Naomi Campbell will be honored with the British Fashion Council’s Fashion Icon Award on December 2.
Campbell, 49, has been modeling for over 30 years and has made a mark not just in fashion but also in the advancements of female empowerment and philanthropy. Because of this, she will be given the honor of BFC’s Icon award.
“I was lucky with the opportunities I got and especially the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue in 1988, which was a very special privilege,” said Campbell in a statement. “But after that, it was quite a long gap, so I never forget how much work there is to do still in respect of diversity and equal opportunities.”
Campbell was born in South London and was scouted when she was 15 in 1986 by Convent Garden. The supermodel has appeared on over 500 magazines, in advertising agencies, and has become well-known as the first Black model to ever work with several prominent fashion brands. Her career as a model has extended to acting, hosting, and producing. The ceremony is set to take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC), wrote in a statement that Campbell was the perfect person for the award.
“We cannot think of a more deserving recipient than iconic Londoner Naomi Campbell; she has achieved exceptional work in the industry. Naomi represents female empowerment, activism, and glamour, and her voice is used for great impact,” Rush said. In celebration,
Campbell took to Instagram to share her blessing. “After 30+ years of working in the fashion industry and learning it from all different perspectives, to traveling the world and finding my life’s purpose in activism, it is so special for me to be back in London to receive such an incredible acknowledgment for my life’s work. Thank you to every single person who has been a part of my journey since day one.”
