Welcome to our new LUXE Models
success stories series, where we look at how some of the world’s most famous
models became household names. First up, Naomi Campbell – the woman who changed
the face of modelling forever.
Becoming a model
Naomi Campbell was born in
Streatham, London. She had an extraordinarily international upbringing. During her early years Naomi lived in global
fashion centre Rome – where her mother worked as an exotic dancer. She was born
for the stage; starting from age three she attended the Barbara Speake Stage School and at age ten, she studied ballet at
the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
in London.
But becoming a model was
always Naomi’s true destiny. According to her official website, Campbell caught her
big break in the industry at the tender age of 15. She was scouted by Beth
Boldt, the head of the Synchro Model Agency, while window-shopping in the
famous Covent Garden district of London. Boldt signed Campbell and after that, the
only way was up.
International supermodel
Naomi quickly shot into the
stratosphere. Her big moment came in December 1987 when she appeared on the
cover of British Vogue; the first
black woman to do so since 1966. She then became the first black woman to
appear on the cover of French Vogue in
August 1988. One year later Campbell become the first black woman to front the
cover of American Vogue’s prestigious
September issue.
By the early 90s, Campbell had
become one of the original five ‘supermodels.’ – an elite group models dubbed
the ‘most famous of all time’ by the fashion industry. Her career has gone from
strength to strength ever since. She has appeared on the cover of over 500
magazines and fronted campaigns for numerous fashion brands, including Burberry,
Prada, Versace, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton.
Brand Naomi
What’s amazing about Naomi is
that she isn’t just a model – she’s turned herself into a lucrative brand.
First, she’s established something of an acting career, putting her early
training to good use. Over the years Campbell has appeared on TV programmes
such as The Cosby Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as well as
music videos such as Michael Jackson’s ‘In the Closet’ and Madonna’s ‘Erotica.’
By 1998 (when TIME Magazine declared the end of the
‘supermodel’ era), Campbell had mostly retired from the catwalk. But she kept
herself busy with a number of projects. Naomi’s launched fragrances, continued
doing print-work and forged a career in realty TV. Notably, she executive
produced and served as a ‘supermodel coach’ on The Face, which on the US’ Oxygen Channel in 2012.
Game-changing model
Naomi Campbell serves as the
ultimate modelling success story. Spotted at 15, she became one of the most
famous models in the world, broke down racial barriers and turned herself into
a recognisable brand – changing the face of the industry at every turn throughout
her career.
