Naomi Campbell

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has accused Britain’s Vogue fashion magazine of being racist. She says the publication is guilty of "sidelining black beauty". Campbell is one of the few black models ever to have appeared on the cover of the British Vogue. She shot to fame in the international modeling world after appearing on its cover at the age of 17 back in the eighties. She appeared another seven times in the following two decades. The magazine has only had 12 issues featuring black models in its entire 91-year history, which suggests she may have a point. Since her last front-cover appearance in August 2002, no other black model has been featured. Campbell said: "Black models are being sidelined by the major modelling agencies. It is a pity that people don't appreciate black beauty.” Campbell has tried to bring racism within the fashion industry to the public’s attention throughout her career. Speaking recently in Kenya, she said: "Only white models, some of whom are not as prominent as I am, are put on [high profile] pages. I don't want to quit modelling until I find that black models get equal prominence and recognition by the world media." She added that even she still got a “raw deal” from fashion magazines in England. Adenike Adenitire, editor of New Nation, a newspaper for Britain's black community, agreed with Campbell. She said: "I would say a lot of black girls do not get certain breaks…because they are black. You don't really see black models on the front covers of mainstream magazines in Britain.” She added: “It is far more common to see black faces on front covers in America."