Naomi Campbell has reportedly been named as one of 40 “fierce and fabulous” black women who are changing the world – despite recently being accused of allegedly accepting a “blood diamond” from former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor.
And, ironically, the supermodel shares her place on the list with the current leader of Liberia – President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Both women appear in the 40th anniversary issue of Essence, a US magazine aimed at African-American women.
They appear on a list celebrating 40 “fierce and fabulous” women that includes First Lady Michelle Obama, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, writer-poet Maya Angelou, singer Beyonce and Wimbledon champ Serena Williams.
Essence celebrates Campbell’s achievements on and off the catwalk, saying: “She’s clocked 25 years in fashion, with the meanest catwalk of them all… she has changed what it means to be a supermodel.
“Her foundation, Fashion for Relief, raised $1m for victims of Hurricane Katrina and, earlier this year, brought in more than $1m to benefit Haiti.”
The magazine quotes the 40-year-old model, who appears on the cover of the magazine’s anniversary issue, as saying: “When there is a crisis, we have to do something.”
Former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor is accused of war crimes and of allegedly trading uncut “blood” diamonds with rebels in Sierra Leone during its 1992 to 2002 civil war.
But the supermodel testified at the UN-backed trial against Taylor, in The Hague, that she did not initially know the “dirty-looking pebbles” were diamonds or that they were supposedly a gift from Taylor.
Source: Splash News