Naomi Campbell has revealed that an advertising campaign she recently modelled in wasn’t featured in a “certain country” because she’s black.
The model explained that while the fashion industry has become more racially diverse, progress is still needed to achieve equal opportunity.
“It’s still not balanced completely,” Campbell told American Vogue. “I’m the face of a new campaign and I was told that because of the colour of my skin a certain country would not use my picture.”
The 48-year-old stated that her recent experience of racial discrimination was a “reality check”.
“I never believe in the hype, so I just kept things in perspective for me,” she said.
“Now I would like to know that models [of colour] get the same opportunities and fees in advertising.”
In Campbell’s opinion, in order to ensure the fashion industry becomes more racially diverse, models based in Africa need to be introduced into the wider fashion network.
“There are agencies here, I saw some incredible models last Arise Fashion Week in Lagos. Incredible faces who have no idea how special they are and how great they look,” she said.
“It’s about making them part of the bigger network by affiliating them with agencies in London, Milan, Paris and New York.”
Over her three-decades-long career, Campbell has continually broken down barriers within the modelling industry.
In 1988, at 18 years old, she became the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue, at the request of her close friend, late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.
A year later, Campbell became the first black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue’s coveted September issue, widely regarded as the most significant fashion publication of the year.
