Naomi Campbell has spoken about her battle with drug and alcohol addiction during her early modeling days in candid new documentary The Super Models.
The 53-year-old fashion icon claimed she began abusing substances to deal with the grief of childhood abandonment and the shocking death of her close friend and beloved designer Gianni Versace.
In the Apple TV+ docuseries, the catwalk legend shares her groundbreaking career path alongside fellow supermodels Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington.
However, the four-part project took time to reflect on the tougher moments that took place at the height of her fame – with Naomi admitting that she slowly “killed herself” early in her career due to the amount of drugs she took over time “. Early 90s.
Naomi Campbell opened up about what led to her battle with drug and alcohol addiction in her early modeling days
The fashion icon explained that the shocking death of her close friend and beloved designer Gianni Versace was a huge trigger; Pictured together in 1995
“Grief has been a very strange thing in my life because it’s not always like that.” [show]”explained the mother of two. “I go into shock and freak out when it actually happens, and then I collapse later. “But I kept the sadness inside, I just came to terms with it.”
The fashion world was shocked when famed designer Giovanni Maria “Gianni” Versace was shot dead outside his Miami Beach home in 1997.
Naomi had formed a close bond with the Italian fashion icon and was one of many heartbroken by the loss of his life.
Speaking about the special place he held in her heart, Naomi explained: “[Late designer] Azzedine Alaïa was my dad. With him I learned something about selected families. The same goes for Gianni Versace.
“He was very sensitive to feeling me, he pushed me. How would I push myself to get out there and keep going if I didn’t believe I had it in me? When he died my grief became very severe.’
She continued, “When I first started using, that was one of the things I was trying to cover up, which was grief.” Addiction is like that… it’s just a shitty thing, it really is.
“You think, ‘Oh, this will heal this wound.'” It doesn’t. It can cause so much fear and anxiety. That’s when I got really angry.”
The British-born model collapsed during a photo shoot in 1999 after five years of cocaine addiction. The frightening moment prompted her to enter rehab this year.
Naomi admitted she “killed herself” due to the amount of drugs she consumed in the early ’90s
In the confessional, Naomi made it clear that she was aware of how her substance abuse was leading her down a life-threatening path, adding: “When you try to cover up something, your feelings… you talked about abandonment.” I tried to do that with to cover something up. You can’t cover it. I killed myself. It was very hurtful.’
She also made slight reference to her previous assault convictions, the first in February 2000, when she pleaded guilty in Toronto to attacking her personal assistant with a cellphone in September 1998. By 2006, several other employees and associates came forward with allegations of abuse.
“I have always admitted my mistakes.” “I decided to go to rehab,” explained Naomi. “It was one of the best and only things I could do for myself at the time.” It’s scary to pick up the mirror and look in the mirror. It’s scary and it took me many years to work on it and come to terms with it.’
The model claimed that a major trigger for her substance abuse was her unresolved abandonment issues from growing up without a father figure.
Born to Jamaican-born dancer Valerie Morris, Naomi never met her father, who abandoned her mother when she was pregnant.
The documentary highlighted Naomi’s previous comments on the subject from her 2000 interview with Barbara Walters, in which she said: “I’ve had a lot of problems since I was a child.” Well, for example, not knowing your father, not knowing your mother to see. It awakens a lot… it expresses a lot of feelings.
“One of those feelings… is definitely anger.” But I think that’s a completely normal thing. I didn’t always express my anger in a timely manner. It was always an inopportune time. But it is an expression of a deeper problem: anger.”
The model claimed another trigger for her substance abuse was her unresolved abandonment issue, which came from growing up without a father figure
Born to Jamaican-born dancer Valerie Morris, Naomi never met her father, who abandoned her mother when she was pregnant
She continued: “And I think that’s based on insecurity, self-esteem, loneliness and abandonment.” Abandonment and rejection were my core themes.
“It puts me in a really vulnerable position and everyone thinks, ‘Oh, Naomi’s a really tough girl and really strong.’ But that’s how I want to come across to people, because if I’m afraid I won’t, they will just walk all over me if they really knew.’
Reflecting on her journey in the documentary, Naomi admitted: “Sometimes it still comes up.” But I just have the tools to deal with it when it comes up.
“I need to think about something outside of myself. ‘Something bigger than myself.’
The model also revealed that her struggle has helped her mentor others facing similar difficulties, continuing: “When I have people in my life that I love and I see that they need help, I will of course offer my help.” . I am there, I am very loyal to the people I love.’
Designer Marc Jacobs then spoke about Naomi struggling to get through his own time of crisis, while troubled designer John Galiano explained that the supermodel “brought joy when I was in a place that was so dark.”
He gushed, “Naomi arranged for me to go to rehab in Arizona.” I mean, she’s great in every way. That’s why it’s good that I tell this story, because aside from the work, she’s also a human being.”
The Apple TV+ documentary traces the rise of women who made millions, dated movie stars and cemented their status as supermodels after the iconic music video for George Michael’s “Freedom” in 1990.
In the Apple TV+ docuseries, the runway icon talks about her groundbreaking career alongside fellow supermodels Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington
It is the first time that all four surviving icons – Tatjana Patitz died of breast cancer earlier this year – have come together to discuss the phenomenon in depth.
While the series delights in the women’s extraordinary beauty, it doesn’t shy away from the uglier issues they faced, such as domestic violence and racial inequality.
Typically reserved Linda Evangelista is seen in tears, discussing her disfigurement from a failed cosmetic procedure.
Meanwhile, the Canadian beauty also shares claims that her ex-husband Gérald Marie abused her during their five-year marriage.
Cindy Crawford recalls an awkward interview with Oprah Winfrey in 1986 that left her feeling like she was “lacking possession.”
Elsewhere, Naomi reveals she is in perimenopause after being filmed having a “hot flash” during a photoshoot in the documentary series.
The Supermodels is now available to stream on Apple TV+.