Supermodel Naomi Campbell admits failures at charity

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has acknowledged shortcomings in her role as a trustee of the Fashion for Relief charity, which she founded, media reports say.

Campbell, however, insists she did not engage in any financial misconduct or misuse the charity for personal gain during its operation.

Fashion for Relief did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment and Campbell could not be reached late on Friday in London.

She "may not have been as actively engaged in the charity's day-to-day operations as she should have been", Campbell's spokesperson told The Guardian adding that she had "never engaged in any form of financial misconduct."

Last month, Campbell was banned from being a charity trustee for five years after an inquiry found that funds raised for good causes were used for spa treatments and cigarettes.

"Naomi has never received payment for her involvement with Fashion for Relief, nor has she billed any personal expenses to the organisation," The Guardian reported citing a statement issued on behalf of Campbell on Friday.

She founded Fashion For Relief in 2005, aiming to raise funds for humanitarian causes by staging runway shows, but the organisation was removed from Britain's list of charities this year.

An inquiry published by the Charity Commission found multiple instances of misconduct and mismanagement, and the commission said it was banning Campbell plus two others from trusteeship as a result.

Between 2016 and 2022, the regulator found that only 8.5 per cent of Fashion for Relief's expenditure was directed towards charitable grants.

The Charity Commission has recovered £344,000 ($A666,000), and secured protection for a further £98,000 ($A190,000) of charitable funds.

The body found no evidence that trustees acted to ensure fundraising methods were in the charity's best interests or that expenditure was reasonable when compared to the income it generated.

It also branded some spending misconduct or mismanagement, including a £12,300 ($A24,000) flight from London to Nice for transferring art and jewellery to a fundraiser in Cannes, and Campbell's £7800 ($A15,000) three-night stay at a five-star hotel, during which she clocked up almost £6600 ($A12,800) in expenses.

Unauthorised payments were also made to one of the trustees, while money was spent on room service, spa treatments and cigarettes.