Britain has banned supermodel Naomi Campbell from serving as a charity trustee for five years following an inquiry into the charity she established, Fashion For Relief.
The investigation revealed that funds raised for humanitarian causes were misappropriated for personal expenses, including spa treatments and cigarettes.
Born in London, the 54-year-old Campbell was part of a select group of supermodels who dominated the fashion industry during the 1990s. She founded Fashion For Relief in 2005 with the goal of raising money for various humanitarian efforts through runway shows.
However, this year, the charity was removed from the UK’s official list of registered charities.
The Charity Commission’s inquiry uncovered multiple instances of misconduct and mismanagement within the organization.
As a result, the commission not only banned Campbell but also two other trustees from holding similar positions in the future. Campbell’s representatives have chosen not to comment on the situation.
Between 2016 and 2022, the regulator found that a mere 8.5% of Fashion For Relief’s expenditures were allocated to charitable grants.
Furthermore, unauthorized payments amounting to £290,000 (approximately $388,000) were made to one of the trustees, alongside questionable spending on room service, spa treatments, and cigarettes—expenses deemed unreasonable by the commission.
Tim Hopkins, Deputy Director of the Charity Commission, stated, “Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charity’s best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities. Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so.”
The regulator successfully recovered over £400,000 from Fashion For Relief, which has been allocated to settle outstanding liabilities, with the remaining funds directed to other charitable organizations.
