Supermodel Naomi Campbell has opened up about her battle with drug addiction during the peak of her career in the 1990s. She candidly shared her reasons for turning to cocaine, citing childhood trauma and the devastating loss of her close friend, fashion icon Gianni Versace, as triggers.
Campbell’s drug addiction served as a coping mechanism, an attempt to conceal her grief. She acknowledged the deceptive allure of addiction, saying, “I guess when I started using, that was one of the things I tried to cover up, was grief. Addiction is such a … bulls—t thing, it really is. You think, ‘Oh it’s gonna heal that wound.’ It doesn’t. It can cause such huge fear and anxiety. So I got really angry.”
The loss of Gianni Versace in 1997 had a profound impact on Campbell. She described him as someone who pushed her to excel and challenged her limits. His death left her grieving deeply, and this emotional turmoil played a role in her descent into drug addiction, which lasted for about five years.
Campbell’s addiction took a severe toll on her, leading to a critical moment during a photoshoot in 1999 when she collapsed. She realized that trying to bury her emotions under the weight of addiction was unsustainable and self-destructive. She said, “When you try to cover something up, your feelings — you spoke about abandonment. I tried to cover that with something, but you can’t cover it. I was killing myself. It was very hurtful.”
Facing the Past: Naomi’s Journey to Recovery
That harrowing incident served as a wake-up call for Campbell. Recognizing that she needed help, she made the courageous decision to enter rehab. Reflecting on this pivotal choice, she explained, “I chose to go to rehab. It was one of the best and only things I could have done for myself at that time, it’s taken me many years to work on and deal with.”
Although Campbell has come a long way in her journey towards recovery, she acknowledges that the past can resurface at times. Nevertheless, she now possesses the tools and coping mechanisms to address those challenges when they arise.
Beyond her struggles with addiction and the loss of Gianni Versace, Campbell delved into her childhood experiences. She shared the emotional impact of her father’s abandonment, which left her with profound feelings of anger, insecurity, low self-esteem, and loneliness. These childhood wounds have played a significant role in shaping her life and her journey toward healing and self-discovery.
Naomi Campbell’s candid revelations provide insight into the complex and challenging path of overcoming addiction and confronting one’s past. Her story serves as a reminder that even those in the spotlight face personal battles and that seeking help and healing is a courageous step towards a brighter future.