Naomi Campbell says she's 'just a mom' in cinematic campaign about motherhood

Naomi Campbell has shifted her public persona from runway icon to a devoted mother, saying she now thinks of herself primarily as a parent. In a new cinematic short film created in tandem with designer Tolu Coker for the spring 2026 collection, the 55-year-old supermodel emphasizes that her life off the catwalk centers on her two children, both born via surrogate in 2021 and 2023.

The project marks a break with traditional fashion campaigns. Instead of a standard fashion shoot or runway appearance, Campbell appears in a two-and-a-half-minute video that centers on motherhood and Black womanhood in fashion. The campaign accompanies Coker’s latest line and spotlights the complex, often unseen, moments of raising children while navigating a public career.

As the film unfolds, Campbell reflects on her life away from the cameras and explains how she raises her son and daughter. She states, "I'm just a mom. That's how I kind of think of myself today." She adds that those who know her may see a childlike, shy side to her, but also acknowledge that nothing in her life compares to motherhood: "With my kids I am fun, but I'm measured in the sense of discipline. The moral standard of how I was raised in a West Indian Jamaican household."

In the short, Campbell also speaks about the long arc of her career and the way motherhood has shaped her legacy. She remarks that she has been "mothering for so many decades" that it felt time to focus on the people who matter most to her now. The project weaves together reflections on memory, tradition, and the sense of responsibility that comes with raising children under the glare of global fame.

Image: Naomi Campbell in campaign imagery

The visuals in the campaign production echo a reverent, nostalgic mood. Campbell is photographed in a range of looks, including a white mini dress paired with white knee socks and pointed-toe heels; a lemon-yellow gown with a high collar and long sleeves, complemented by diamond-embellished heels; and a dark green floor-length jacket belted at the waist, with a matching hat. A final look features an all-brown tailored ensemble with a structured jacket and a tall hat. The campaign scenes unfold in a stylized setting described as a 1970s-inspired bedroom, and one shot captures Campbell lying on a curved flatbed as she embodies a poised, introspective mood. In a clear voiceover captured in the film, she notes that the moment is personal, a legacy she wants to pass on to her children and to a broader audience watching fashion reshape itself around family narratives.

Campbell’s personal story has long been of public interest, in part because of her highly private approach to motherhood. She confirmed that she welcomed a daughter in 2021 and a son in 2023, with both children's names kept private. In interviews past, she has clarified that she did not carry the pregnancies herself and that surrogacy was the path she chose to build her family. In remarks reported ahead of the campaign, she emphasized that her babies are everything to her and that her life as a mother informs her perspective on the future.

The Times has previously quoted Campbell on the meaning of motherhood in her life, including statements about not seeking a conventional partner and embracing the role of a single mother. She has described the children as 110 percent her priority and has spoken about the importance of being present for milestones such as the first day of school. The campaign’s narrative echoes these themes, presenting motherhood as a powerful, defining element of her identity rather than a mere footnote to her career.

This project comes at a moment when Campbell is widely regarded not only for her influence on fashion but also for her willingness to share intimate aspects of her life in a controlled, artistically framed context. The short film, which accompanies the Spring 2026 collection, is described as a cinematic exploration of motherhood and Black womanhood in fashion, an area that fashion houses and designers increasingly view as essential storytelling rather than a single-season showcase.

Campbell’s collaborative work with Tolu Coker also highlights a broader trend in the industry: the use of intimate, character-driven content to accompany a fashion line, with the aim of underscoring values such as family, legacy, and resilience. The campaign presents Campbell not only as a global fashion icon but as a parent navigating a high-profile career while prioritizing her children’s well-being and future.

The two children, whose names have not been made public, represent a central part of Campbell’s life narrative that she has guarded in public. She has spoken about the emotional and cultural significance of motherhood, including how her upbringing—rooted in a West Indian Jamaican household—shaped her approach to parenting and the values she seeks to pass on. Critics and fans alike have noted that Campbell’s public portrayal of motherhood resonates with a wider audience seeking authenticity and a broader representation of family life within fashion’s glamorous frame.

In sum, Naomi Campbell’s new film for Tolu Coker’s spring 2026 collection reframes both celebrity and motherhood. It positions the model as a figure who has evolved from a globally recognized runway force into a deeply personal advocate for family, legacy, and the ongoing evolution of Black women in fashion. The campaign’s cinematic format invites audiences to witness not just the aesthetics of clothing but the everyday realities and aspirations of motherhood that Campbell says now define her life.