Supermodel Naomi Campbell has successfully overturned a five-year ban on serving as a charity trustee after winning a legal challenge. A judge found that Campbell was unaware of serious misconduct at Fashion for Relief, the charity she founded and helped oversee.
The Charity Commission had disqualified Campbell from the trustee role in 2024 after alleging misuse of funds and abdication of responsibilities at the organisation. The regulator, which oversees charities in England and Wales, had determined there was mismanagement of funds at Fashion for Relief during her tenure.
Campbell's legal challenge resulted in judges overturning that disqualification. The court's decision hinged on evidence that Campbell lacked knowledge of the serious misconduct that occurred at the charity.
Fashion for Relief, which Campbell established, had faced scrutiny over its financial management. The Charity Commission's original action reflected concerns about how the organisation handled donations and other resources.
The case marks a reversal for the 56-year-old supermodel, who faced significant restrictions on her charitable work following the regulator's 2024 decision. Campbell's successful appeal means she can now serve as a charity trustee without the five-year prohibition that had been imposed.
The outcome suggests the court accepted Campbell's position that she bore limited personal responsibility for the failings identified at the charity, particularly given her lack of awareness of the specific misconduct in question.