Naomi Campbell says she was banned from a French hotel ‘because of the color of my skin’

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has alleged that she was banned from a French hotel because she is black. In a recent issue of  Paris Match , ...

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has alleged that she was banned from a French hotel because she is black.

In a recent issue of Paris Match, when asked about her diverse legacy in the modeling world — Campbell was one of few black women to become a household name in the 1990s — she shared a personal experience (translated from French).

“The word ‘diversity’ is everywhere today, but it did not exist when I started. I have always wanted people to be treated fairly. Do not believe that it goes without saying,” she told the outlet. “The challenge is permanent.”

Campbell said she was recently “in a city in the south of France” during the Cannes Film Festival, when she tried to enter a hotel at which she was working an event.

Refusing to name the hotel, the icon added that a host did not allow her and friend to enter “because of the color of my skin.”

She said, “The guy at the entrance pretended that the place was complete. But he let other people pass. It is for these kind of shocking moments that I will continue to express myself and make myself heard.” 

Campbell says discrimination in her industry is very real, telling British Vogue in April that her ads are not used in “a certain country” due to “the color of my skin.”

“It’s still not balanced completely. I’m the face of a new campaign and I was told that because of the color of my skin a certain country would not use my picture,” Campbell told the magazine. “For me it was a reality check. I never believe in the hype, so it just kept things in perspective for me. Now I would like to know that models [of color] get the same opportunities and fees in advertising.”

Campbell additionally revealed that fellow supermodels Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista risked their reputations to pressure designers to hire her for their runway shows.

Although Campbell can take credit for many “firsts” — she was the first black model to cover French Vogue at the age of 18 — only recently, did she score her first beauty campaign. In December, Campbell was named the new face of NARS for Spring 2019.