agnete callesen's List: British Celebrities

Yes, she can be a diffcult, often impossible, little madam. But consider where Naomi came from: the journey from Streatham to global superstardom as a black model is not a well-trodden path. In fact, she was the first, and remains the only one who's ever done it.

Naomi led the way for black girls on the catwalk, and has fought like a lioness for 20 years against the institutional racism that pervades the fashion world to this day.

She's had her problems with anger management, drugs and timekeeping, to put it mildly. But she's never been less than entertaining, she still looks incredible and every time I see her she slaps me round the shoulders and smothers me with kisses, and that does wonders for my street cred.

Britain would be a duller place without Ms Campbell to spice things up a bit. And every young black model starting out on their career right now will have cause to be thankful to her for making that path an easier, more accepted one.

Age 39 Born London Education Dunraven School; Italia Conti Academy Homes London; New York