Naomi Campbell Goes Topless for i-D , Works with 'Third Photographer of Color' in Her 'Whole Career'
Naomi Campbell Goes Topless for i-D, Works with 'Third Photographer of Color' in Her 'Whole Career'
"I felt proud, humbled and happy to be part of a shoot with young creatives that are all my skin color," the model said
Naomi Campbell is speaking out about the importance of representation in fashion.
As one of the cover stars for i-D magazine's Spring issue, the model, 50, discussed the opportunity to be part of a shoot with other "young creatives that are all my skin color."
Campbell, who posed topless for the magazine cover, revealed that even after so many years in the industry, it is "rare" for her to work with photographers of color.
"It's very rare that this has happened to me. Luis [Alberto Rodriguez] is the third photographer of color I've worked with in my whole career in fashion," she told the magazine.
LUIS ALBERTO RODRIGUEZ
LUIS ALBERTO RODRIGUEZ
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"It was just very real, very organic," she said of the shoot. "And I felt proud, humbled and happy to be part of a shoot with young creatives that are all my skin color, and that I'm getting to work with them after so many years of being in fashion industry."
The icon also opened up about the experience of shooting the spread at her home in Kenya.
Luis Alberto Rodriguez
"When you see these images, I hope you see that Kenya is beautiful, that Africa is beautiful," she said. "I think people now are going to really open their minds and start to understand that real beauty is in Africa.
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"There are so many gems, so many hidden secrets. I've been coming here since 1994 and I'm still discovering things," she added.
RELATED: Naomi Campbell Talks Tokenism in the Fashion Industry, Says 'It Needs to Change' from Top to Bottom
Campbell has previously opened up about tackling racial disparities in the modeling industry. While appearing remotely on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in July, she addressed Anna Wintour's statement to the staff at Vogue, amid the Black Lives Matter movement, about the publication's failure to elevate diverse voices.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Campbell said on WWHL that she is looking forward to the change happening in the fashion industry. "I think things are about to change, don't you?" she asked. "Things are about to change."
"Everyone used to think that you liked being the token Black person in the room," Campbell added of her own experience. "It's absolutely the opposite. I never did."
"It needs to change from the board room to the seat. It needs to go right from the top through," she added. "I've been saying this for years, and so I'm truly grateful and happy finally this is happening."
The Spring issue of i-D hits newsstands on Feb. 25.
