Naomi Campbell has proven that she is that girl on and off the runway. The 52-year-old model was awarded an honorary Ph.D. for her contributions to fashion.

Campbell was awarded her doctorate on July 7 at London’s Royal Festival Hall. She gave a heartfelt speech about how far she’s come within her career. “It’s an honor to be here today. I’m just thinking, yesterday, I was on the runway doing Balenciaga,” said Campbell in a tearful speech on a Twitter video shared by Perfect Mag.

Shoutout To South London And Her Mother

Campbell gave a shoutout to South London where she’s from and thanked her mother who has supported her throughout the trajectory of her career. Following the ceremony, she reposted a video made by Diddy, aka Sean “Diddy” Combs, who congratulated Campbell for her contributions and doctorate with cake and candles.

 

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Campbell Just Walked The Runway At Balenciaga’s Couture Show In Paris

 

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Campbell’s qualification comes shortly after walking the runway at Balenciaga’s Couture Show in Paris where she walked alongside Kim Kardashian, Christine Quinn, and Dua Lipa. She took to Instagram to share her excitement on the show with the caption, “Thank you for letting me walk in your seamless and flawless world, I was so nervous I would not fit through the door, but your amazing team and my seamstresses assured me all had been tested, ACCURATELY. It was an honor to walk for house of Balenciaga for first time in my career Happy to walk alongside my fellow Gemini Nicole Kidman.”

Campbell Was First Scouted At Age 7 And Walked Her First Show At Age 15

 

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Naomi Campbell walked her first show at 15 years old, first hitting the runway at a Jasper Conran show in 1986. She was first discovered while window shopping in London’s Covent Garden at 7 years old, and made her debut appearance that year in a Bob Marley music video.

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