Her name is synonymous with beauty, style and running late.
And when THE Supermodel that is Naomi Campbell arrived for our interview she didn’t disappoint in all three categories.
My crew were told to set up for 1pm for a 2.45pm interview, she entered the ballroom at the Dorchester at 5.45pm.
In the moments before her arrival her team made several visits to inquire if we were ready as she was definitely on her way.
Then suddenly the gilded mirrored double doors swung open and in she sauntered.
Campbell was a little preoccupied on her phone as her attendants in waiting preened, polished and perfected her look but as soon as the camera started rolling she enthused about her groundbreaking exhibition at the V&A entitled NAOMI: In Fashion.
Image: A young Campbell on the runway
Image: Inside the supermodel’s upcoming exhibition
Image: Campbell is launching an exhibition at the V&A Museum reflecting on her career as a supermodel
It’s the first of its kind and explores her 40-year career as a fashion model, her cultural icon status and the fact that four decades on she is still a highly sought-after working model.
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Campbell tells me it’s an honour to be the sole subject of the exhibition, that she is totally in awe and feels very blessed.
She follows in the footsteps of David Bowie, Frida Kahlo and Kylie, who have also had solo exhibitions at the London museum.
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The 54-year-old’s hope is that through the clothes that she’s worn, the designers she’s collaborated with, the photos that have been taken and the activism she’s displayed, visitors to the exhibition will come to understand her as a person, in her own words.
She says she wants people “to see the workmanship, the creatives that I got to work with after these four decades, and the story, the narrative and to understand me as a person more, coming from me”.
“You know I never normally do that. I’m going to show things that I’ve never shown,” she adds.
Image: Campbell’s new museum exhibition is a journey through her esteemed career as a model
Image: Campbell is known to have worn a number of iconic outfits down the runway
The collection will comprise of pieces taken from different points in her career. It will include around 100 looks from the best of global high fashion including the pair of staggeringly high Vivienne Westwood platform shoes which she famously fell in while walking the catwalk in 1993.
“You know what? God bless her. May she rest in peace. I love Vivienne Westwood. Loved her, loved her, loved her,” Campbell says, remembering the designer behind the iconic shoes.
“She was a woman of integrity and did not suffer fools. And she kept her dignity to the very end in terms of staying true to who she was.
“And I loved her for it. Those were her signature shoes and if you didn’t know how to walk in them, then learn.
“That was a lesson to me, never rest on your laurels Naomi. Just because you can walk in other heels it doesn’t mean you can walk in those.
“I thought I could and I learned the hard way, I couldn’t, and I went down.”
Image: The famous Vivienne Westwood heels that Campbell fell in
The fall, far from blighting her career actually added to her star factor because of the way she handled it, giggling on the floor of the catwalk.
In her time she’s had to negotiate far greater challenges than foot-high heels.
She was the first black woman to appear as a model on the covers of Time and Vogue France and has made it her mission to champion diversity in the fashion industry.
Campbell has openly spoken about racism and the challenges she has faced as a black woman.
“It’s like a way of life because you become conditioned in a way to know you have to deal with it to the point where you could pre-empt and kind of be pro-active to get it out of the way and I found that a lot of things I dealt with that way,” she says.
“I would see it coming so I was going to find a way to go around it, go over it, get through it.
“And that’s what I did.”
Image: Campbell walking a runway in Milan, Italy, in 2012. Pic: AP
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Campbell says that as long as she has anything to do with the fashion business she will stand up for diversity although she believes that recently it has taken a step back.
“We are in a different time where people feel they can come out and just say how they feel whether you like it or not.”
Image: Naomi Campbell spoke to Sky News about her upcoming V&A exhibition
On her longevity in an industry where many of her peers have long since hung up their heels, Campbell says she doesn’t know why she is still gliding down the world’s catwalks, but what she does know is that there was never a strategy.
“I got to be a part of this real big fantasy. Some people think that our industry is just not real, it’s very real and it is a billion-dollar business.”
The exhibition NAOMI: In Fashion runs until 6 April 2025 at the V&A.
Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick following two huge saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, after Alessia Russo scored an equaliser to send the game to a shootout.
Nowhere was the roar for the Lionesses louder than in the Astley and Tyldesley Miners Welfare club on the outskirts of Manchester.
The club where a five-year-old Ella Toone started her journey to England stardom, like so many places across the country, hosted nail-biting, table-thumping and, ultimately, deafening watch parties.
The roof almost came off the clubhouse when Chloe Kelly’s winning penalty went in.
Red bucket hats emblazoned with Toone’s now-famous ‘Buzzing My Head Off’ catchphrase were thrown in the air.
“Absolutely ecstatic,” said Lorraine Warwick-Ellis, who runs the pathway development for women and girls at the club.
“I was very nervous, very worried about penalties but we did it in the end.”
The success of the Lionesses has driven a huge boom in the popularity of women’s and girls football in recent years. She hopes this win will have a similar effect.
“I hope it cements the girls who are already here, keeps them engaged, and I hope it brings more girls down who want to be footballers and see that it’s open for everybody.”
It had been a pretty sombre watch for much of the game after Spain took the lead – but it erupted into life after Alessia Russo’s equaliser.
The shootout was the usual emotional rollercoaster but young fans seem to have greater faith in the Lionesses.
Among the jubilant teenagers celebrating in the clubhouse were two who have followed Toone’s path to academies at professional clubs.
“It’s unbelievable, they’re amazing, Chloe Kelly, I just don’t know what to say about her,” said Natasha Greenhouse. “We knew if it went to penalties that they’d do it.”
Tamsin Gallagher said: “They’ve done it the hard way all the way through the Euros but we all believed in them. Come on England.”
The party in Manchester and around the country and only just begun.
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16:49
‘I am so incredibly proud’
Prince William and Princess Charlotte, who were in attendance at St Jakob-Park in Basel, added on social media: “What a game!
“Lionesses, you are the champions of Europe and we couldn’t be prouder of the whole team. Enjoy this moment England.”
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In a post on the official Royal Family account on X, King Charles also sent his “most heartfelt congratulations on winning the Euros 2025” to the Lionesses.
“For more years than I care to remember, England fans have sung that famous chant ‘football’s coming home’,” he said.
“As you return home with the trophy you won at Wembley three years ago, it is a source of great pride that, through sporting skill and awesome teamwork, the Lionesses have made those words ring true.
“For this, you have my whole family’s warmest appreciation and admiration. More than that, though, you have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms.”
The monarch ended his statement by saying “the next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can!”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added: “What an absolutely extraordinary achievement by our Lionesses – once again they have made history and united the country with pride and joy.”
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said “well done” to the team and “what an absolutely fantastic watch,” while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “What an achievement. What a team!”
A man has died after suffering cardiac arrest onboard a boat attempting to reach the UK.
The vessel turned back towards Equihen beach on the French coast yesterday morning.
A nurse tried to resuscitate the man but was unsuccessful.
Image: Pic: PA
French authorities have now launched an investigation into the circumstances.
A spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, has criticised authorities on both sides of the Channel.
Jacob Burns said: “Yet again we have a tragedy in the Channel, that is the consequence of the deadly, costly and ineffective security policies implemented by the UK and France.”
Image: Pic: PA
Later on Saturday, a lifeboat carried migrants who have made the voyage into the Port of Dover.
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Photographs showed them huddled under blankets and orange life jackets on board.
“The opportunity of tomorrow and what’s on offer is the best thing in football,” the England captain said. “I think we don’t necessarily carry the weight of it and how much it means to people, but we’re aware of it because it means the same to us.”
So often they were only watching other nations making finals.
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England’s first was the men winning the 1966 World Cup.
Image: England manager Sarina Wiegman reacts to defeat against Spain at the Women’s World Cup final in 2023. Pic: Reuters
Image: Lauren James looks dejected after their World Cup defeat, but is confirmed fit for Sunday’s revenge match against Spain. Pic: Reuters
Now, in Basel, comes the chance for revenge against Spain – even though no one in the England camp is saying that, publicly at least, in Switzerland.
Especially knowing how challenging a task it is coming up again against Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putella – the recent winners of football’s biggest individual honours.
Image: England fans celebrating after England beat Italy to reach the finals. Pic: Reuters
Image: Given England’s history against Spain, it could be a nerve-wracking time for England fans. File pic: Action Images/Reuters
But this is Spain’s first Euros final.
And there is some fear from the world champions at England’s grit and resolve to produce comebacks late in the quarter-finals and semi-finals – with 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang’s goals integral to the fightbacks.
Image: England celebrate their semi-final win against Italy to reach the finals. Pic: Reuters
Image: Michelle Agyemang has propelled England to the Euro 2025 final with two vital goals. Pic: AP
Spain captain Irene Paredes reflected yesterday on how the Lionesses can flip a result late on.
But she was also discussing how their World Cup win was tarnished by the on-pitch kiss that led to former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales being convicted of a sexual assault on striker Jenni Hermoso.
It sparked a wider clamour in Spain for improved rights and respect for women.
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2:10
Spain’s players struggle for respect
“Since then [2023] we took big steps forward,” Paredes said.
“I think this idea is disappearing from society. I still believe we have to continue opening doors… we’re a reference for boys and girls in society, but we still have things to do.”
It is a reminder that while tonight is about collecting silverware, both England and Spain know that emerging as champions can drive further growth in women’s football back home.
Amid it all, they’ll try to savour just what reaching a final means and how rare they are – until recently for English and Spanish women.