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Naomi Campbell has said “the time has come to collectively call the fashion world to task regarding inequality” in a speech she delivered at the opening of Paris couture fashion week.
On Monday 6 July, opening the event, Campbell appeared via video link from her home in the US, wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “phenomenally black”. The annual event has gone digital for the first time in 2020, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 50-year-old delivered a two minute speech, which has since been posted on the Instagram account of FHCM ( Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode), the organisers of Paris fashion week.
In her address, Campbell discussed the recent growth in the Black Lives Matter movement and the increasing protests around the world in the wake of George Floyd’s death. She said: “The fight for diversity and for equality has been a long journey in society and in the fashion industry.
“Today, in 2020, we still have a long way to go and the time has come to collectively call the fashion world to task regarding inequality in our work spaces and in our industry.”
The supermodel added that the conversation is “starting now and will last as long as is needed”.
“It is up to us, it is up to you to start enforcing inclusion of the multitude of identities that compose our countries,” she continued.
“The time has come to build a more equitable industry with a good form of cheques and balances. It is now more than ever compulsory to include them in a permanent way and not a transient one.
“It is time to have regular and sustainable conversations with minorities of each country and culture, who are already invisible actors of this mega industry.”
Campbell has recently spoken out about being a victim of racism in the fashion industry: including one incident when she appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia .
Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UKShow all 79 1 /79Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A girl wears a face mask during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People are seen by a mural of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, Stevenson Square, Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Children pose for their family in front of discarded placards fixed on a wall in Piccadilly Gardens after a Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People shout slogans during a Black Lives Matter rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator holds up a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator gestures during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A mounted police officer raises their baton as police horses ride along Whitehall, past the entrance to Downing Street, in an attempt to disperse protestors gathered in central London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally march on Vauxhall Bridge Road, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold up signs as they march along a road during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Children pose for a photo during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators hold placards as they attend a protest march to the US Embassy in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters demonstrate near the the US Embassy in Nine Elms in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator is seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators are seen as police officers look on during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators are seen wth police liaison officers during a Black Lives Matter protest in Luton
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protest at Parliament Square in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators wearing protective face masks and face coverings hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators block traffic outside Victoria Station
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Police on horseback in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators throw flares above a police line during a Black Lives Matter march in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People climbing on top of the Queen Victoria Statue as they take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators raise their hands facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People are seen placing placards on a fence in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator is seen with a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A sign alternatively naming Wilson Street 'Rosa Parks Street' in Glasgow. Activists have put up names of black people and civil rights activists throughout history alongside street names around the Scottish centre as part of the ongoing worldwide demonstrations following the death of George Floyd
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Boxer Anthony Joshua is seen with demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators kneel facing police officers after scuffles during a Black Lives Matter march in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators lay on the pavement during a Black Lives Matter rally at Trafalgar Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protester stands on bus stop and raises their hand during a Black Lives Matter protest at Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters holding placards gather in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A man gestures during a Black Lives Matter march in in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Girls hold placards in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator wearing a protective face mask during a Black Lives Matter protest in Leicester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protest placard is affixed to the plinth of a statue of the Duke of Wellington on the second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Deansgate, Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators stage a Black Lives Matter Protest in Leicester city centre
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator points towards a mounted police officer laying in the road after being unseated from their horse, during a demonstration on Whitehall, near the entrance to Downing Street
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A 'Black Lives Matter' (BLM) protest at Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters in Whitehall following a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protests at Parliament Square in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator holds a placard during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators hold placards during a Black Lives Matter protest in Watford
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold placards as they march through central London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters kneel as they hold placards during a demonstration in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A mother and son hold up a sign during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protest march in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators are seen standing on top of a bus stop wearing protective face masks and face coverings as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest in Manchester are seen by a mural of George Floyd
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Parliament Square, London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A demonstrator is seen wearing a protective face mask as the Black Lives Matter protesters march to the Home Office in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protest in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Demonstrators with a flare are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest near Downing street in London
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold up signs during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march in Aylesbury
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A protester raises his arm during a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Bute Park, Cardiff
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Placards are seen during a Black Lives Matter protest in Parliament Square
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Manchester Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters holding placards gather at the Queen Victoria monument for a second day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Piccadilly Gardens
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK Protesters hold placards as they attend a demonstration in Manchester
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Black Lives Matter protesters gather across the UK A woman kneels during a Black Lives Matter rally in London
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Speaking on BBC’s Women’s Hour on 18 June, Campbell said she arrived at the shoot and was told by the makeup artist he did not have any foundation in her skin tone because they “didn’t know she was black”.
“He said he didn’t have the foundation for me,” the model continued. “He had to mix some colours that he had of foundations to make up own colour, and that consisted of a lot of grey."
Campbell explained that seeing the result on the cover of the magazine made her cry. “When that cover came out, I just cried,” she said on the programme.
“I wanted so much to be on the cover of this publication so much... it was Italian Vogue actually. But I didn’t want to be grey.”
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