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Naomi Campbell says it wasn’t “my choice” to have Anna Wintour present her with the Icon of the Year award at the 17th Annual Fashion Show and Style Awards hosted by Harlem’s Fashion Row.
As fate would have it, things worked out in Campbell’s presumed favor at Tuesday night’s characteristically star-stacked event, as it actually ended up being Samira Nasr, Editor in Chief of Harper’s Bazaar and the 2024 honoree for Editor of the Year, who had the pleasure of handing off the award. As both Wintour and Campbell made clear in their respect on-the-mic appearances, the last-minute shakeup was brought on by an apparent disagreement over timing.
“I am a very punctual person and I have the honor of presenting tonight to someone who is often late,” Wintour said, seemingly playfully, while at the podium. The Vogue boss, who also called Campbell “extraordinary,” noted in her remarks that she would have to enlist Nasr step in for her due to needing to leave after her speech.
Campbell had some playful remarks of her own when she took the podium, though she also tucked in some admiration for Harlem’s place in her larger legacy in fashion and beyond.
“Yes, Naomi’s always late, but I believe in my higher power and I wanna thank my higher power for having me be here because it’s so important that I was here today,” Campbell said. “I’m honored to be here in Harlem.”
Later, Campbell drew audible expressions of shock from the audience when she added the following: “I wanna say this. Everything that’s meant to work out remains meant to work out. It wasn’t my choice to have the other lady. I’d much rather have this.”
After the crowd died down, Campbell continued, adding, “I have to speak my truth. I’ve always been unapologetically truthful, right? So why should I change it now at this age?”
A source told Complex that Wintour previously made it clear to organizers that she had leave at a specific time and was happy that Samira was able to cover for her.
For now, neither Campbell nor Wintour have publicly commented on the ensuing headlines pile-up. Complex has reached out to reps for both.
As those well-versed in Vogue history will note, Campbell and Wintour linked several years back to reflect on the former’s first American cover for the long-running publication. That cover, for Wintour’s inaugural September issue in 1989, made history. Campbell has since been on the cover of Vogue multiple times, including as recently as 2020.
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