Naomi Campbell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naomi Campbell
|
|
|---|---|
Campbell at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival
|
|
| Born |
Naomi Elaine Campbell
22 May 1970 London, England
|
| Alma mater | Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Children | 2 |
| Modelling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Agency |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | R&B |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Labels | Epic |
Naomi Elaine Campbell (born 22 May 1970) is a famous British model. She started her career when she was only eight years old. She became one of the most successful models of her time, known as a supermodel.
Naomi was the first Black woman to be on the cover of Time magazine and Vogue France. Besides modeling, she has also acted in movies and TV shows and released a music album. She has also been involved in a lot of work for charity.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Naomi Elaine Campbell was born in South London, England. Her mother, Valerie Morris, was a dancer from Jamaica. Naomi has never met her father. She has a half-brother named Pierre. Naomi's background is Black-Jamaican and Chinese-Jamaican.
When she was young, Naomi lived in Rome, Italy, where her mother worked. Later, back in London, she lived with relatives while her mother toured with a dance group. From a young age, Naomi studied dance. At age 10, she was accepted into the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts to study ballet.
Rise to Supermodel Stardom
How Her Career Began
Naomi's first time in the spotlight was at age eight, in a music video for Bob Marley's song "Is This Love". She also appeared in music videos for the band Culture Club. She planned to be a dancer, but her path changed in 1986.
While shopping in London, she was discovered by a modeling agent. Soon after, just before she turned 16, she was on the cover of the British magazine Elle.
Becoming a Supermodel
In the late 1980s, Naomi became one of the world's top models. She worked with famous designers like Gianni Versace and Isaac Mizrahi. She, along with models Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista, were called the "Trinity" because they were so popular.
Naomi faced challenges because of her race. However, her friends supported her. They once told a famous designer brand, "If you don't use Naomi, you don't get us." In 1987, she became the first Black model on the cover of British Vogue in over 20 years. A year later, she was the first Black model on the cover of French Vogue.
By the 1990s, Naomi and a few other models like Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer were known as "supermodels." They were famous all over the world. They even appeared in George Michael's music video for his song "Freedom! '90".
Expanding Her Career
In the mid-1990s, Naomi tried new things. She released a novel called Swan in 1994. She also released a music album called Baby Woman. The album was very popular in Japan. She also had small roles in movies and on TV shows.
In 1997, she made history as the first Black woman to open a fashion show for the famous brand Prada.
A Lasting Career in Fashion
Even after the "supermodel era" was said to be over, Naomi continued to be a successful model. In 1999, she launched her own line of perfumes.
Over the years, she has appeared on many magazine covers. In 2008, she was part of a special issue of Italian Vogue that featured only Black models. In 2012, she joined other British supermodels in the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
From 2013, Naomi became a coach and judge on the reality TV show The Face and its versions in the UK and Australia. She also continued to act, appearing in the TV shows Empire and American Horror Story: Hotel.
In 2019, she got her first major contract for a beauty brand, NARS Cosmetics. In 2023, she was featured in an Apple TV+ series called The Super Models with other famous models from her generation.
Activism and Charity Work
Throughout her career, Naomi has spoken out against racial bias in the fashion industry. She pointed out that Black models often did not get the same opportunities as white models. In 2013, she joined other models to form the "Diversity Coalition" to encourage designers to use more models of color.
Naomi is also known for her charity work. She has supported the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and charities for breast cancer research.
In 2005, she started a charity called Fashion for Relief. It organized fashion shows to raise money for people affected by events like Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti.
In September 2024, Campbell was banned from being a charity trustee in the UK for five years. An investigation found that her charity, Fashion for Relief, had problems with how it was managed and how it spent its money.
Personal Life
Naomi Campbell has two children, a daughter born in 2021 and a son born in 2023.
She considered the late fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa to be like a father to her. She also had a close relationship with the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who called her his "honorary granddaughter."
Images for kids
-
Campbell walking for Diane von Fürstenberg at New York Fashion Week in 2013.
-
The famous Vivienne Westwood platform shoes that Campbell wore during a 1993 fashion show.
-
A wax figure of Campbell at Madame Tussauds museum in London.
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Naomi Campbell para niños
