Racism is a cliche word: Naomi Campbell

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Apr 23 2016 | 8:22 AM IST
Supermodel Naomi Campbell has claimed that she does not like the use of the word "racism" to describe discrimination she has faced in the fashion industry from time to time.
The 45-year-old British supermodel made the comments during an interview when she was asked whether she faced racism at the start of her career in the '80s, reported Contactmusic.
"I never use that word 'racism'. I find it a cliche word and I don't want to use it as an excuse," she replied.
"For me it was... I call it territorialism, where there are people that have that certain territory and they stand their ground, and they are not going to change their mind and that is their opinion."
Campbell did offer some specific examples of when she felt she was discriminated against, citing when she was turned down for the cover of the French version of Vogue magazine in the late '80s.
"At first they said no, because they had never had anyone on it. It was instantly 'no' without thinking. So I thought, 'Let me go to my great friend Yves Saint Laurent and tell him'... I asked him to fix the situation and he did. That is how I got it.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Apr 23 2016 | 8:22 AM IST

Next Story