Naomi Campbell is the new face of Nars’ cosmetics Spring/Summer 2019 collection. As exciting as it is, it’s interesting to ponder why this is only the supermodel's second beauty campaign, collaborating with the same company?
Campbell an original supermodel, has reigned like a true queen over the last 30 years on runways and magazine covers. Francois Nars, the company’s founder has called Naomi “a living icon who brings such personality to the camera.” Their friendship since the early days of Campbell's career makes this collaboration even more anticipated as they have both addressed their relationship to be “like family.”
’This campaign is particularly exciting as Campbell passionately strives to make the beauty industry more inclusive.’’
The range called ‘Radiance Repowered’ is launching January 2019. The campaign will include a new, more inclusive shade range, a new Skin Deep Eye Palette and the Super Radiant Booster. That’s not all, there are plans for her to represent the Orgasm campaign later in the year - Nars’ most iconic blush. This campaign is particularly exciting as Campbell passionately strives to make the beauty industry more inclusive. She told the brand in a Q&A, that when she first started in the fashion industry, she found it hard to “find colours that truly matched [her] skin tone”. This is a long-needed move for Nars, as other lines like Fenty Beauty steer the way and leave other brands to shamefully play catch-up.
It has not gone unnoticed that this is Campbell's second beauty campaign as many were under the impression that it was her first. Her only other beauty campaign was also with Nars in 2004, calling into question how progressive the community is and how slow things have been to change. Campbell has been breaking barriers in the fashion industry internationally, when in 1988 she became the first black woman to appear on the cover of French Vogue, and then American Vogue in 1989. In 2017, Campbell told The Evening Standard “I’ve never done a beauty campaign for anyone”, she reportedly gave a look that said “make your own assumptions as to why.”
"This is a long-needed move for Nars as other lines like Fenty Beauty steer the way and leave other brands to shamefully play catch up.’’
Although Campbell should have graced the headlines of many beauty campaigns by now, this launch is well deserved. As Campbell once said “to me, beauty is beauty. It doesn’t matter what colour the skin is.” A strong message to fit the name ‘Radiance Repowered.’