Naomi Campbell: the beginnings

Naomi Elaine Campbell was born in London on May 22, 1970 in the Streatham district of the English capital, from the Jamaican-born dancer Valerie Morris, only 18 years old, while unknown is the paternal identity, which her mother has always kept hidden from her daughter. In any case, many attribute to Campbell, as well as Afro-Jamaican origins, also Asian traits, and specifically Chinese, which suggest oriental ancestors for the beautiful model.

Not everyone knows, however, that Campbell’s beginnings are not related to the world of fashion, but to music. In fact, in 1978, at the age of 8, she was chosen for the video clip of one of the sacred monsters of music: Bob Marley , who selects Naomi for Is this love .

Over the years this passion for music has led her to appear in many video clips of famous singers, such as Madonna, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Puff Daddy.

Moreover, in 1995 the real solo debut for Naomi takes place with the single Love and Tears , contained in the album Baby Woman, which sells well 1 million copies all over the world! But at the time, Campbell was already a star of world fashion. But let’s go back to her debut in the fashion system, at just 15 years old.

Naomi Campbell in fashion

After her debut at an early age, the doors of world fashion opened up for Naomi: at just 16 years old in 1986 she appeared on the cover of Elle , and in the same year she posed for her first Pirelli calendar for Terence Donovan , for the year 1987. .

In 1988 Naomi Campbell was the first black top model to appear on the covers of Vogue (first in France and later in England) and Time Magazine .

Naomi’s career is already in decline before the age of 18 due to that physique sculpted in marble, a physical prowess, strong but at the same time graceful shapes, which are able to magnetically attract men, stylists, brands, who are sucked in in the vortex Naomi, which soon becomes impetuous.

Over the years it has become testimonial for the advertising campaigns of many fashion houses, including Fendi, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Alessandro Dell’Acqua, Burberry, Valentino, Versace, Roberto Cavalli, Yves Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Dsquared², Chloe, Emanuel Ungaro, Guess ?, Iceberg, Escada, Yohji Yamamoto, Lee Jeans, Pinko and many others, and of the cosmetics house Pupa Milano.

As a mannequin he has also paraded for the most important fashion houses in the world, such as  Versace, Valentino, Givenchy, Anna Sui, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Gianfranco Ferre, Chanel, Fendi, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Christian Dior, Hermes, Blumarine , Tommy Hilfiger, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, John Galliano, Dsquared², Vivienne Westwood, Rocco Barocco, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Zac Posen and many others.

The name of Naomi Campbell is inextricably linked with the figure of Gianni Versace, who has a weakness for the British model, so much so that he always chooses her for his fashion shows around the world. A splendid friendship also arises between the two, but tragically ends with the death of Gianni himself, murdered in 1997.

Over the years, Naomi’s aura continues to shine, participating in fashion shows, catwalks for the most important fashion weeks and appearing in magazines around the world, including PlayBoy, as well as for the photo book Madonna Sex.

In the years 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005 she participated in the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show .

Over the years there have been several fashion agencies for which he worked. Among the most important we can mention:

  • Elite Model Management – New York, Barcellona
  • One Management
  • Munich Models
  • Premier Model Management
  • D Management Group
  • Marilyn Agency
  • Look Models International – Vienna
  • Scoop Models
  • Priscillas Model Management
  • MC2 Model Management – New York
  • Artform – Tel Aviv

Naomi Campbell in movies and on TV

Naomi, as anticipated, is a multifaceted artist, since she has not only paraded but has also participated in some films as well as in television programs, some of which are dedicated to the world of fashion.

He made his TV debut in 1988 in the well-known American sitcom “The Robinsons” , where he appeared in three episodes. Subsequently, the acting career leads her to appear with Will Smith in “Willy, the prince of Bel-Air”.

These appearances lead her to appear also in the cinema. Her debut takes place in 1991 in the film Cool as Ice .

The only starring role and yet only in the 1999 film Inconvenient Witness .

In 2013 he participated in the reality show The Face , alongside Karolina Kurkova and Coco Rocha in the American format and with Caroline Winberg and Erin O’Connor in the British one. The goal is to identify and choose the supermodel of the future.

Naomi in the film that sees her protagonist in 1999

Naomi Campbell: private life of the British model

Naomi Campbell’s private life is a separate chapter in her biography, sometimes reckless.

Between men, gossip and alcohol and drug addictions that led her to detox, this chapter of Naomi is anything but linear. In fact, if the supermodel career has always been on the crest of the wave, the sentimental one has often turned out to be a whirlwind.

Sentimentally linked first to U2 bassist Adam Clayton, then later to Flavio Briatore in 1998 until 2003, Naomi’s love stories have always caused a sensation.

But not only love was one of the Achilles heels of the beautiful and famous English model . In fact, even her addiction to alcohol and drugs has brought her against her will to the limelight of the media all over the world. She started trying cocaine in 1994 and since then her situation has deteriorated until she participates in a rehabilitation program.

But Naomi’s life has been largely redeemed with participation in the social : in fact, Campbell participates in philanthropic works against poverty in African countries and has helped survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

It also acts as a bearer for the equal rights of black models.

Naomi Campbell today

Today Naomi Campbell is still on the crest of the wave. The 50-year-old Englishman is in fact more toned than ever and she still participates in fashion shows and fashion kermesse all over the world.

For example, for the twentieth anniversary of the death of Gianni Versace in 2017 together with Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen.

As can be seen from glossy magazines and TV, Naomi keeps fit by participating in specific diets and a training program aimed at keeping her silhouette intact. And the results are visible. Even today, at the age of 50, Campbell is still one of the most beautiful models in the world. A timeless beauty, her own. And today her life has become more beautiful: at 51 she became a mother for the first time!

The Black Venus will remain for all fashion lovers and, why not for men who like beautiful women, the icon of absolute beauty.