Campbell has, of late, reinvented herself as an elder stateswoman of fashion—a veteran of the industry who has seen it through decades of trends and transformations and has outlasted them all. Her outspoken style has made her a living oral history of the fashion industry, carrying institutional memories that reveal themselves in important, poignant snippets.

This insight and experience is probably why the new British Vogue editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, appointed her a contributing editor of his revamped, diverse version of the magazine. Campbell caused a stir by calling out former editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman for the lack of diversity on the magazine’s masthead under her leadership.

’90s supermodels Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen reunited on the catwalk at the Versace Spring/Summer 2018 show in Milan, Italy.
’90s supermodels Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen reunited on the catwalk at the Versace Spring/Summer 2018 show in Milan, Italy.
Image: REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

Campbell has never settled for conventionality. Out of the six original 1990s supermodels who don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day, Campbell is the only one who never married or had children. She has, however, mentored and supported the careers of many young models, including 21-year-old Bella Hadid, 23-year-old Winnie Harlow, and 25-year-old Adwoa Aboah, who graces the cover of Enninful’s inaugural British Vogue. Much as she looked up to Alaïa, her adopted “papa,” Campbell has emerged as a sort of godmother to this young and multiracial fashion pack.

And Campbell’s loyalty to Alaïa never wavered: She even wore a cream-colored Alaïa dress and cardigan on the witness stand at The Hague. Perhaps that is Campbell’s most constant quality, and the quality that has kept her career going throughout the decades—her loyalty.

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