Naomi Campbell feels “too old” for the Met Gala. The iconic fashion event draws the biggest names in entertainment and fashion each year.
The 54-year-old supermodel won’t be attending the annual New York fashion extravaganza next month but she is no longer able to deal with the “anxiety” it brings. Campbell has been a fixture at the prestigious event for over two decades, making her one of its most recognizable attendees.
In a new installment of her YouTube series ‘Being Naomi’, the star showed off a behind-the-scenes of preparing for last year’s gala, including the fittings for her turquoise Burberry gown. The YouTube series has garnered significant attention since its launch, offering fans glimpses into Campbell’s life and career.
“This is my last Met. It is my last. I can’t… I’m too old. It’s too much for me, the anxiety,” she admitted. “I don’t know what number this is, I think it could be either 20 or 21, can you imagine.” Campbell’s history with the Met Gala dates back many years, establishing her as one of the event’s most enduring presences.
Each year, the Met Gala – which is co-chaired by Vogue’s Anna Wintour and a panel of other famous faces – has a theme for guests to center their outfits around, with 2024’s being ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ and this year’s being ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’. The gala serves as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
However, Naomi admitted she never pays attention to the topic in question. Fashion observers note that Campbell has consistently brought her own unique style to the event regardless of theme.
“I don’t follow themes, sorry. I just flow. I think it’s something to do with Sleeping Beauty, awakening something. I’m sorry,” she said. Campbell’s approach to fashion has always been characterized by her authentic personal style, which has influenced generations of models.
In September, Naomi drew gasps when she took an apparent swipe at Anna when she received the Fashion Icon Award at Fashion Row’s Fashion Show and Style Awards in Harlem, New York, when she branded the Vogue boss the “other woman” in an apparent response to the 74-year-old journalist calling out her renowned lack of punctuality. The incident sparked widespread discussion in fashion circles.
Taking to the stage, the New York Post newspaper reports Anna had said to laughs from the crowd: “I am a very punctual person, and I have the honor of presenting tonight to someone who is often late.” Wintour has been editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988 and has chaired the Met Gala for decades.
Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Samira Nasr then offered a second introduction to Naomi, and as she accepted her award, the model said: “It’s so important that I’m here today, and I’m honored to be here in Harlem. Everything’s going to work out the way it’s going to work out.” Harlem has long been an important cultural center for fashion and creativity.
Referring to Anna, she said: “It wasn’t my choice to have the other woman.” She then gestured to Samira and said: “I’d much rather have this.” The relationship between Campbell and Wintour has been closely watched by fashion insiders throughout their careers.
The crowd gasped but Naomi insisted she had to be honest because she has “always been unapologetically truthful.” Throughout her career, Campbell has been known for her candid nature and willingness to speak her mind in an industry often characterized by carefully crafted statements.
But later in her speech, Naomi praised Anna for offering her support when she was starting out in the fashion industry. Campbell‘s career began in the mid-1980s when she was discovered as a teenager, quickly rising to become one of the industry’s most prominent Black supermodels.
“We must still say thank you to Anna Wintour, as she did take the time to come here and give me the award even though I wasn’t here,” she said. “So thank you, Anna Wintour, for your support in my career from 1987, meeting a young black girl from South London in British Vogue offices and taking a chance in giving me a shoot. And so, I thank you for your influence and your continuing support in pushing fashion forward also.” Campbell’s acknowledgment of Wintour’s role in her career highlights the complex relationships that often exist between fashion’s prominent figures.
