British supermodel Naomi Campbell appeared before a London court on Tuesday, taking the stand in her effort to reverse an official ruling that prohibits her from serving as a charity trustee in England and Wales.
The UK’s charity regulator handed down a five-year disqualification against Campbell, 56, in 2024, citing serious financial mismanagement at Fashion for Relief, a charity she founded.
The Charity Commission revealed at the time that thousands of pounds from the charity’s funds were spent on a luxury hotel stay in Cannes, France, benefiting Campbell personally — including spa treatments, room service, and even cigarettes.
The regulator also found that only 8.5% of the charity’s total spending went toward charitable grants over a six-year span beginning in 2016.
Campbell filed an appeal against the ban last year, asserting that she had been a “victim of fraud and forgery.” In a written statement submitted ahead of her courtroom testimony Tuesday, she declared that she has “never undertaken philanthropic work for personal gain, nor will I ever do so.”
“My investigation has revealed identity fraud and deception and helps uncover why most of the funds weren’t used as intended,” she stated. “What my legal team has unearthed is shocking, involving fake email addresses and forged communications with the authorities.”
The Charity Commission’s findings also implicated fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich, who allegedly received approximately 290,000 pounds — roughly $385,000 — in unauthorized payments for consultancy services. Hellmich has been disqualified from serving as a trustee for nine years. A third trustee, Veronica Chou, received a four-year ban.
Fashion for Relief was established in 2015 with the goal of bringing together the fashion world to combat poverty and assist people impacted by natural disasters and other crises globally. The organization was dissolved and removed from the official charities register in 2024.
