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R/£ Naomi fights for black models Naomi celebrates African women 1 x 60pt headline goes here hy
Subhead goes here In Tanzania Campbell draws attention to the whiteness of world fashionNovember 14, 2009 Edition 2
Reuters DAR ES SALAAM
Carrying a golden dagger on her first African catwalk, supermodel Naomi Campbell emerged from behind a shimmering veil to make a pointed attack on the developed world's discrimination against black models.
"Where do we see a woman of colour in an advert? It's quite blatant," she said in an interview backstage at her Fashion for Relief charity fashion show, which she held in Africa for the first time.
"There's definitely space (for more black models) but has there been enough effort? It was getting better but it's slipped back this year."
The British supermodel brought together flamboyant outfits laced with beads, feathers and big necklaces from local designers, as well as aspiring models from across the continent who are competing to be the new "Face of Africa".
Many of the women were star-struck at meeting Campbell, who helped advise backstage on hairstyles and make-up and posed for photos at the show held in the sultry Tanzanian coastal city of Dar es Salaam.
"Women of colour who have had a great experience in life need to share their experiences with others. The world is not made up of blonde hair and blue eyes. We need to share ourselves," she said.
"It's like a dream come true to meet her," said Tholakele Dlamini, a 23-year-old Face of Africa contestant from Zimbabwe. "I think there need to be more black models to balance it out a bit - there's a lot of quality out there with potential."
For Campbell, who regularly visits neighbouring Kenya but has never before walked on an African runway, the continent has great potential.
"Africa is a place of tragedy but I see beauty everywhere - there are all these beautiful African women of colour," she said. "You see these long necks of elegant women just walking in the streets."
Previous Fashion For Relief shows put on by Campbell in New York, London and Mumbai have raised as much as $1 million (R7.4m) for causes such as relief from floods and other natural disasters.
Funds from the fashion event in Dar es Salaam, during which a dress Campbell wore from local designer Mustafa Hassanali was auctioned for charity for $10 000 will go to support maternal health.
Campbell is global ambassador for the White Ribbon Alliance, an international coalition for maternal health, which is this year holding its annual general meeting in Tanzania, where a woman dies in childbirth every hour.
"No woman should die giving birth," said Campbell.
Pregnancy is the leading killer of women of reproductive age in the developing world - more than 80 percent preventable.
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