Naomi Campbell Throws Subtle Shade at Anna Wintour as Supermodel Arrives Late to Accept Style Award
Naomi Campbell and Anna Wintour have had a complex relationship over the years. There isn’t clear evidence of an ongoing “beef” between the style icons, but their interactions often hint at tension. Campbell and Wintour generally remain respectful of each other in public, as they often cross paths at entertainment and fashion events. However, things took a turn at yesterday’s Fashion Show and Style Awards hosted by Harlem’s Fashion Row.
The 17th annual event occurred at General Grant National Memorial in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of NYC’s Upper Manhattan. Many A-list industry leaders, like Zac Posen, Karla Welch, and Willy Chavarria, cross paths at the Fashion Show and Style Awards, which kick off New York Fashion Week. This year, Harlem’s Fashion Row, an agency that connects brands and designers of color, aptly titled the event “Night of Legends.”
The award ceremony presented Harper’s Bazaar Editor-in-Chief Samira Nasr with the Editor of the Year Award. Nasr’s longtime friend, Tracee Ellis Ross, introduced Nasr. She defined the role of editor-in-chief as celebrating the “culture that shapes it… to be a record of our time.” Stylish celebrities Lena Waithe and Teyana Taylor also made appearances on stage. But the spotlight shined brightest when Naomi Campbell finally appeared.
The supermodel arrived at the ceremony’s end. Although Anna Wintour had announced her Icon of the Year Award earlier, the 54-year-old wasn’t able to make it until later. Wintour notably left immediately after she presented the award to the absent Campbell, leaving room for the supermodel to throw a bit of subtle shade.
As Campbell stood in front of the large audience, reports Fashionista, she stated that everything worked out as it was meant to. She stated that she preferred [Nasr] to present her award compared to the “other lady,” meaning Wintour.
“As I reflect on my career, I’m reminded of the many shoulders I’ve stood on, the trailblazers who paved the way for a young Black girl like me,” Campbell explained. “I’m eternally grateful for these trailblazers before me … I don’t see it as a culmination. Rather, I see it as a call to action. Yes, our industry has made strides, but we still have a long way to go.”
Where did the snark come from? Well, Campbell’s fans know she’s never one to back down from a slight. Wintour has played a major role in the mother of two’s enduring modeling career, likely for better and worse. The Vogue Editor-in-Chief has collaborated with Campbell many times. The model has also mentioned her frustration with the fashion industry’s treatment of Black models.
Any perceived shade or tension might stem from these underlying dynamics. But neither Campbell nor Wintour has publicly stated that they have any direct conflict. With Wintour’s early absence at Harlem Row’s Fashion Awards, she may have never heard about the slight anyway. (But, considering the fashion world, something makes us think she will.)
