Naomi Campbell’s career is the stuff of fashion legends. She was discovered while shopping in London’s Covent Garden at the age of 15. Not long after, she graced her first of more than 500 magazine covers and, as one of the five original supermodels, starred in George Michael’s Freedom! ’90 video.

Now, the CFDA is proud to give Campbell the Fashion Icon award at the 2018 CFDA Fashion Awards in Partnership with Swarovski.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized by the CFDA with this year’s Fashion Icon award,” Campbell said.  “Being from London, my personal style has always been tremendously influenced by both the dynamic, ever-changing nature of street culture and the music scene. I grew up in this industry and I’m forever grateful to the iconic American fashion designers that have supported me and celebrated me throughout my career.”

Campbell joins a list of past recipients that includes Beyonce Knowles, Pharrell Williams, Johnny Depp, and Rihanna.

The supermodel needs no introduction. Over the years, she served as a muse to many designers, including Gianni Versace and Azzedine Alaïa. She has appeared on countless fashion runways with that perfect signature walk and was part of The Trinity (the famous model trio with Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista).

From Steven Meisel to Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh, Campbell worked with the world’s best photographers. She was the first black model to appear on the covers of Time magazine and French and Russian Vogues, and the first British black model to star on the cover of British Vogue.

In addition to her successful career as a model, which shows no signs of slowing downs, the London native has been steadily adding to her impressive resume. There are her acclaimed acting turns in Lee Daniels’s hit shows Empire and Star, among others. She also recently joined British Vogue as a contributing editor, working with her close friend and fellow 2018 CFDA honoree Edward Enninful, the magazine’s editor-in-chief.

Campbell is also making a mark with her charity and activism. She established Fashion for Relief in 2005, and galvanized the industry to support and raise funds for many important causes, including New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan.

Since early on in her career, she has been outspoken about the lack of diversity and inequality in the fashion industry, and she continues fighting for this important cause today.

“From enfant prodige to Goddess of Fashion,” CFDA Chairwoman Diane von Furstenberg said, “Naomi represents beauty, activism and joie de vivre.”