Tyra Banks recalls ‘evil and awful’ conflict with Naomi Campbell in early career

'She was reacting to an industry that was all about a token'

(Rex Features)

Tyra Banks has spoken out about her rift with Naomi Campbell in her early career, recalling how the British model “was doing everything in her power to make [her] go away”.

The 45-year-old model-turned-entrepreneur told The Wall Street Journal that while she wouldn’t refer to Campbell as a rival, the then-established supermodel made Banks feel unwelcome when she first entered the fashion industry.

“It wasn’t a rivalry,” Banks clarified. “I’m very sensitive to that word because a rivalry is between two equals to me whereas one was very dominant, she was a supermodel, and I was just this new girl that had got on a plane from Paris and was studying fashion and magazines.”

Banks went on to explain how, despite her fledgling career, she experienced “very painful early days in Paris” due to Campbell.

“As much as I was booking fashion shows, people didn’t know I was going home at night crying my eyes out because the woman I was looking up to seemed like she just didn’t want me to be there and was doing everything in her power to make me go away,” she said.

Banks explained she didn’t understand Campbell’s behaviour at the time and recalled thinking: “this is so evil, this is so awful”. But looking back on it as an adult, the former America’s Next Top Model host explained she understands that Campbell “was reacting to an industry that was all about a token”.

Banks used examples of successful white models to illustrate her point, explaining that nobody pitted Kate Moss against Christy Turlington when she first emerged on the modelling scene. Likewise with Shalom Harlow and Linda Evangelista, “they weren’t like, look out, another brunette is on the loose,” Banks said.

“But when I came on the scene, ‘Naomi, look out. There’s a black girl that’s going to take your spot’.”

Interviewer Lee Hawkins replied: “Because there’s only one spot available,” to which Banks concurred: “Only one spot available”.

In 2013, Campbell praised Banks in an interview with ELLE, telling the publication: “I’m proud of her as a woman of colour. She’s given girls opportunity, and God bless her.”