It’s not been an easy year for Naomi Campbell. After confronting her narcotics problem and deciding to do something about it, the 32-year-old supermodel found photos of herself leaving a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting splashed across the front pages of a British tabloid.
Despite winning the ensuing libel case against The Mirror, Naomi feels her image suffered. “It was like I was made to feel ashamed,” she tells The Daily Telegraph in her first interview since the ruling, “when I was actually doing something good (attending NA). It was a negative part of my life that I wanted to correct. I didn’t expect to win (the court case), but it wasn’t about winning – it was about the principle.”
Discussing that negative aspect of her life, Naomi says, “It’s just about getting through today. I don’t know about tomorrow. I can’t promise that I won’t touch drugs again.”
In the very frank Telegraph interview, Naomi, who’s been at the top of the business since she was 16, points out that being a celebrity nowadays means being seen as a role model. “It puts you on a pedestal when you didn’t ask to be,” she explains. “That’s one of the things I feel down about. I feel people are pointing fingers at me.”
Others have agreed that maybe it’s time to concentrate on what her actual job is, rather than on the surrounding details. “Sometimes, with all the media attention, you forget how amazing she is at her job,” says Karl Lagerfeld. “It’s like, ‘see Naomi Campbell model and die!’ People forget that’s why she is who she is…it’s not for her rock star boyfriends, it’s because she’s the best catwalk model in the world.”
And with regard to ex-boyfriends – a traditionally colourful area of her life - she seems to have not a bad word to say. “I’m friends with all my ex-boyfriends. They’re part of your life; they know you so well.” Despite rumours of a bitter separation from her most recent ex, 51-year-old Italian industrialist Flavio Briatore, she has nothing but praise, “Flavio’s been really supportive. I have a lot to thank him for,” she states.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
