Image courtesy of Hyku D Photography
“I’m sorry, I get emotional about it, I do, but you have been really supportive of diversity since you started. I noticed that,” said Naomi Campbell speaking to Vogue Arabia editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut. The supermodel opened up to Arnaut while on stage at the launch of Vogue Loves Fashion Avenue event in 2018, celebrating The Dubai Mall’s 10-year anniversary.
The former Vogue Arabia cover star hinted that her talk would be authentic and straightforward, a mirror of herself. However, when the subject of Azzedine Alaïa was broached, Campbell revealed a vulnerable side, and the grief of a daughter mourning the loss of her father. “Yes, this is my papa that died one year ago on Sunday and this is the man that raised me when I was 15 years old and up until last year…” the supermodel said, looking up at a picture of the late Tunisian couturier. Voice breaking, she continued, “I have so much respect for him. For me, he was the most unique designer in the world. He was very non-judgemental. He was a perfectionist and he did his own shows on his own time.”
Discovered at 14 years old while at theater school, Campbell is one of the most powerful voices in fashion. Her charity work is unparalleled in the industry. During her talk with Arnaut she discussed her initiative Fashion for Relief, her work with Save the Children, which involved visiting refugee camps in Jordan, and her 25-plus years at amFAR, along with funding various orphanages through Africa.
See the full live stream below.
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