Naomi Campbell, 52, discusses 'wonderful' baby girl for the first time

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Naomi Campbell has opened up about her experience becoming a mother to a baby girl, after announcing the arrival of her daughter in May.

The supermodel, 52, discussed her child for the first time during an interview with BBC HardTalk, where she described her as being ‘independent and smart’.

Naomi told listeners: ‘I’m really lucky I think have a dream child’, as she detailed the first few months of being a mother on Thursday.

Love: Naomi Campbell has opened up about her experience becoming a mother to a baby girl, after announcing the arrival of her daughter in May

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Naomi, who was recently appointed Queen’s Commonwealth Trust Platinum Jubilee Global Ambassador, said: She’s wonderful. She’s very independent already, very smart, alert, sleeps 12 hours. She’s a good girl’

When asked if she planned to instil the values in her to be a strong independent woman, Naomi said: ‘Absolutely. Right down to the hygiene part.’

Elsewhere during the chat, Naomi touched on the ongoing row between Harry and Meghan and the Royal Family – but admitted she didn’t really want to be drawn in.

So sweet: The supermodel, 52, discussed her child for the first time during an interview with BBC HardTalk, where she described her as being ‘independent and smart’

She said: ‘I actually am not going to comment too much on that. This was what I said to my friends in the room when I was watching it, and this is what I’m going to say now.

‘It was sad for me knowing Princess Diana to see that her two boys were not on good terms. As a mother, that’s the last thing you want to happen to your boys. She’s no longer here. That’s her legacy, her two boys. You don’t want to see that happen.’

Naomi announced the arrival of her daughter in May with a sweet Instagram post of her daughter’s tiny feet.

‘A beautiful little blessing has chosen me to be her mother,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘So honoured to have this gentle soul in my life there are no words to describe the lifelong bond that I now share with you, my angel. There is no greater love.’

The British supermodel wrote: ‘A beautiful little blessing has chosen me to be her mother’

Friends said they believe that Campbell used a surrogate, and the supermodel is understood to have a new boyfriend with whom she will raise the child.

‘I’m not out here on my own,’ she told The Cut. ‘It’s simple, and it’s small. To be with your loved ones who just want to enjoy the quality time.

‘When I reach out to people, and I need help and understanding and guidance, it’s important for me to remember to say ‘Thank you.’ You never know when you may need that person to help you again or guide you.’

Waiting for a baby: She posted a picture of herself cradling a newborn at an orphanage in Lagos in 2019

Though Naomi announced this spring that she had welcomed a baby girl, she admitted in a new interview that her high-powered jetset lifestyle has meant at least one big sacrifice: finding a long-term romantic partner.

‘I’d say the sacrifice is really finding that soul mate who will understand you,’ she told The Cut.

‘It’s really like you feel if they look at you as if you’re strong … you know, I’m strong, but I’m also sensitive. I know that in relationships I have to compromise.’

Sacrifice: Naomi said in an interview that because of her career, she gave up finding a ‘soul mate who will understand you’

Campbell has has plenty of well-publicized relationships and romances over the years, including with Leonardo DiCaprio, Diddy, Gerard Butler, and recently, according to reports, Liam Payne.

Her longest known relationships were with Vladislav Doronin from 2009 to 2013 and Flavio Briatore from 1998 to 2002.

She was reportedly keen to have children with Russian businessman Doronin, but Doronin was married.

She has certainly moved forward — with force — since her modeling career began at age 15. By then, she’d already been in music videos for Bob Marley and Culture Club.

She was on a steep trajectory, covering British Elle before she turned 16 and spending the next decade walking runways for designers including Versace, Azzedine Alaïa, Isaac Mizrahi, Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, Fendi, Balmain, Vivienne Westwood, and Ralph Lauren.

She also posed for the most famous photographers in the world, including Peter Lindbergh, Herb Ritts, Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, and Bruce Weber, and earned the cover of Anna Wintour’s first September issue of Vogue.

Versace! But she has ‘no time for bitterness’ and ‘I want to keep going and doing things that I love doing in my life,’ including her mega-successful career (pictured in 1991

Flashback: In the ’80s, she earned the cover of Anna Wintour’s first September issue of Vogue

Iconic: She’d reached icon status by 1990, and in June 2018 received the Fashion Icon award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America

She’d reached icon status by 1990, and in June 2018 received the Fashion Icon award by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

She has released 25 fragrances for women, published four books, released music, and appeared in a dozen and a half films.

Now she’s taking on motherhood, something she’s long dreamed of.

In 2017 she told ES magazine: ‘I think about having children all the time. But now with the way science is I think I can do it when I want.’

Asked if she would have the child herself rather than adopt, she replied, ‘maybe,’ but she went on to add: ‘I do want a father figure. I think it’s important.’

In 2018, she said: ‘I’d love to have kids. I don’t discount anything in life. I love kids and always will. When I’m around children, I become a child myself. That’s the little girl I don’t ever want to lose.’

A look back at Naomi Campbell’s romances, from A-list flings to long-term loves

By Alison Boshoff for The Daily Mail

Short-lived: Naomi was linked to the One Direction star Liam Payne, 23 years her junior, in 2009

2019: Liam Payne

Naomi was linked to One Direction star Liam Payne, 23 years her junior, following her break-up from Skepta and his break-up from Cheryl.

They are said to have enjoyed a few dates but it was ultimately short-lived.

It began with a seemingly harmless flirtation on Instagram, liking and commenting on one another’s steamy posts.

Liam described her as ‘perfection in a person’, with her branding him ‘a beautiful soul’. They were then spotted at the concert of musician Davido at The O2 in London.

There were reports about Liam bragging about the couple’s ‘mind-blowing’ sex, but when Naomi was asked outright about the tryst on The Jonathan Ross Show she said the rumours were ‘humorous’. Any romance appeared to end shortly after this.

Hot off the press: Rapper Skepta and Naomi’s tryst appeared to be done and dusted before too long, shortly after appearing in a joint GQ shoot in their underwear

2018: Skepta

Their raunchy cover of GQ magazine, in only their underwear, sent fans wild.

But rapper Skepta and Naomi’s tryst appeared to be done and dusted before too long.

Of the shoot, Naomi said afterwards: ‘We basically did that shoot on our own, it wasn’t for any publication, and once I saw the pictures I was like ‘no, no, no we should come out…’

‘And so then I started making some calls. It wasn’t like I was going to wait months for it to come out – it’s either got to come out in the next few or it ain’t coming out at all.’

Come out indeed it did, with the duo taking part in a joint interview at the time, playing coy about any romance. To this day it’s still unclear, but Skepta seemingly mentioned Naomi on one of his tracks in 2020. They are thought to still be close.

2017: Louis C. Camilleri

It was claimed in 2017 that Naomi was dating Egyptian multimillionaire Louis C. Camilleri, who was 66 at the time.

The supermodel was said to be enjoying a string of London dinners with the businessman, who was worth over £150 million.

Naomi reportedly met Louis through their shared love of Formula One as they frequented the same races and are said to have met and bonded at the events.

Snapped: In July 2016, Naomi was pictured with billionaire businessman Hassan Jameel when they attended the British Summer Time Festival together

2016: Hassan Jameel

In July 2016, Naomi was pictured looking cosy with billionaire businessman Hassan Jameel when they attended the British Summer Time Festival together in London – although their romance was never confirmed.

In 2017, it was claimed that the supermodel had fallen out with singer Rihanna after she was spotted putting on a steamy display with Hassan, 32, in Ibiza.

The Sun reported at the time that Naomi was disgruntled that the singer and Hassan, who split in early 2020, had fallen so hard – as she hates feeling ‘second best’.

2009-2013: Vladislav Doronin

Thought to be her longest relationship, Naomi dated Russian billionaire Vladislav Doronin for five years.

They enjoyed lavish trips to the topics together and appeared to have a solid romance, but it ended in 2013.

Runaway bride: This dalliance was brief, but Naomi and Brazilian equity magnate Marcus Elias were said to be engaged at one point [pictured 2008]

2008: Marcus Elias

This dalliance was brief, but Naomi and Brazilian equity magnate Marcus Elias were said to be engaged at one point.

Their relationship both began and ended in 2008, however.

Friendly exes: Naomi has been seen socialising with Gerard Butler at events, despite their alleged romance fizzling out in 2007 [pictured 2009]

2007: Gerard Butler

Naomi and the Scots action star were rumoured to be an item in 2007 when they were seen hanging out together on multiple occasions.

Seemingly a friendly ex to many, Naomi has since been seen socialising with him at events, despite their alleged romance fizzling out.

2005-2006: Badr Jafar

Naomi and oil heir Badr Jafar were reportedly a couple for 10 months.

Apparently, for Naomi’s 35th birthday, he hired out eight floors of the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai to throw her a £1 million party. He himself has an estimated worth of £2 billion.

2002: P Diddy

It’s still unclear how romantic Naomi and music star P Diddy were, but they were linked in 2002.

Since, they have been very close friends and are thought to consider one another more as siblings.

Flavio of the month: Despite a lengthy dalliance, Naomi and Flavio Briatore split because, according to Naomi, he wanted her as ‘a trophy’ [pictured 2001]

1998-2002: Flavio Briatore

Flavio Briatore – the boss of Benetton – was with Naomi from 1998 until they parted ways in 2002.

The Italian – who is 21 years Naomi’s senior and worth £258 million – famously said after their split: ‘She’s great but better as a friend than a girlfriend!’

Naomi later told Marie Claire: ‘I’m not going to be a trophy. If you expect me to be in the kitchen cooking breakfast in high heels, looking as though I just stepped out of a fashion magazine, it’s not going to happen.’

1995: Leonardo DiCaprio

Known for a revolving door of romances, a penchant for models and being seemingly disinterested in settling down, Leonardo DiCaprio was perhaps a kindred spirit for Naomi when they were linked in 1995.

The couple’s dalliance was fleeting, however. They appeared to have remained pally ever since, seen chatting at events on many an occasion since.

While she has never been married, Naomi was previously engaged to U2 bass player Adam Clayton after getting together in 1993 and despite their split in 1994, the stunner has always spoken fondly of the musician.

In a 2015 interview with the Irish Independent, she mused: ‘I’m friends with the whole [of U2]. The whole band were great. Their kids are all grown up.

Nearly beloved: While she has never been married, Naomi was previously engaged to U2 bass player Adam Clayton after getting together in 1993

‘It’s nice to know people for so long and still have a relationship… I only have very positive things to say about him. I am very proud of Adam.’

I n the early 90s, Naomi was also briefly linked to Hollywood star Robert De Niro.

But, addressing her dating life at the time, she told WSJ: ‘For me, privacy is important to know each other, and I always worry that my job will not allow that.

‘But I have ways. I was taught that by Robert De Niro. Being alone doesn’t mean you are lonely. I don’t have time to be bored, and I don’t have time to be lonely.’

Last year, in an interview with Times Weekend magazine, Naomi said she is on good terms with all her previous ex-boyfriends, but admitted she isn’t friends with her ‘last’ ex.

Discussing who she has dated, she said: ‘Why don’t you say it the other way round? Surely it was their privilege just as much as mine to be with them? But yes, I had some wild and exciting times until I changed my life aged 29.

‘Whatever they say about me, I have remained friends with all my exes… except the last one.’

Asked if she means Skepta, she simply said: ‘A lady never discusses the details of her private life.’