“I’m 5’9½, and when I started modeling, that was considered tall,” Naomi Campbell once said, reflecting on her early career. Since people typically start to shrink after age 40, it’s possible she was taller in her prime.
While she’s occasionally claimed to be a bit taller, her confirmed height is approximately 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm). She wears a US women’s shoe size 9 and often steps into designer heels that elevate her already statuesque presence.
Naomi Campbell stuns in a textured white gown and chic sunglasses at the Off-White Spring/Summer 2023 show during Paris Fashion Week on September 29, 2022, in Paris, France (Credit: Aurore Marechal / ABACA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
She is one of the best-known and most successful black models of all time and one of the world’s wealthiest models. On Your Next Shoes, Naomi Campbell can be seen boosting her height in heels by footwear brands such as Schiaparelli, Christian Louboutin, Alaïa, Versace, and Tom Ford.
Elevated Elegance: Naomi Campbell’s Iconic Designer Heel Moments
Naomi Campbell’s style legacy is inseparable from her bold footwear choices, often turning runway moments into unforgettable fashion statements:
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- Schiaparelli: For André Leon Talley’s memorial service in April 2022, Naomi wore a custom white Schiaparelli ensemble, elevated by a pair of gold-toe sandals with sculptural heels, a perfect fusion of art and couture.
- Versace: At the 2017 amfAR New York Gala, she stunned in a sequined Atelier Versace gown featuring a high slit, subtly drawing attention to her strappy metallic sandals and signature walk—an example of how she makes every look her own.
- Alaïa: During the launch of her Fashion for Relief Pop-Up in 2014, Naomi stepped out in a chiffon ombre Burberry dress styled with Alaïa’s whipstitch boots, proving her ability to blend elegance with edge.
- Alexander McQueen: At the 2011 Angel Ball, she made a statement in a velvet trompe l’oeil gown, grounded by T-strap platform heels from Alexander McQueen—a pairing that channeled both power and poise.
- Tom Ford: At the 2013 LACMA Art + Film Gala, she turned heads in a sleek black gown, elevated by Stardust heels from Tom Ford that shimmered with every step.
- Gianvito Rossi: Channeling ballerina elegance at a special event, Naomi embraced a soft, feminine aesthetic, completed with Gianvito Rossi sandals that perfectly complemented her graceful look.
Naomi Campbell shows off her striking pedicure in bold Alexander McQueen sandals featuring sculptural heels and gold buckle accents (Credit: Nils Jorgensen / Startraksphoto)
From Towering Genes to the Runway: Naomi Campbell’s Early Modeling Journey
“Grandma was six feet tall, from a farming community in Jamaica,” Campbell told Vogue about her height genes. “I don’t know those families where they put a man at the head. Grandma was the head of our family.”
Naomi Campbell was discovered at 15 by Beth Boldt, head of the Synchro Model Agency, while window-shopping in Covent Garden.
“Suddenly, a woman came up to me and asked if I’d ever thought of modeling. It was Beth Boldt, head of the Synchro agency. My immediate reaction was surprise and excitement,” Campbell told The Guardian.
“But when I told my mum, she wasn’t into the idea at all. We’d all heard horror stories of girls being approached, paying huge amounts of money to have pictures taken and then getting nowhere. My mum wanted me to stay on at school and finish my exams.”
Naomi Campbell walks the runway during Tod’s Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2023 fashion show as part of the Milan Fashion Week on September 23, 2022, in Milan, Italy (Credit: Ik Aldama / DPA / Cover Images)
From dominating international runways to championing charitable causes, Naomi Campbell has long used fashion as a force for good, proving that style and substance can go hand in hand.
Naomi Campbell Shines in Burberry Prorsum Dress at Fashion for Relief Pop-Up in London
Naomi Campbell in a chiffon ombre dress from the Burberry Prorsum Resort 2015 collection (Credit: Lexi Jones / WENN / Euan Cherry)
In November 2014, Naomi Campbell attended the opening of a Fashion for Relief Pop-Up Shop at Westfield London, a shopping center in London.
An exclusive collection of designer items was made available for one week, and all proceeds were donated to the DEC Ebola Crisis Appeal.
Naomi Campbell at the “Fashion for Relief”Pop-Up Launch held at Westfield London in London, England, on November 27, 2014 (Credit: Lexi Jones / WENN)
The statuesque beauty donned a chiffon ombre dress from the Burberry Prorsum Resort 2015 collection featuring a plunging neckline.
While you’d typically expect a dress like this paired with sandals or pumps, Naomi opted for a pair of Alaïa whipstitch boots.
Naomi Campbell’s Alaïa whipstitch boots (Credit: WENN / Euan Cherry)
Her unexpected choice of Alaïa whipstitch boots added an edge to the soft chiffon—proof that Naomi never follows the expected fashion formula.