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Naomi Campbell: Details of London exhibition unveiled

V&A Museum Ms Campbell stands next to her outfits in a design room - with her pink met Gala outfit on the left and a car-inspired metal and plastic corset on the rightV&A Museum
NAOMI: In Fashion will take visitors from Naomi's south London beginnings through her 40-year career

Details of a Naomi Campbell exhibition have been unveiled by the V&A museum.

NAOMI: In Fashion will take visitors on a journey from the supermodel's south London beginnings through her 40-year career in fashion.

More than 100 outfits will be displayed including a Thierry Mugler car-inspired corset, a pink Valentino Met Gala outfit and some Vivienne Westwood platforms.

Campbell said she was "honoured" to share "my life in clothes".

The museum said the "first-of-its-kind exhibition" had been developed with the model's creative input and oversight.

Jeff Spicer/Getty Images Naomi Campbell walking the catwalk next to Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Linda EvangelistaJeff Spicer/Getty Images
The exhibition comes after a TV documentary focusing on Naomi Campbell's role as a supermodel

Campbell was among the very first people known as a "supermodel" - a model who has become an international celebrity - alongside her peers Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and, later, Claudia Schiffer.

Campbell's characteristic and unique walk will be the inspiration for the event's opening scenes, followed by her childhood in the capital and stage aspirations before she was spotted by a modelling scout and quickly rose to fame.

V&A Museum handout A black and white image of a young Naomi Campbell with long hair in a white dress and patterned shirtV&A Museum handout
Campbell entered the world of modelling after she was approached aged 15 by a scout while shopping with friends

As well as dozens of clothes and accessories, some of her earliest cover shoots will be on show too, including her Vogue Paris cover from August 1988 when she became the first black model on the front of the coveted title.

Memorable moments from Campbell's time on the catwalk will also feature, such as her famous stumble in towering blue Vivienne Westwood platforms in 1993 - which the museum says will be reunited with the rest of the outfit "for the first time".

V&A Museum Naomi Campbell alongside a range of designs including a striped coat, crystal embellished gown, striped dress, Hugo Boss suit and blue platform shoesV&A Museum
The museum said the blue shoes, right, helped cement Campbell's fame after her famous catwalk fall

There will also be glimpses of more difficult periods in the model's life including her court case, and the Dolce & Gabbana gown she wore on her final day of community service.

As one of a handful of supermodels, Campbell became so prominent in the 1990s that she and her peers launched their own international restaurant chain in 1995, The Fashion Cafe, which had a branch in Leicester Square.

Dave Benett/Getty Images Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell and Christy TurlingtonDave Benett/Getty Images
Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington at the opening party for the The Fashion Cafe

Members of the public will be also be able to explore the model's campaigning work and relationship with mentors like Nelson Mandela, and her time living with designer Azzedine Alaïa, whom she knew as "Papa".

The Azzedine Alaïa Foundation A vintage Azzedine Alaïa white bandage dressThe Azzedine Alaïa Foundation
Azzedine Alaïa's fitted clothes were said to have been inspired by what he said was Campbell's "perfect body"

Sonnet Stanfill, senior curator at the V&A, said Campbell "is recognised worldwide as a supermodel, activist, philanthropist and creative collaborator, making her one of the most prolific and influential figures in contemporary culture".

"We're delighted to be working with Naomi Campbell on this project and to celebrate her career with our audiences," she added.

The show runs at the V&A Museum in South Kensington from 22 June to April 2025.

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