She had her first big appearance at the age of seven: in 1978, Naomi Campbell appeared in Bob Marley’s music video “Is This Love”. As a girl, she dreamed of becoming a famous dancer. Instead, Campbell later invented a new profession – that of a supermodel. As such, she graced hundreds of magazine covers and walked thousands of catwalks. And repeatedly made headlines for alcohol, drugs or abusive behavior.
Unlike many of her colleagues, she never turned her back on the fashion business. She still turns every catwalk into a big cat walk. You wouldn’t know that Campbell is now 54. Whether she has good genes or an excellent beauty doctor to thank for this is irrelevant here, because with her presence the Brit is sending an important message: she is one of the first black models to make it to the top of the fashion world – and to stay there.
This is also a reason for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to dedicate an exhibition to Campbell. “Naomi: In Fashion” shows her influence on the fashion world. The show also addresses the fact that Campbell’s job as a black model was not always easy. As recently as the mid-1980s, many fashion designers refused to book her. She received support from her supermodel colleagues Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista. “If you don’t book Naomi, you won’t get us either,” they are said to have said. This is another reason why Campbell is now committed to young models and against discrimination. A commitment that has made her career shine even brighter.
The exhibition “Naomi: In Fashion” runs from June 22, 2024 to April 6, 2025 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
