Naomi Campbell shares extent of discrimination she faced during modelling heyday

11 August 2023 , 22:05

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Naomi Campbell has opened up about the discrimination she faced (Image: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Naomi Campbell has claimed she was paid less than her fellow supermodels during the height of her fame.

The 53-year-old made her debut aged just eight in Bob Marley's Is This Love music video before going on to become scouted while studying at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Aged just 15, the Stretham-born mum-of-two appeared on the cover of British Elle, catapulting her to fame.

As her modelling career continued to take off, Campbell went on to walk for the likes of Gianni Versace and Isaac Mizrahi. She was also photographed by the likes of Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts. But as her demand increased, so did the discrimination.

Naomi Campbell has opened up about the discrimination she faced during her career (Rafael Pavarotti/British Vogue)

The original supermodels explained that they had a "sisterhood" (Rafael Pavarotti/British Vogue)

While reuniting with Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista for the cover of British Vogue, Naomi opened up about the discrimination she faced. She said: "Why was it that I was doing the same job as my colleagues and had to take less money? Why was I booked for the shows but not the ads? I was not close-mouthed."

The original supermodel went on to say that while she's taken a back seat from the fashion world, she's now driven by "seeing that opportunities are being given". Naomi along with Turlington and Evangelista, also known as the 'Trinity' were being booked by every big name in the fashion industry, with Evangelista and Turlington previously telling Dolce & Gabbana: "If you don't use Naomi, you don't get us."

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In 1988, Naomi became the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue, after fashion legend Yves St. Laurent threatened the publication. He vowed to remove his advertising from the glossy publication if Naomi didn't grace the cover. Just one year later, Naomi became the first black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue's September issue – the biggest and most important issue.

The original supermodels stood in solidarity as Naomi faced discrimination (Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Speaking about working with her close friends who last appeared on the cover of Vogue together in January 1990, Naomi said: "There was a sisterhood there, defined by caring and loyalty: when one is down you pick the other one up." At the time, they were joined by Tatjana Patitz who died aged 56 in January this year following a fight against metastatic breast cancer.

Discussing their early days, Turlington said: "There was something about our early years that really felt very joyful and very celebratory, even though life was certainly not perfect, the business was not perfect, the world was not perfect." The lives of Naomi, Cindy, Linda and Christy are being explored in an Apple TV+ series titled The Super Models.

It comes just days after fellow original supermodel Helena Christensen made her return to the catwalk at Copenhagen Fashion Week for the Stine Goya Spring/Summer collection on Wednesday. The mum-of-one was just one of several who walked for Goya but certainly stood out from the crowd.

Daniel Bird