Naomi Campbell disqualified from being a member of a charity after an investigation revealed serious management failings in the fashion aid industry

British supermodel Naomi Campbell has been disqualified from serving on a charity board for five years following a critical investigation into her organization Fashion for Relief. An investigation by the Charities Commission for England and Wales found that the charity had serious management problems and inadequate financial supervision. In particular, it was revealed that as of 2016, only 8.5% of the charity’s spending went to charitable grants, raising concerns about mismanagement of funds.

The investigation uncovered disturbing instances of financial abuse, including the use of charity funds to benefit Campbell’s luxury accommodation in Cannes, France. Expenses charged to the charity included not only hotel stays but also lavish benefits such as spa treatments and room service. Although the charity’s trustees claimed that these costs were covered by the donor, the Commission found no evidence to support their claim, further questioning the charity’s financial practices.

In response to the findings, Campbell expressed her deep concern and indicated she was launching her own investigation into the charity’s management. She explained that she had relinquished control of the charity’s activities to her legal employer, reaffirming her commitment to charity. Her comments came during a public event where she was honored as a Chevalier of the French Order of Arts and Letters, further complicating her public image in the wake of the scandal.

The results of the investigation didn’t just affect Campbell; Disciplinary proceedings were also initiated against other trustees. Bianka Hellmich, another trustee, was found to have been unduly paid around £290,000 ($385,000) for consulting services, in breach of the charity’s rules.

She was banned for nine years and co-founder Veronica Chou was banned for four years. The Charities Commission stressed the importance of trustees meeting their legal obligations to protect the interests of the charity, which clearly was not done in this case.

Founded in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, Fashion for Relief aimed to use the fashion industry to fight poverty and promote health and education through grantmaking. Earlier this year, the organization was dissolved and removed from the register of charities. Despite the confusion, the Charities Commission said £344,000 ($460,000) had been recovered and an additional £98,000 in charitable funds had been secured, enabling donations to be made to other organizations and outstanding debts to be repaid.