Naomi Campbell Accused of Mishandling Charity Funds: Fashion for Relief Controversy

Naomi Campbell, the iconic supermodel known for her fierce runway walks, is making headlines once again, but this time it’s not for her fashion prowess. The British Charity Commission has accused Campbell of mishandling funds within her nonprofit organization, Fashion for Relief.

Founded in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, Fashion for Relief became a nonprofit in 2015 with the goal of raising money for various humanitarian and environmental causes. However, a recent report released by the Charity Commission alleges that Campbell and other trustees used their positions to pay for extravagant expenses such as expensive flights, lavish hotel stays, and even cigarettes.

The investigation found that only 8.5% of the charity’s overall expenditure went towards charitable grants between April 2016 and July 2022. Additionally, the trustees failed to manage partnership arrangements with other organizations, leading to further scrutiny.

As a result of these findings, Campbell has been banned from leading any charitable organization in England and Wales for five years. Co-trustees Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou have also been banned from serving as trustees for nine and four years, respectively. Fashion for Relief has since been dissolved.

In response to the allegations, Campbell stated that she was not in control of the charity and had entrusted its management to a legal employer. She emphasized that all funds raised by the organization went towards charitable causes.

Despite her charitable work being called into question, Campbell remains a prominent figure in the fashion industry and was recently named a knight in France’s Order of Arts and Letters. The investigation into Fashion for Relief’s financial management continues as Campbell seeks to clear her name.