Naomi Campbell and the Fight for Diversity

Naomi Cambell was the first black model to appear on the cover of TIME magazine, French Vogue and Russian Vogue as well as the first British black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue. The runway was her domain as she showcased the collections of top designers, including Chanel, Azzedine Alaia, Christian Dior and Versace.

Additionally, Campbell has appeared in countless TV shows, music videos and films, including “The Cosby Show,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Madonna’s “Erotica," Bob Marley's "Is This Love" and Michael Jackson's "In The Closet."

Campbell is also responsible for an incredible amount of fundraising and charity work in South Africa and across the globe. She began charity work with Nelson Mandela in 1993, and in 1997 he named her “Honorary Granddaughter” for endless activism.

In 2005, she established Fashion For Relief and hosted its first charity fashion show to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Since its conception in 2005, Fashion For Relief has presented shows in New York, London, Cannes, Moscow, Mumbai and Dar es Salaam, and has raised millions of dollars for various causes.

"Patrick Demarchelier was the one who got me my first 'Vogue' cover. It was French 'Vogue' - I think in '87 or '88. I think I was the first black model to be on the cover of French Vogue, which was shocking to me because when I asked them about it, they were like, 'Oh, no. We've never had that before."

Naomi Campbell, Vogue, December 1987

Supermodels Stephanie Seymour, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Naomi Campbell, Hollywood, 1989

Photographed by Herb Ritts

Naomi Campbell, Time Magazine, September 1991

Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss

Cover of i-D Magazine, August 1994
Styled by Edward Enninful

Naomi Campbell and Gianni Versace, Autumn / Winter 1996

Naomi Campbell, Versace Campaign, Autumn / Winter 1997

Photographed by Mario Testino

Naomi Campbell, Versace Campaign, Autumn / Winter 1997

Photographed by Mario Testino

Naomi Campbell, Vogue Italia, November 2000

Naomi Campbell, iD Magazine, February 2003

"It’s a new challenge to see how people can change your look. I like words like transformation, reinvention, and chameleon. Because one word I don't like is predictable."

Naomi Campbell, Louis Vuitton Campaign, Spring / Summer 2004

Naomi Campbell, Vogue Italia, July 2008

Naomi Campbell, Vogue UK, September 2012

Naomi Campbell, Interview Russia Magazine, 2012

Naomi Campbell, Interview Magazine, September 2013

Naomi Campbell, Interview Magazine, September 2014

I feel very responsible for young models of colour. They come to me and tell me they're not getting jobs, and I do what I can to speak up for them.

Naomi Campbell, Vogue Brazil, May 2016