Naomi Campbell Directly Questions Modelling Industry on Race Decisions
by 39-year-old supermodel Naomi Campbell has called the modelling industry ‘racist’ and complained that the economic climate will lead to fewer black and mixed-race models being used for high-end campaigns.
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“People, in the panic of the recession, don’t dare to put a girl of colour in their campaign, full stop,” she claims. “Nor of any other race. It’s a shame. It’s very sad.”
London-born Campbell, who is of Caribbean descent on her mother’s side, feels passionately that the fashion industry and major companies are excluding those from mixed backgrounds to promote their products. “This year, we have gone back all the way that we had advanced,” she says. “I don’t see any black woman, or of any other race, in big advertising campaigns.”
Campbell became the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue in 1988, when the late Yves St Laurent threatened to withdraw all of his advertising from the magazine if they did not feature Campbell on the cover. She later became the first black model to appear on the over of British Vogue, too.
Campbell’s statements come as several major publications report an increase in the number of Asian models hitting the catwalks over the past year. A special edition of Italian Vogue was also dedicated entirely to non-white models last year. “That made some noise,” admits Campbell, “But unfortunately we are the same as before.”
Designer Bruce Oldfield, who is of Jamaican descent, agrees with Naomi Campbell. “It’s absolutely true that black models will not be as popular for advertising companies and magazine covers as white girls,” he confirms. “In a recession, it’s probably doubly difficult for black girls to get a booking.”
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