from the easier way of sculpting though the help of 3-D scanning, there is also a changing trend in modeling. These days, a supermodel's career seemed not be threatened by controversies and scandals anymore. In fact, it even serves as way of maintaining popularity with the media.

Thanks to her current assaults with the police officers, Naomi Campbell's popularity in the fashion industry only appears to be growing.

Aside from her highly-publicized sculpture with Nick Knight, she is currently the face of YSL. She also appeared in a cameo role on popular TV series “Ugly Betty.” D&G has also been reported to throw a birthday party for the 38-year old black British supermodel Naomi Campbell.