Naomi Campbell Barred from Charity Trustee Role for Mismanagement

British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been banned from serving as a charity trustee in England and Wales for five years after her charity, “Fashion for Relief,” was found to have been poorly managed and financially mismanaged. The Charity Commission, which oversees charities in the region, conducted a three-year investigation and discovered multiple instances of misconduct and mismanagement within the organization.

The commission revealed that only 8.5% of the charity’s expenditure went towards charitable grants over a six-year period, with funds being used for luxury expenses such as a hotel stay in Cannes, spa treatments, room service, and even cigarettes for Campbell. The trustees, including Campbell, failed to provide evidence to justify these expenses, leading to their disqualification from serving as trustees.

Campbell expressed concern over the findings and stated that an investigation on her part was underway. She emphasized that all funds raised by the charity were intended for charitable purposes and that she was not directly involved in the financial management of the organization.

In addition to Campbell, fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich received unauthorized funds for consultancy services, while trustee Veronica Chou was also found to have breached the charity’s constitution. Both trustees have been disqualified for several years.

The charity, which was founded in 2005 to support disaster relief efforts and advance health and education, has since been dissolved. The commission has recovered a significant amount of funds and redirected them to other charitable organizations, ensuring that the money is used for its intended purpose. Despite the controversy surrounding “Fashion for Relief,” Campbell’s contributions to the fashion industry and charitable causes have been recognized, with her recent knighthood in France’s Order of Arts and Letters.