|
Born in 1970 in Streatham, South London, Naomi Campbell has been described as the first black supermodel and is arguably the biggest name on the catwalks in the Nineties. While still a student of the Italia Conti Stage School, she was spotted by Beth Boldt, former head of Synchro, window-shopping in London’s Covent Garden. In April 1986 she made the cover of Elle, when another black model had to cancel the job. By August 1988, she had graced the cover of French Vogue as the publication’s first black cover girl and completed campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Francois Nars, Lee Jeans, Olympus and Jazz. Versace soon followed suit.
Campbell has since starred in pop videos for Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin and George Michael. In 1995, she published a novel, Swan, and released an album, Babywoman, although neither was very well-received. In 1996, she made her big screen debut in Spike Lee’s Girl Six and was honoured with a waxwork at London’s Madame Tussauds. Along with Elle Macpherson and Claudia Schiffer, she is a partner in the Fashion Café chain of restaurants.
|
