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Naomi Campbell Wins Charity Trustee Appeal
1 Oct
Summary
- Tribunal found Naomi Campbell unaware of charity misconduct.
- Fashion for Relief funds were allegedly spent on luxury hotels.
- Campbell's appeal cited forgery and impersonation by a fellow trustee.
Model Naomi Campbell has successfully appealed a five-year ban that prevented her from serving as a charity trustee. The ban was imposed in 2025 after a watchdog found that funds from her charity, Fashion for Relief, had been improperly used for personal expenses like luxury hotel stays.
However, a tribunal determined that the most egregious instances of misconduct were intentionally hidden from Campbell by another trustee. The panel concluded that Ms. Campbell had no knowledge of or involvement in these concerning activities. Fashion for Relief, established by Campbell in 2005 to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina, faced closure in 2023.
Following the charity's shutdown, Campbell and two other trustees were banned after a Charity Commission inquiry revealed serious mismanagement and misconduct. Campbell's appeal argued that a fellow trustee, Bianka Hellmich, forged her signature and used a fake email address to divert funds. Campbell stated her only error was trusting Hellmich, who has denied these allegations. The Charity Commission had opposed her appeal, seeking to uphold the ban.
