Naomi Campbell: Diversity in fashion has improved

OHMYGOSSIP — Naomi Campbell has praised designers Giorgio Armani and Jil Sander for employing more women of colour since she called for an end to “racist” acts in the industry. Naomi Campbell has noticed a “huge change” in the use of ethnic models.

The supermodel is delighted designers have taken note of her work with the Diversity Coalition – speaking out against the “racist act” of not hiring enough black and Asian girls – and has already seen a marked improvement over the first few days of the international spring/summer 2014 shows.

Speaking at the launch of Sky Living HD’s new modelling show, ‘The Face’, Naomi declared: “In the past 10 days there’s been a huge change on balance diversity. When I say huge – from New York to London, Milan, and now Paris has started – for instance, Giorgio Armani had a woman of colour open his show and had four women of colour in his show, which has not ever happened that I can remember.

“Jil Sander [did too]. I’m saying names because we’re very proud and happy.”

The statuesque star and her fellow campaigners Iman and Bethann Hardison hope the change will be a long-term solution rather than a temporary trend.

Naomi explained: “What we don’t want in balance diversity is that it becomes a trend. We don’t want a trend, we want if you’re beautiful, if you’re the right aesthetics, that you have the opportunity to go up for a job you’re chosen like anyone else.

“I hope it’s not in the situation now where everyone is running out to grab a model of colour or an Asian model because we’re raising our voices. We’re hoping its going to stay that way. And we’ll keep raising our voices until it does. It’s a long-term goal.”

Naomi was joined by her fellow mentors Caroline Winberg and Erin O’Connor for the special screening of ‘The Face’ and Q&A at the Royal Opera House in London.

‘The Face’ debuts on Monday 30 September at 9pm on Sky Living HD.