Naomi Campbell Honoured at French Ministry of Culture Following Charity Scandal

British supermodel Naomi Campbell was honoured at the French Ministry of Culture for significant contributions to the arts and culture hours after the announcement of her five-year disqualification as a charity trustee.

Image Courtesy of Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP

The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a French order established in 1957, was designed to honour those distinguished by their services in the art, culture, and communications industries. Accepting the prestigious medallion at the event in Paris last week, the fashion icon and activist expressed her gratitude towards her supporters and collaborators within the industry, “To the mentors who have guided me, your confidence in me has been invaluable. To the designers, photographers, stylists, and hair and makeup artists who have brought visions to life, your artistry has shaped my career, and I’m profoundly grateful.”

Image Courtesy of Getty Images

Campbell concluded her speech by pledging to “champion diversity in the arts” in honour of the Order of Arts and Letters' legacy of representing creativity and encouraging recipients to “use their voices and spotlights.” 

The renowned Chevalier (Knight) medallion is awarded to up to 200 recipients annually. Recent honorees include French Designer Simon Porte Jacquemus and Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen for her multidisciplinary approach to exploring fashion’s relationship with science. 

Naomi Campbell, along with French politician and Minister of Culture Rachida Dati (Image Courtesy of Getty Images).

Campbell’s award comes as news broke out about the supermodel’s five-year ban from her charity trustee position following the uncovering of Fashion for Relief's mismanagement of funds. The organisation she founded's spending misconduct scandal involved charity funds being used to pay for Campbell’s five-star hotel stays, spa treatments, and cigarettes.

When asked about the accusations, the supermodel admitted to failures at her charity whilst swiftly denying having any prior knowledge of the misconduct, stating that she had delegated control over her charity to her legal team. 

Naomi Campbell walking for the annual Fashion for Relief charity event fashion show held at the British Museum in 2019 (Image Courtesy of Getty Images).

Established in 2015, Fashion For Relief claims to raise funds for health and education advancements by making grants to other charitable foundations and providing aid towards humanitarian disasters. The organisation is under investigation following the mismanagement findings of an inquiry published by the Charity Commission. The non-ministerial department, which regulates charities in England and Wales, opened an investigation into Fashion for Relief in 2021.

Despite the scandal, Campbell accepted the honour in stride, a testament to the supermodel’s unwavering force that has characterised her unparalleled 40-year career as a fashion icon.