Naomi Campbell says racial diversity is 'not a trend' as she wins Fashion Icon award

'To see more than one woman of colour on magazine cover is a big deal but it really shouldn’t be'

Naomi Campbell has spoken about racial diversity in the fashion industry after being unveiled as the recipient of the British Fashion Council’s (BFC) 2019 Fashion Icon award.

Following the announcement, Campbell spoke about the complexities of the fashion industry during an interview with BBC Newsnight, touching on everything from racial diversity to ageism and #MeToo.

On the topic of diversity, Campbell praised the industry for the progress it has made but claimed it did not go far enough.

“To see more than one woman of colour on magazine cover is a big deal but it really shouldn’t be," Campbell said. "It’s not a trend."

The supermodel also made reference to the lack of racial representation at British Vogue during former editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman’s reign.

In 2017, Campbell uploaded a photograph taken from inside the magazine’s September issue which featured a photograph of the editorial team, all of whom appeared to be white.

“She needs to look at that picture and see that it’s clearly not diverse,” Campbell said during the interview. “A child could see that.”

This isn’t the first time Campbell has addressed the issue of racial diversity in the fashion industry.

In 2013, Campbell launched the Diversity Coalition campaign, with the aim of addressing racism in fashion, and went on to headline the Forbes Woman Africa’s Leading Women Summit earlier this year.

The 49-year-old made history when she became the first black British model to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 1987 and the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue the following year.

Campbell has since graced 66 Vogue covers worldwide, walked for some of the world’s best fashion designers and starred in a number of advertising campaigns for luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.

The Fashion Icon award is one of the Special Recognition accolades from the council that celebrates outstanding contributions to the fashion industry. Previous recipients include Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace, who was presented with the award in 2017.

Campbell will be recognised “for her incredible contribution to the fashion industry, her world-renowned career as a supermodel, as well as her philanthropist work with charities and incredible efforts for a more diverse and equal future, especially in Africa,” the BFC said in a statement.

The BFC chief executive, Caroline Rush, said she could not think of a more deserving recipient, and praised Campbell for representing female empowerment.

"We cannot think of a more deserving recipient than iconic Londoner Naomi Campbell, she has achieved exceptional work in the industry," Rush said.

"Naomi represents female empowerment, activism and glamour and her voice is used for great impact.

"We are thrilled to present the Fashion Icon award to Naomi and acknowledge her for her remarkable contribution to the global fashion industry, and we look forward to celebrating with her in London in December."

Over the years, Campbell has also become well known for her charitable work.

In 2005, Campbell launched Fashion for Relief, a charity merging fashion and philanthropy by organising a catwalk and event every year for a new global cause,

This year, Fashion for Relief will return to London, where it first started, with a catwalk during London Fashion Week in September.

Campbell will receive the Fashion Icon award at the British Fashion Awards, which are scheduled to take place on 2 December at the Royal Albert Hall.