Naomi Campbell is a trailblazing world-renown supermodel known for her significant contributions to the fashion industry. She made her debut atthe age of eight and professionally, at the age of 15. The London-born model is one of the first black women to grace the covers of global fashion magazines like Vogue and Time and has gone ahead to be a cover in hundreds of magazines covers since then. She is featured in campaigns for celebrated houses like Burberry, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs.
Here, we pay tribute Naomi’s prolific video career. Her notable music video appearances include:
1. Bob Marley- “Is This Love?”.
The humanitarian and environmental activist/supermodel has also left her creative contribution in the music world as a vixen. She made her debut with Bob Marley, in 1977, with “Is This Love?”. At only 7-years old, she made an almost unnoticed cameo in the reggea video, where she is seen walking in with Bob in the first few seconds as the video begins. She is seen asleep, when the reggae king covers her with a blanket at the 2:05 mark.
2. Culture Club – “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya”
In 1982, an English new wave band Culture Club, featured her in their smash single “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya”. The band, comprising of lead singer Boy George, featured her as a dancer as is seen sporting a metallic blue onesie and a ponytail among other dancers. At 0.48 mark, she is second from left.
3. George Michael- “Freedom”
In 1990, when her supermodel reign was at peak, singer George Michael, featured 4 supermodels in his “Freedom” music video. Naomi was on set with Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangalista and Christy Turlington. The video’s impact was so massive that the four did a Versace runway catwalk to the same song. This solidified their status further as global fashion icons.
4. Michael Jackson- “In The Closet”
Michael Jackson (1991), featured Naomi in “In The Closet”, where Naomi lip-synchs flawlessly. The lyrics, is said, to be that of Princess Stephanie of Monaco. In the video, she stuns with nothing but a cotton skirt, a crop top, and lengthy hair extensions. Her energy as a fetish for MJ, really spiced up the video.
5. Jay-Z- “Change Clothes”
The 2003 video, peak Jay-z era, is a collaboration with legendary producer & singer Pharell. The video features a battery of other celebrities including Mary J. Blige, Russel Simmons & Kimora Lee, Beanie Sigel and rapper Mos Def. Jay was going for cleaner, mature look with broken suits and stripped shirts. Naomi opened up the runway and strikes a pose as she exits the stage with head swirl and an electrifying look in her eyes.
6. Miley Cyrus- “Every Girl You’ve Ever Loved”
Naomi serves as Miley’s muse for the intense creative collaboration which is a feature for Miley’s new album Something Beautiful. The supermodel also does the bridge which she recorded back in September of 2024 in NYC with musician and producer, Jonathan Rado. Naomi poses throughout the video shoot, referencing her verse in the song, and briefly reflects on her long music video career with legends such as Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and now Miley Cyrus.
7. Beyonce- “Brown Skin Girl”
The video is a celebration of sisterhood and African black beauty and features singer Wizkid and rapper Saint JHN. The Grammy-winning visual also featured other models like Lupita Nyong’o and her Destiny’s Child fellow mate Kelly Rowland and Beyonce’s daughter Blue Ivy. It was released on Good Morning America and was a part of the album “Black Is King”.
“Pose like a trophy when Naomi walks in.. She needs an Oscar for her pretty dark skin..” Naomi makes a grand entry at 2.52 mark standing next to Beyonce who is sitted on a chair. At 3.05, Campbell strikes again in an elegant playful white gown and again at 3.32 where she stuns alongside Sudanese model Adut Aketch.
Other videos where Naomi slayed as a vixen include:
- Aretha Franklin (1991)- “Everyday People”
- Vanilla (1991)- “Cool As Ice”
- Madonna (1992)- “Erotica”
- Naomi Campbell ‘(1995)- “Love and Tears” from her LP Babywoman
- Duran Duran (2011) “Girl Panic”
- ANOHNI (2016) “Drone Bomb Me!”
