Naomi Campbell is challenging the five-year charity ban that removed her from serving as a trustee, claiming she was the target of “fraud and deception” carried out by a fellow trustee who allegedly forged her signature and redirected funds meant for her organization.
During an appearance before a tribunal in London, the supermodel accused lawyer and former co-trustee Bianka Hellmich of impersonating her through a fake email account and masterminding a years-long scheme that allegedly led to the mismanagement of Fashion for Relief, the charity Campbell founded to support humanitarian initiatives.
According to the BBC, Campbell received a five-year ban in 2024 following a regulatory investigation that uncovered extensive financial misconduct within the organization. However, she has repeatedly maintained that she was unaware of any improper use of charitable funds and denies knowingly misusing money intended for the charity’s work.
Naomi Campbell founded Fashion for Relief with the goal of uniting the fashion world to support poverty alleviation, education, healthcare programs, and disaster relief efforts. The charity became widely recognized for its star-studded fundraising events featuring celebrities and major luxury brands. Campbell told the tribunal that the organization operated successfully in the United States before later becoming a registered charity in the United Kingdom. Fashion for Relief was officially dissolved in March 2024.
While giving evidence, Campbell insisted that her biggest error was trusting the wrong individual.
“I trusted the wrong person, what more do you want?” she told the court when asked whether she should have conducted more thorough checks into Hellmich’s background and qualifications.
Campbell also pointed out that regulators had maintained significant communication with her former co-trustee before concerns were raised.
“You trusted her, too,” she said, directing the remark at the Charity Commission.
According to arguments presented by Campbell’s lawyer, Andrew Westwood KC, Hellmich allegedly hid “a long-term and consistent scheme of mismanagement and deception.” Hellmich has previously rejected those claims, insisting there is “absolutely no truth” to the allegations.
The controversy stems from a Charity Commission investigation launched in 2021, which examined expenses and financial activity between 2016 and 2022. Regulators reported that only 8.5% of the charity’s funds were distributed through grants, despite the organization raising nearly £4.8 million over several years. The investigation also alleged that charity funds were used for luxury hotel stays, spa services, cigarettes, room service expenses, and personal security costs.
Additional scrutiny arose after UNICEF UK raised concerns about a fundraising partnership promoted by Fashion for Relief, claiming funds generated through the initiative were not transferred to the organization as expected.
As the appeal process moves forward, allegations involving fraud and forged documents have now been referred to police by both Campbell’s legal team and the Charity Commission for further investigation.
