Welcome to hardtalk with me, zeinab badawi. My guest in this exclusive interview is one Of the queens Of fashion, the british model, Naomi Campbell. In a Landmark Announcement that has the Royal Seal Of approval, she becomes the Platinum Jubilee global ambassadorfor the Queens Commonwealth Trust. How will this new Role Fit in with her activism for greater Equality And Diversity . What motivates Naomi Campbell to keep on pushing boundaries . Naomi campbell, welcome to hardtalk. Thank you, zeinab, for having me. Nice to see you. Great to see you too. So what does your new role as Platinum Jubilee ambassador for the Queens Commonwealth Trust entail . What will you do . Really, its similar to what i have been doing, except its going to be adding a few different countries, ones i have been working with already. The young generation, young businesses, supporting, guiding, mentoring and just uplifting the countries and, you know, i love doing that, so its really, its an honour to have this role. And im looking forward. Were you surprised when you were given this honour, as you put it . Yes, very much so. Why were you surprised . I dont know, i really do just stay in my day, and i was very surprised. Its always, i think, an honour when your country Of origin asks you to do something. The focus Of the Queens Commonwealth Trust list coming is education and employability, environment, food and agriculture, health, inclusion. Which will you be focussing on . Education i already do, so for sure we will want to further that, because that is important for the young generation, worldwide. Agriculture, tourism, for me, its, you know, i work with young creatives any way, and in africa, so really it is for me enhancing that, and, having a great support team, with the commonwealth and all the other people that make up the commonwealth, to support me, we can push further and harder in getting these things achieved, because what is amazing it is voluntary, so everyone is there because they want to be there and i think the supporting right now is so important, especially with everyone being so isolated. Sure. You mention africa, and i know you visited africa a great deal before lockdown, and you have said in the past, i feeljamaican but i also feel african. Absolutely. And there are designers like the nigerian Kenneth Ize who say you have done a great deal to support african fashion, so when you are doing this work on behalf Of the commonwealth trust, the Queens Commonwealth Trust, is africa going to be a big, important area for you, and why is it so important . Africa will always remain important for me, and so i will continue doing what i do for africa, as well as the inclusion Of all the other countries that make up the commonwealth. Also my heritage country, jamaica. You get to a certain point in your life, that you realise that you can use your platform, and you should share your platform, and you should make your platform transcend for others, so that is really, ifeel, i mean, i havent been given a particular Hand Book Of how i do this new role, but i feel its just going to be similarfrom what i have been doing, from what i learned, from our great wonderful madiba. You are referring to Nelson Mandela who saw you as his honorary granddaughter, Of course, when you mention madiba. You say you want to use this as a platform, is this the right platform for you . Let me tell you what Philip Murphy here says about the commonwealth. He says it is very good at pumping out the lovely Candy Floss Sound Bites about how it will solve world peace, save the Rainforest And End world poverty, but you ask the question, what have you actually achieved and you are faced with shocked silence. Does the commonwealth give you much to do . I mean, me, as a person, ifeel like, all who know me, whether you know me or you dont know me, you know i am a person Of action, so if am going to commit myself to any type Of organisation worldwide, it is because i am willing to do the work. Otherwise i wouldnt be there, i wouldnt be committed, or sitting here. But is the commonwealth the right vehicle for you . Some feel it is just an imperial relic, a post imperial relic. I feel it is, because these are countries i care about, so it gives me a platform that i can now go in there and really try and get things done, and bring ideas Of the young generation to the forefront and see it through from a to z. Ok, so that is the Commonwealth Bit Of the Queens Commonwealth Trust, but how do you reconcile the bit that says the queen. You know there is a live debate in the caribbean, in your own country Of origin, where your family are from, jamaica, about whether they should lose the queen as head Of state. Barbados does at the end Of november. Caroline cooper says it is high time forjamaica to complete the emancipation from the british monarchy. Its a very tough question to ask me, but i always feel, with myjamaican heritage, thatjamaica is independent any way, thatjamaica is independent anyway. I mean, they have their, they have their independence, but i guess they want to be completely free from the british colony, or colonisation. You know, i feel that it goes into a deeper conversation and i feel that the whole Windrush Scandal Hasnt really helped that situation for them feeling like they were treated fairly in that way, Of being embraced. You just mentioned the Windrush Scandal the ship Of course that brought many immigrants into the united kingdom from the caribbean in the � 505. I can understand, it is no shock to me, but i understand where the Hurt And Frustration comes from. Because the descendants Of those original windrush immigrants, some were told they had no right to remain in the united kingdom when they had been born and bred here, so you think that had a direct impact. I do believe so. Your great grandparents came over on the windrush. Absolutely. Did you feel personally affronted . Yes, i was actually invited to number ten after the mistake Of being. A mistake or, how shall we say, a faux pas. I refused because i felt like i had been used lets get Naomi Campbell here, it will make it look like it is ok if she comes. I will never go against my people. That is when Theresa May was prime minister. Yes, so i refused and said, no, thank you, iam not going to attend, and did go, quietly, to see Theresa May, before she left number ten, and you know, she made it, she wasnt acting like she knew she had done something, a mistake, and upset a lot Of people and hurt a lot peoples feelings, but it is also, you have to remember this, theirfoundation Of where they came from, in coming to this country, so it was deep it was a very deep wound that she opened. Right. And, look, another issue that is being discussed across the caribbean, Including Injamaica and the coalition Of caribbean states, supports reparations, and the Jamaican Minister for Youth And Culture says we are hoping for reparatoryjustice in all forms, so following that idea Of redress, would you like to see reparations for slavery . Absolutely, 100 . There should be reparations. Why not . Why cant we go to the hague and get reparations . So you are representing the Queens Commonwealth Trust as their global ambassador, yet you want in her Majestys Name to see these reparations. I believe there should be reparations. Other cultures have got reparations. You dont see any contradiction there . Between being the global ambassador for the Queens Commonwealth Trust, and saying there should be reparations. Well, other cultures have had it and. You know, for it, for what they have been through. For the lives that were ruined. I dont see why they shouldnt. 0k, fairenough. So, look, there will be a lot Of interest generated by this announcement that you are the Platinum Jubilee ambassador marking the queens Platinum Jubilee. I was thinking today, am i going to have an article by his wonderful highness, Piers Morgan . You are preferring to the british media journalist. The interest i think will also focus on the fact that, you know, there has been a lot Of talk about diversity, Inclusion And Race and the british Royal Family, triggered very much by. Brought to the fore by the comments the Duke And Duchess Of sussex made to Oprah Winfrey in march this year. I mean, what was your reaction to that . I actually am not going to comment too much on that. This is all im going to say, this is what i said to my friends when i was watching it in the room, and this is what i am going to say now. It was sad for me, knowing princess diana, to see that her two boys were not on good terms. As a mother, that is the last thing you want to happen with your boys. She is no longer here. That is her legacy, is her two boys. You dont want to see that happen. But it was the aspect Of race, really, that i was more interested in asking you about. The race. Because Prince Harry said he had been involved in conversations, at the time it was awkward, i was a bit shocked, and he was referring to the concerns articulated by the Royal Family he said, not the queen, about how dark a child he and the duchess Of sussex might have. So it is that question, really, i wondered what your reflections were on that . More than likely, you have got a household Of. All ages, different levels Of aristocracy or aristocrats. Do i think it was said . Probably, absolutely it was said. Iam sure. The palace said recollections may vary, but yeah. How was it said . Dont know wasnt there. I Cant Comment on something i dont know. I wasnt there. I need to hear it for myself. Have i had it said to me . Is what i can talk about, my own experience. Yes, many times even when i understood in my business at 16 years old what i was up against, i opened my mouth and i continued to open my mouth, and i never closed my mouth and i became labelled for it, and didnt get manyjobs for it, especially here in the united kingdom. You said you had to work twice as hard to become a successful model because you were black. Yeah. And i dont complain, i dont. Im a hard working woman i work hard for everything i have. Sorry to interrupt you, when you say you dont complain are you saying the sussexes are complaining . No, i talk about myself, i have moved on from the sussexes, sorry. Sorry. I moved on. I talk about my own experience, i Cant Talk about others. I can sit there and watch an interview like everybody else in the world, and take, get, this is what i get from it. Really what i got from that was, as i said it was really for a friend Of mine who is no longer here, to have her two sons not on talking terms, it must be very sad. Thats it. You said in an interview in Harpers Bazaar in 2020 that the whole world is addressing racism, so england is going to have to deal with it. And Of course we had the George Floyd Murder in may which triggered Soul Searching about Race And Diversity and so on. Do you support blm yourself . It is not that i dont support or support. Blm came about and has been existing for how many years . I dont know. It started while a while ago, at least ten years ago. 0k. I have been modelling for 35 years, so for me, the way i have been speaking, it was like black lives matter without knowing it, so now we have an actual hub with a Name And Label and a society, and something, organisation, and so. I feel like its. Why is itjust now we have this permission, we feel we can, no, speak when you want to speak, you speak when you see things are unjust. You are not worried about the label blm, you dont support it or. I support it. But about defunding the police . But i have been doing Blm Blm is not new for me, it is part Of my life since i understood the effects Of what racism can do, and what racism can cause. And so for me, at 18 years old, if you call it blm. I have been doing blm since i was 18. But not about defunding the police . No, not defunding the police. I specifically. It is about racism, racism in my business Of fashion, how i was treated. All right. I will go back to my Self Experiences because i cannot take and criticism and speak on another� s experience. I dont know what it feel like. You have been talking about racism for a long time as you say, but one phenomenon that is more contemporary is online abuse. And we have heard a great deal about that after the euro finals. Which was, i sat there watching that, i was in los angeles, and i salt there watching it, and as soon as that ball didnt go in, i turned round and i said, i really hope that they give security to these boys. Because, and i really hope its not going to happen, but i knew it was going to happen. What, the online racial abuse . The online racial abuse. Have you had that . Of course. You have 12 Million followers Of course. You have 12 Million followers on Of course. You have 12 Million followers on instagram. Many times. Cyber attack last year, just salacious, disgraceful, i mean, im nota. It wasntjust me, it was me with a big group Of people. A lot Of those people went quiet. I didnt. Im not going to go quiet. What kind Of things were said to you . For me, if you want to sit behind a computer and write terrible things to people, you are a coward. I am not going to let you silence me. I am not a coward. You have also said, in american vogue in december 2020, you said the angry black Woman Label has been used against me many times. You were talking about how the media in general treated you. And what for . To silence me. Well, here i am. Why do you think that you have had this kind Of coverage . Because i open my mouth. You know, it is like, you dont want to hear from an 18 year old from south london, how she feels, it is like get in front Of the camera and do yourjob and shut up. No, thats not who i am. Im still a human being. Do you, and i want to ask you this in a very genuine way, because Of course your Well Publicised Cases Of a sort, four which took place between 1998 and 2009, to what extent do you think coverage, in the press, Helped Fortify that kind Of view Of you as an angry black women . Well, its like, ok. If Lisa Smith goes into an restaurant and has an argument with a waiter. Then Lisa Smith goes into a restaurant and has an organ with a waiter. Has an argument with a waiter. She is white. If Naomi Campbell has an argument with a waiter, it is the spoilt model Naomi Campbell. It is like that, and it is so embedded that way, that people dont realise any more. You dont think that your actions may have warranted that perception for some people, you think it is entirely as a function Of your result Of your race . I stand by and own my thing. In my past, i always have and always will, but i wont be held hostage by it. That i will always say. Everybody has a past. Mine is open and out maybe its better that way. I dont have to worry about any bones, but it doesnt define me as who i am as a woman. It doesnt define me for who i am for the things i fight for, it doesnt define me for the countries that i have supported since 1993. So these things do not stop me from continuing my mission i have within myself. Not because someone has told me to do it. Right. Its never been about, i am telling you, naomi, to do this. You are a terrific Role Model for so many black women, particularly in fashion and the fact you have overcome many obstacles, and as you said, issues Of race, the rise to the top Of the Fashion World. I was in the audience in 2017 at a womens summit in london when you were talking to the Interviewer Nancy gibbs, and we know the Fashion World is highly pressured, and you said, i worked so much at the beginning, i never took a break, and then you went on, naomi, to discussing your problems with Substance Abuse and you mentioned how Drug Use fuelled some Of your outbursts. Now that you are taking this Landmark Step in your career with this high Ofile-position'>PrOfile Position as global ambassador for the queens trust, i wonder how you reflect and explain that part Of your life . I would explain it the same way. I am a human being, i make mistakes, and nothing will change, i will explain it the same way, because people can if you go through your mistakes, own them, look yourself in the mirror, take heed, and move forward, and be enlightened and be open to change, i think everyone, everyone deserves to have that chance in their life for change. And you managed to bring about this change. I mean, how did you manage it . Im with myself straightforward, and not like. I dont live in a denial, so to speak. So accepting there is a problem and acting on it. Acting on it. Absolutely. And talking about the pressures that models experience, particularly those who get to the top, we are all mindful Of the fact there are a lot Of allegations Of Sexual Abuse that took place in the Modelling World and perhaps even take place now, and the former First Lady Of france, who was a model, Carla Bruni sarkoz, says Of the Fashion World, it is an industry with a lot Of young people, a lot Of young flesh for predators, and did you yourself come under that kind Of pressure, and or were you aware Of what was going on . Ok, so, i was not aware Of what was going on 100 . Did i have, did i ever have those advances when i was 16, 17 . Absolutely. But, again, i had a mouth. I was shy, but i had a mouth when i knew something was morally wrong, so i had these wonderful legendary designers around me, alaia azzedine, gianni versace, mr laurent, so i could go to these men, and i could tell them, if someone had come up to me in a way that was not right, and i would and i did, and they were my protectors, so i used the people that were, you know, embracing me to protect me. Do you think it is something to do with your upbringing, because you had strong female Role Models, your mother valerie, your late grandmother ruby, who brought you up a lot, and you sadly lost her this year, your aunts. Do you think that helped you. Definitely. Confront these challenges . Definitely surrounded by a strong group Of women, they dont let you get away with anything, you are not going to slip, you will hear it, and i feel that that is why i am the way i am, and i am grateful for that and it is that way to this very day. You yourself have recently become the mother Of a gorgeous Little Girl you surprised everybody with the announcement in may. Its difficult to be a mother at any age, but to become a first time mother at the age Of 51, i wonder how you are finding it . Im really lucky. I think I Have A Dream child. She is wonderful, so she is so very independent already, very smart, alert, sleeps 12 hours. Shes a good girl. Are you going to instil the values that you were brought up with to be a strong independent woman . Absolutely, right down to the hygiene part. Naomi campbell, thank you very much indeed for coming on hardtalk. Thank ou for indeed for coming on hardtalk. Thank you for having indeed for coming on hardtalk. Thank you for having me. Indeed for coming on hardtalk. Thank you for having me. Thank indeed for coming on hardtalk. Thank you for having me. Thank you indeed for coming on hardtalk. imam; you for having me. Thank you so much. Hello there. Yesterday we saw top temperatures up to 2a or 25 for quite a few places. The warm September Sunshine easing away through the course Of the today, a different feel to the weather. Outbreaks Of rain working their way west to east. Still sunshine around and dry in the west later on into the afternoon. Weve got this line Of rain that, as it pushes into eastern england, becomes quite heavy for East Yorkshire down towards kent. There could be some localised Surface Water Flooding for a time with 30 110 millimetres Of rain, some thunderstorms mixed in as well. Also some heavy showers for the far North East Of scotland, particularly for orkney. Elsewhere, some sunshine developing through the afternoon, lifting temperatures to between about 15 20 celsius so not as warm as recent days but not bad for this time Of year. Into the evening hours, sticking with this area Of Cloud And Rain across eastern england, so quite a soggy night for some. But away from the Far East Of england, most other places dry with clear spells and it will be a cooler, fresher night than weve seen recently, with temperatures down into mid single figures for some Of us to start Off your monday morning. Monday is still quite dry and settled. The first half Of this new week ahead in fact looking quite dry. Things change from around mid week onwards so well start to see low pressure bringing us wetter, windier conditions later in the week ahead. So eventually things turning a little bit more autumnal, but as we start Off Monday Weve got low pressure well to the north Of the uk, higher pressure to the South And South west. So that is keeping things mostly dry. The high pressure winning out i think as we head on into tuesday. Weve still got this front lingering for a time, quite a weak affair on monday. Still a few showers for east anglia, the southeast, lincolnshire perhaps as well. More cloud working in from the North West later on in the day as well but in between most places having some sunshine around, and temperatures around about 15 21 degrees during the day on monday. Then clear spells and a cooler, fresher night than weve seen recently with temperatures down into single figures to start your monday morning. The first half Of this week ahead, looking quite dry. Things change from Military Converts are starting to see low pressure, wetter, windier conditions into tuesday, early Mist And Fog patches are likely once again. They should slowly clear away. Light winds in most places but the winds picking up in the North West ahead Of the next front trying to move its way in, but not a bad day on tuesday with highs around 16 21 degrees. But its from wednesday and on into thursday we start to see this change, so Weather Fronts starting to move in from the North West and make their way across the uk, and a North Westerly breeze left behind on thursday after those Weather Fronts pass through. So still some unsettled weather on the cards through the second half Of the week, particularly in the north and North West. Things looking drier further south. Goodbye. Hello. This is bbc news, im Victoria Derbyshire and here are the headlines from the uk and around the world. England and tottenham footballing legend Jimmy Greaves has died at the age Of 81. In later years he was a Tv Pundit alongside former Liverpool Striker Ian stjohn in saint and greavsie. The british government will hold further talks with the Energy Regulator amid soaring Gas Prices with warnings more companies could go bust. We are not being complacent about this at all. The clear message that i want to give to people is that we do not see the risks Of supplies right now and prices are being protected. The Foreign Secretary has defended the uks Security Pact with the us and australia, despite a diplomatic row with france. The first non prOfessional Space Crew ever launched