Would you believe that supermodel Naomi Campbell has never had a beauty contract until now? It sounds unbelievable given that she has reigned supreme over magazine covers and runways for nearly 30 years, but—somehow—it’s true.
Thankfully, this egregious situation has been rectified as Campbell has just been named the new face of Nars Cosmetics for its spring 2019 campaign. “Naomi is a living icon and brings such strong personality to the camera,” says François Nars, the company’s founder who also photographed Campbell for the brand. “She and I are like family. I have known her since the very beginning of her career. From the start, I have admired her, her beauty, and her style.”
“Very excited to be the new face of NARS Cosmetics Shot by my dear friend François Nars,” Campbell wrote announcing the news to her 6.1 million Instagram followers.
It’s rather mind-boggling that at 48, Campbell is still experiencing “firsts” in her illustrious career. Of course, she is one of the original supermodels who rose to international superstardom in the eighties and nineties. And she’s been breaking barriers ever since. In 1988 she was the first black woman to appear on the cover of French Vogue, and in 1989 she was the first black model to grace American Vogue’s coveted September issue.
Campbell has also long been a voice for diversity and inclusion in the fashion and beauty worlds. And the fact that she’s only now getting her first beauty campaign in 2018 is evidence that more work is necessary.