British Black Beauty

Background:

The first black supermodel to appear on the cover of French and British Vogue, as well as Time magazine, Naomi Campbell has dominated the fashion scene since age 27. Breathtaking and exceptional, Naomi has decorated the most prestigious catwalks, fashion magazine covers, media headlines and established herself as a worldwide celebrity.

British beauty Naomi has been romantically linked to high-profile names like British aristocrat Damian Aspinall, Mike Tyson, Robert De Niro, nightclub owner Robert Goode, Luca Orlandini, F1 boss Flavio Briatore, Sylvester Stallone, Eric Clapton, Adam Clayton, Joaquin Cortés and male model Enrique Palacio. Most recent was her fling with Grammy winner hip-hop singer Usher. After three months the couple ended the relationship because she thought he got more media hype on their relationship than she did. Other sources claimed Usher dumped her because he became "bored."

Naomi's life seems to be a non-stop soap opera. Her ex personal assistant Rebecca White recently told British TV that Naomi did a lesbian kiss with Kate Moss at a charity fashion show hosted by Nelson Mandela in Barcelona, Spain on June 2001. Naomi also drew attention by confessing that she was addicted to drugs and was joining Narcotics Anonymous then objected to the media coverage stating it was an invasion to her privacy.

On a more positive side, Naomi donated the profit of her book sales to the Red Cross Somalia Relief Fund and recently joined the Dalai Lama foundation to construct kindergartens for international deprived societies through UNESCO.

Blending Cultures

Childhood and Family:

In Stratham, South London, England, Naomi Campbell was born on May 22, 1970. Since childhood the Jamaican-Chinese beauty had a special interest in acting. Naomi attended the Italia Conti Stage School and the London Academy For Performing Arts.

Breaking Boundaries

Career:

"I'd love to have Naomi's body. She has the most extraordinary body." Rupert Everett

Fifteen-year-old Naomi was spotted while window-shopping in London's Covent Garden by ex head of Synchro, Beth Bold, and her career took flight. After her pose on Elle's cover in April 1986, Naomi broke fashion terrain in August 1988 by being the first black model to pose for the French Vogue cover. Soon she was working for big guns Ralph Lauren, Francois Nars, Lee Jeans, Olympus, Jazz and Versace.

Her presence was so electrifying that she also appeared in several music videos including Michael Jackson's In The Closet and a video for Aretha Franklin and George Michael. She even tried her hand singing and debuted with her 1995 album Babywoman, released by Epic Records. Her single La, La, La Love Song, collaboration with Japanese singer Toshi, hit the charts at No. 1 in Japan.

Already modeling and singing, Naomi would later add acting to her fame. Her first movie picture appearance was in Spike Lee's Girl Six (1996), in which she costarred with Madonna and Theresa Randle. She also played a part in An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn

Naomi is credited with several other films including Miami Rhapsody (Antonio Banderas, Sarah Jessica Parker and Mia Farrow) as well as Tony Hickox's Invasion of Privacy. As for TV Naomi has appeared in TV series like NY Undercover and Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Swan is a novel co-authored by Naomi that was published in 1995 by Heinemann/Mandarin. Later she would add the book Naomi, which contains some of her best photo collections from her career and features work from such leading photographers as Herb Ritts, Steven Meisel, Richard Avedon, Ellen Von Unwerth, and Peter Lindbergh.

"The worst was when my skirt fell down to my ankles -- but I had on thick tights underneath." Naomi Campbell on a bad moment in modeling.

Awards:

• People: 50 Most Beautiful People in The World, 1991
  
• Cool Britannia: Most Influential Denizen, 1998