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Supermodel Naomi Campbell, one of the original starting models, has been at the center of attention lately for far less flattering reasons. Following an inquiry that revealed financial misfeasance, Campbell was recently prohibited from acting as a trustee of her charity, Fashion for Relief.

The charity, supposedly set up to aid in poverty and global health relief, witnessed its funds being spent on such personal indulgences as a five-star hotel and spa treatments. As this story gains momentum, it is very important to delve into the issue that has Naomi Campbell and her charity in their crosshairs.

The Investigation Into Fashion for Relief's Finances

Campbell's charity, Fashion for Relief—which she founded in 2005—took on a noble task: to fight against poverty while raising money with events full of stars. Following the complaints raised, the Charity Commission initiated an investigation, which found serious cases of financial mismanagement over several years.

Between 2016 and 2022, only 8.5% of the charity's funds flowed to charitable causes. The rest? Reportedly spent by Campbell and her trustees to pay for luxury hotel stays, spa treatments, and other expenses.

Of all of the charity's red flags, the most obvious had to do with its spending at one high-profile fundraising event in Cannes. Among other things, Campbell stayed in a five-star hotel, running up several thousand pounds in personal expenses, including spa services, room service, and even cigarettes. The total came to tens of thousands of pounds—money that was supposed to go toward helping those in need.

The Fallout and Ban

Following the investigation, Naomi Campbell was suspended from serving as a charity trustee for five years. She was not alone, though—the co-trustees Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou were also suspended for nine and four years, respectively.

Among the notable findings of the inquest were illegal payments that were awarded to Ms. Hellmich for £290,000 in consultancy work, which was supposed to remain within the folds of the charity itself.

According to her, Campbell says she knew nothing of the mismanagement, yet in her words, "She had assumed she could leave the day-to-day operations to lawyers." She claims there is an investigation going on, trying to find out how the charity's money was being spent. But that won't change a thing due to Fashion for Relief having been officially dissolved earlier this year.

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