Naomi Campbell Wins Appeal Against Charity Trustee Ban

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has successfully overturned a five-year ban preventing her from serving as a charity trustee in England and Wales. A three-judge tribunal ruled that Campbell, 56, was deceived by Bianka Hellmich, a fellow trustee of the anti-poverty charity Fashion for Relief.

The Charity Commission had initially imposed the ban two years ago after finding multiple instances of misconduct and mismanagement at the charity. These findings included the use of charity funds for personal expenses such as a hotel stay, spa treatments, and cigarettes during fundraising events in Cannes and London. The commission also cited the charity's failure to file accounts on time.

However, the tribunal acknowledged that while serious misconduct and mismanagement occurred, the failures in financial management and misuse of funds were the result of Hellmich's actions and were concealed from Campbell. The judges stated that Hellmich used forged documents and misled professional advisers and the Charity Commission. They also concluded that while Campbell bore some responsibility for the late filing of accounts, this did not render her unfit to be a trustee.

During a four-day hearing in June, Campbell testified that her primary error was trusting Hellmich, whom she accused of forging her signature and misrepresenting her credentials as a charity lawyer. Campbell told the tribunal that both she and the Charity Commission were deceived.

The Charity Commission had opposed Campbell's appeal, seeking to uphold the five-year ban. A probe into Fashion for Relief was initiated by the commission in 2021. The charity was subsequently dissolved and removed from the register of charities in 2024.