Naomi Campbell on high fashion discrimination

From the catwalk to courtroom appearances - there are few who have brought the world more high fashion and drama than supermodel Naomi Campbell.
Now as the V&A museum opens a retrospective in her honour our culture correspondent Minnie Stephenson has been speaking to the model about the fashion industry, discrimination and her infamous stint of community service:
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[@rayleighg9235]

She may come out strong and sharp but damn to have longevity in the fashion industry and still working is unprecedented.

[@NellieKAdaba]

I know.

[@congoboy9626]

​@@NellieKAdabano you don't

[@StarLight-sl9ok]

She must have a very strong spirit. Definitely not easy being the token black girl her whole life.

[@gyulakocsis1269]

Longevity? shes the botox queen. you look at her face, no expressions there whatsoever. its all dead under the layers of make-up.

[@b.u.dmusic9424]

Naomi is my favorite female model next to Iman and Alek Wek. She has broken down doors but I have to say: I don't like it when she puts other models down. If it weren't for her friends standing up for her when she wasn't getting shows, who knows what would've happened. No shade to her but that type of talk that I saw on the now-defunct show The Face was uncalled for. I DO adore her but put downs are never good.

[@sparkle3000]

Black Women are Beautiful. ❤

[@kylewhittle6565]

She was discovered at 15 in Streatham high street and has been working in fashion for almost 40 years since. Her longevity at the top of modelling is unparalleled. And she achieved all this being a dark skin black women. In the 80s and 90s it was uncommon to see any black celebrities on the front cover of magazines. Shes achieved a lot! ❤️❤️❤️ Her tough exterior has given her the fortitude to achieve the most out of life. She should be very proud. 🇬🇧

[@mylesF33]

By Bethann Hardison Naomi was with a group of her friends, who happened to be majority white, and she thought maybe one of the other girls. Little did she know!🥹💫✨

[@eduardoriveiracano3424]

The greatest supermodel of all time. Without a doubt! The way she looks, the way she moves. She represents true fashion. And, she looks so YOUNG. Amazing!

[@PHlophe]

Edu Cano, Ela e Linda demais !

[@haristsiras5075]

Naomi changed fashion forever… she is the greatest supermodel ever..

[@houseofvanity8]

💯💯💯💯

[@ashotofmercury]

I'm not into high fashion or anything like that but my Lord, she is BREATHTAKINGLY beautiful, still! 🙌🏻😲

[@flamezodiac5736]

Loads of jealous men and women in the comments I understand you let yourself go

[@jimthompson9370]

Learn punctuation. People will understand you better.

[@user-rk9it9hz6g]

People who've got more self respect than a millionaire playing the victim

[@rb1062]

Speaking from personal experience, I suspect.

[@gobyfish1399]

I will be criticizing her, so watch for my comments.

[@visittavee7773]

@@user-rk9it9hz6g I believe she is Famous more than anyone like now , please don’t talk about it we all knew already,

[@GymnasticsSavesLives]

they were not a great interviewer here imo. Naomi deserved better

[@WhateverBella007]

Completely agree!

[@janazahalkova283]

Also, interesting shoe choice since you are going to meet supermodel 😂🙏

[@LorraineAmoako]

Agreed!! I found her rather condescend and disrespectful!

[@kindinohubert8962]

YES, GO NAOMI NEVER MIND THE HATERS!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dre7sus]

Icon... Man this lady here is a pioneer.... She looks incredible 💯👑

[@dbw245]

She's pumped full from the blood of the youth do your research

[@shanesmith-vn1ri]

​@@dbw245I definitely want some

[@dbw245]

@@shanesmith-vn1ri you don't

[@webnerd-ny6wd]

Naomi may be mean but she’s good at what she does. However, seeing what she went through will make a person hardened and mean af. Not justifying it but I understand. Her and Tyra Banks are like that. One and the same

[@Maatization]

Mean? You're mean

[@BrownTingz]

I love how yt people praise a true mean-spirited person like Gordon Ramsey and spite Naomi Campbell. But because he is a man and yt, it's funny and more "relatable". The things she witnessed, what she had to endure w/ race-based discrimination and the inhumane treatment she suffered, for sure would make anyone resilient and prone to tempers.

[@Cici_mimi]

@@BrownTingz Bravo! 👌🏿👌🏿👍🏾

[@mouthdestroyer8847]

@@BrownTingzpreach !

[@JJ_Magnificent]

Naomi wearing D&G for community service lol is giving

[@SpiritDestiny]

Rare to hear people take accountability. It's healthy to. We all mess up! Accountability helps us to learn & change! Very real ❤

[@8CountLife]

I know Naomi wanted to throw a phone at that interviewer lol.

[@bobbiking2123]

I know I did!

[@mauntraedouglas2260]

😂😂😂

[@1love847]

And I would have understood.

[@whisper2284]

The interviewer reeked of judgement. Naomi sidestepped her bs and shined in spite of.

[@1love847]

@@whisper2284 Don't know how she worked in this terrible business for so long.

[@anuarfaizalofficial]

When Naomi is fashionably late, you fall to your knees and beg for forgiveness for being early. 0:33

[@umelaila1036]

This is a little too much

[@DonovanRobinson420]

ABSOLUTELY!!!! Forgive us ALL mother!!!!! PLEASE

[@stevielowe2853]

No such thing as fashionably late. Just rudeness

[@ohdamnman]

Give her all her flowers 💐💐💐

[@SquizzMe]

But she's somehow totally fine contributing to and sustaining an industry that creates the worst kind of wealth inequality and engages in barbaric labor practices. Oh ok. She can keep her precious 'values'.

[@merrytunes8697]

She also has philanthropic activities, but I'm sure you ignore that because it doesn't fit your character assassination of a Black woman 😒

[@Maatization]

Another hating Karen...the one lacking in melanin for sure....lol

[@AbigailBrown-wk7xl]

I hope naomi keeps on shining a light on woman's rights . She keeps on fighting for women to be heard ❤

[@susannehuber3996]

Why does she still look like 25?

[@IvyMercedes1687]

Because she's black

[@fscott7456]

Because she's black ✊🏾

[@silverkitty2503]

she is 25

[@Jstar697]

Because she is a goddess

[@RachelLondon]

Because she's a dark skin black woman. It's one of our gifts.

[@Kongkingkeng]

She went through so much to be where she at now. I'm so proud of her

[@Maatization]

She was held back because the fear is she would succeed at the top of her game like she did. It's the same for other black people in every field they are held back and still reach the top...a dynamic people

[@TiaanBReviews]

I love her....she's had such longevity❤

[@MsDudette21]

And she responds to the discrimination by being condescending to other people who are 'lesser' than her.

[@doriancoreyscloset421]

Know your place 😂

[@Maatization]

Another melanin-challenged Karen hating as only they can.

[@odeode4338]

„The highs were high“, so was she 😂

[@umelaila1036]

She is so genuine 😍

[@rb1062]

Her assistants had to prove themselves 150% too.

[@sohfihamid4164]

why is this so FUNNY 🤣

[@JuvaniRichardson]

😂😉😎

[@marqueamore8467]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@dr.100purrscent5]

Maybe. But it is so very interesting that Naomi Campbell gets more attention related to throwing a phone at her former Maid (and she was wrong for that); then the Male Photographers & Designers who sexually abuse and traffick Women & Girls within their businesses. Just saying.

[@stephenmurray8559]

​@@dr.100purrscent5Who are they? Name them?

[@AbdulChristopherr]

That was really short! I was just enjoying it that it stopped 😅 Is there any longer version?

[@AlexL001]

Undeniably stunning. And an icon. And her longevity in the fashion industry amazing

[@navyforeveryoungjean-phili5940]

She’s the greatest super model of all time

[@no89lan3]

Where is the full version?

[@thomasthomasphilp4393]

She learned real Yoga in Kerala, my home state in India.

[@Selling_JAM]

Naomi was so right about infections ways during COVID, it turned out that the virus was constantly in the air. I can’t imagine the ways she was discriminated. I remember seeing her in the magazine and my neighbors saying that she was there because her beauty was insanely superior and in that way she was a better …. N word. Hope she gets the recognition she really deserves. She looks like time doesn’t touch her.

[@mladeau2105]

Think it is interested she says there has been a 'slip back,' I don't this is unique to fashion industry, we are experiencing other kind of slip backs as well in the UK.

[@edwintorres2305]

As black people we have to be better than our whyite counterparts to get 50% of the respect in every job area, from modeling to the presidency....

[@jadebel7006]

No sweetie that's called del*sion n paran*ia , it's not the 60s anymore

[@jn8922]

Maybe before but not now. I live in Africa and there's no diversity hires here... Everyone's black so the victim card doesn't work here since almost everyone is black.

[@howyoudoin4554]

Liked this Interview very much, journalist was asking straight forward and the topics were interesting to listen

[@user-fb2bo7dw8o]

She has been saying this 99times already. Nothing fresh

[@marie2511]

Oh wow! I'd LOVE to see that retrospective

[@guillandanthony711]

The interviewer was so gentle when asking the question, „You must miss him?“ 🙄

[@phoenix5054]

Meanwhile, Tyra Banks, another woman of color, make models literally jump through hoops just to make it in modelling. Walking inside an inflatable ball as a catwalk!? What was that!?

[@kellymaps8128]

And yet she was allegedly terrible to Tyra Banks…so much for women’s rights

[@DebbyJs]

sweeping with dolce & gabanna ? I'm a watch her all day and just be smiling and clapping for her cause she giving me a show... Damn!!!!

[@Lily4444]

Funny she is a perfectionist but her character isn’t

[@bluepeter128]

This is incredible. I'm so happy for her having her moment and respect she deserves. Wow,wow!!!! U go girl!!!❤❤❤❤

[@murphypaschal]

She's beautiful but there is something just not quite wholesome about her. There is an arrogance in everything she says and does. Very unappealing.

[@lp3960]

You all have no idea how hard it is to remain this relevant in the fashion industry. And she achieved that and still looks the same.

[@cassieluv7869]

Naomi is a Legend!!!

[@MustafaOsman-cr2dh]

And your people thank you for breaking barriers and opening doors for the next gen❤️

[@user-pq2nv7lt8n]

Are people going to get mad that she's talking about anti Black racism in the industry that she profited from or are we going to receive what she has to say? When others come forward in their respective contexts, what will our response be then? Especially if others are not 'supermodels'? just thinking...

[@MustafaOsman-cr2dh]

You stood on business when it came to leaving your mark

[@PHlophe]

Tafa, for real, wallah !

[@MustafaOsman-cr2dh]

@@PHlophe Your mother?

[@chrislynch8914]

These people complain no matter what!

[@nimorachard]

that was fashionably short

[@ScorpioLucian]

She is damn right to have the exhibition as she is alive. She is able to tell her own story in her own way on her own terms. Most people only get to have this type of exhibition done for them only when they are dead.

[@thomasfm]

she is the ultimate icon

[@jwalk6074]

As a human being, i think you've proved who you are lots of times!

[@mikeg8276]

Naomi is the greatest fashion model of all time, and the quintessential supermodel. Her career longevity in any field would be enviable, but in high fashion modeling it is unreal.

[@fallcolors]

It’s truly unfortunate that journalism has become a lost art. How is it you have a whole Naomi Campbell exhibit that speaks to 40 years of fashion and you’re still asking her about something from almost 20 years ago?🥴

[@ijt3131]

She’s an ICON!

[@vincentblack7467]

Someone give her an hug, their, their life tuff, watch your step, be careful, their, their...

[@WhateverBella007]

*there

[@joLuxurya]

Naomi Campbell is amazing! She has been source of inspiration for us for years🎉 D&G slay! keep ur head up and and keep shining bright 🌸🌸🌸

[@lexivivid8073]

Great interviewer, amazing questions!!!

[@cutipie775]

Shes so right. Fashion is anything but a bloodbath or nasty place to put yourself out there or be a victim of hatred jealousy or discrimination

[@scottonspruce]

The race card should be discarded.

[@rainrain8684]

How is she so flawless ??? Age like wine

[@SpiritDestiny]

Beautiful x

[@leegarfield8959]

Horrible interview and Naomi felt like in a bad mood as always.... and late.

[@prettypractical3372]

Why did the interviewer have to express how Naomi was late…?

[@XYZ-td6sn]

I’m a Central Saint Martins menswear design graduate, one of the best fashion schools on earth and I can assure you, everyone has to prove themselves 150% in this world.

[@rb1062]

McCartney's daughter???

[@Biggems4]

How could you assure that? How would you know?

[@Kaicore7]

Okay what does that have to do with her. Fact: there were very few black models at that time. Fact: Anna Wintours boss said to Anna, “You’re going to put an African American model on the September cover of American Vogue?” Because she was the “First Black” for many publications and achievements. That comes with pressure. And again this is the 1980s, a different atmosphere of society. So “150%” is her use of figurative language on how cautions she has to be to change the perception so more opportunities for women of color could come into fruition.

[@danielwatkins1554]

But black pepper have to push themselves more

[@RDCFemmes]

Please, nowadays asking people to wake up in the morning and turn up on time is considered oppression. And to show you how tone death you are racism is still prevalent and black people still have your work 10 times harder so make 1500 harder

[@heathernelson8560]

The interviewer seemed like she was trying to find a way to make Naomi feel a certain type of way. Like she got offended by Naomi's responses and Naomi looked like here we go again with this BS. Like she is tired of having to prove herself still at this age.

[@faithBlondon]

"Throwing a diamond encrysted phone at the maid" like, what other type would she use? ❤❤❤

[@Himthepoet]

iconic.

[@regnadkcin6702]

It's also possible she underestimated the amount of work and talent that is required to achieve the level of success that she believes she deserves.

[@musheopeaus4125]

Yeah she looked like she suffered .😳

[@merrytunes8697]

You completely ignore the issues she is discussing (RACISM) and make inflammatory remarks. Yea, you're not the problem😒

[@Maatization]

You sound jealous

[@nanakwabena61]

However YOU have done it now🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@firouz256]

For all of you who STILL don't understand: There is only 3 SUPERMODELS in the world. Linda, Naomi and Christy. Everybody else was invited in by the three (Cindy, Tatjana as seen as on the cover of Vogue shot by Lindbergh) You can be a top model (there is many man of them. They are beautiful) , you can be a model, you can be whatever you want to be BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE TRINITY!

[@JohnW9012]

That's in most businesses in America, where Black people have to work twice as much to get half as much if they get the opportunities. Sports and the music industry is the exception for players and performers.

[@user-fb4sb1zi8g]

She looks amazing!

[@Leila-gi8nm]

I think iman was the first

[@georgekoutsoudopoulos]

You need to watch the documentary on black models...that KZbin co-produced. Naomi did for French Vogue and it was Yves Saint Laurent who contacted the editor because he loved casting her for his shows.

[@luisafrance1635]

Not Vogue. The other famous white supermodels have to go on strike for her to get the cover. I think it was Elle, Claudia, Cindy and Linda. It was definitely not easy for her back then.

[@shukriiii]

@@luisafrance1635 Iman was on Vogue before her, in 1976

[@rb1062]

Iman has class.

[@georgekoutsoudopoulos]

@@shukriiii the key word was French Vogue...

[@sala19843714]

You didn't have to include oh "she was fashionably late"--that added nothing but shade...

[@vawor4471]

It was a fair comment. It's allowed.

[@merrytunes8697]

Agreed. How can people be jealous of a woman that worked hard to make less money? I'm not showing up EARLY for my daily doses of discrimination and microaggressions.

[@minocious8344]

@@merrytunes8697 she's known for always being late and even for that you people want to play the race card and make excuses for her? get a grip

[@meme4one]

My heart bleeds for a multi millionaire who's just is wearing clothes and looking stern, especially one with a track record for being an absolutely horrendous person.

[@JimPlebeian]

150% extra effort throwing things at her assistants 😆

[@dutchymaze6315]

She had to prove herself 150% to get assistants😁

[@Bungle-UK]

She clearly can’t do maths - you can’t give more then 100% 😂

[@roundtwo3321]

@@Bungle-UK What?!?!? Percentages are just numbers.

[@offlicense6097]

Y'all just like to yup and try to discredit her she is 150% correct about the amount of effort bw have to put in to get a fraction

[@JimPlebeian]

@@offlicense6097 nope.. just pointing out her history with assistants

[@gettheedgenow7079]

Naomi is the Empress of the catwalk -- GOAT. There is no one who comes close. She looks better in her fifties than most women look in their twenties. Keep your head high, Naomi, and keep on strutting.

[@AlexanderAO]

Naomi Campbell is a living legend of the world in the fashion industry ❤

[@keepingit100-ss3hx]

They include black women in the fashion industry but want the same tired look as if we all have short to no hair on the run way. All hard face dark skin women too. It's a very manipulative tactic they are doing with black women's image in the modelling industry today and Naomi campbell doesn't allow them to play with her looks I noticed which I love.

[@Yellowtable101]

She held her head high after assaulting her maid is my new favorite cultural ism

[@merrytunes8697]

Y'all completely ignore the issues she is discussing (RACISM) and make inflammatory remarks. Yea, you're not the problem .😒

[@Jordan-xg4pn]

Please, those two things are completely separate from one another... ​@@merrytunes8697

[@bikerdave1274]

OH poor millionaire you. having to suffer sitting down for make-up, then having to walk 20-30meters, OH WOE IS YOU. The world can't understand how you survived

[@abtarmiah3799]

She didn't become millionaire without grind tho and commitment to her art! That's the point

[@danielwatkins1554]

You clearly didn’t watch the video

[@dwise2165]

She looks great. I thought she was 60 but not yet.

[@ebillie1181]

Great fashion I Con and still gorgeous. Taking accountability...not easy for her. Couldn't stumble through the words comfortably. D&G work clothes, priceless.

[@tasibho]

While Naomi has reached stratospheric heights , she really wasnt the first. It takes away from others who really fought hard so she could get that platform. Iman, grace jones, beverly johnson, naomi sims etc

[@got2bjosh]

French Vogue. Y'all don't listen.

[@ShizukaRose]

Icon.

[@sephmanatac8569]

EPSTEIN ANGEL 😕🫤😠😤😈👿

[@wakey87]

:rolls eyes:

[@nazoooom]

Seems like it’s a white privilege eye roll 🙄

[@ItsKells]

Lovely Naomi! Video producer could have picked a much better title. By far not the main point of this lovely interview.

[@JESUSWONTHEWAR]

She is STUNNING 😍. Love you Naomi.

[@braintouse]

Naomi, I am white, but let me tell you that you are so beautiful a goddess. They were stupid not to chose you for every fashion show.

[@Tomi_janet15]

Amazing ❤❤

[@jd3166]

What happened to the blood diamonds or the stomping on young african talent like Elsa. Struggled yes entitled 100%

[@mobrown7594]

She never stomped on Elsa, Elsa need a lot of help. She is an icon she tried to help and Elsa messed up

[@jd3166]

@@mobrown7594 Elsa needed no help. She was going viral. Naomi jumped on Elsa's wave and Wizz kid's wave and Madiba's wave. Please.

[@uindereusebio7934]

Me gusta mucho el estilo de Naomi, sin embargo de acuerdo lo que dice que debe esforzarce mas por ser una mujer negra es la consecuencia de una creencia y una creencia bastante general, pero no la realidad en si

[@prettyhollypolly7553]

Tbh she’s intimidating but give this Aunty what she deserves!

[@elenast.marthe7286]

This girl is a legend.

[@GustavoMota-jx4yn]

Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bunchen are the best models of all time.