Naomi Campbell’s YouTube series No Filter With Naomi has been one of our lockdown obsessions for months and on Tuesday, the legendary fashion model welcomed longtime friend Mariah Carey on as a guest for an epic tête-à-tête.
The Grammy winner tuned in looking glamorous as usual wearing an off-the-shoulder black top, drop earrings and her favorite Van Cleef and Arpels diamond butterfly ring. Her honey-colored locks were perfectly styled in waves as she snuggled up with a grey fuzzy blanket. The eight-time Vogue cover girl for her part wore a short sleeve blush hued top and pin-straight, extra long hairstyle with a center part.
The highly-anticipated episode, titled “Mariah Carey on The Meaning of Mariah,” began as a love fest between the two divas who met back in the 90s, although neither could remember the exact moment.
“You are part of my life,” gushed the British beauty. “Yes you are this superstar but you are the girl’s girl, you are warm, you are graceful, you are down to earth, you are there when it really matters. You can talk to you, you can call you and you pick up. That’s the Mariah Carey I know. We share a lot of amazing and wonderful friends, some of whom we’ve lost but their spirits keep us even more connected. I just want people to know the person I know, that I love and has been consistent. We don’t have to speak every day but I know that you’re there.”
“You know I feel the same way about you” Carey responded. “Stuff happens and we don’t get a chance to talk as much would be perfect in my scenario but the Naomi Campbell I know has always been there for me, has really gone out of her way to make my life better, to introduce me to people and make it a major thing. It’s a very special and rare thing.”
One of those people was the late Azzedine Alaïa, whom Campbell considered her “Pop Pop.” She introduced the designer to the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” singer in order to create a major red carpet moment.
“He was one of the most amazing designers in the world, and Mariah, you were going to the Grammys for the first time in a while and we wanted you to look amazing.” she said. “And you know how many people would ask me [for an introduction]. But he was so special to me I never felt compelled to do it, but when you and I were discussing it, I was like ok Mariah, I can be in Paris in two days. Meet me there and I’ll make it happen.”
The two reminisced and shared sweet memories of Alaïa cooking in the kitchen and even revealed that he was the godfather to Carey’s nine-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan.
“[The kids] loved him, he was like a magical mythical creature,” said the singer. “I feel like he was so majestic and there was a thing about him that kids gravitated towards, people loved his designs, but he was this incredible fairytale figure.”
Carey also used her guest spot to promote her memoir The Meaning of Mariah, co-written with Michaela Angela Davis. The book recounts an “improbable and inspiring journey of survival and resilience as she struggles through complex issues of race, identity, class, childhood, and family trauma during her meteoric rise to music superstardom.”
The Long Island native also teased her upcoming 2020 Christmas special, Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special, which will premiere on December 4 on Apple TV+ along with a soundtrack. The special will feature guests, including Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Misty Copeland, Jermaine Dupri, and Mykal-Michelle Harris.
“I’m so thankful because this year has been obviously awful to all of us,” said Carey. “I’m so excited because it really is what I love and to be able to try to bring some festiveness to the world this year for Christmas.”
“Your special is going to be embraced more than ever because it’s what people need right now,” agreed the model. “They need that to be able to dream, they need that to be able to fantasize because it’s been an extremely tough year for so many.”
Campbell launched her passion project YouTube series back in the spring amid the COVID-19 global pandemic sharing “intimate conversations” with some of her closest friends in the worlds of fashion, media, film, and music. Her inaugural guest was Cindy Crawford, while subsequent guests ranged from Marc Jacobs, Adut Akech, and Christy Turlington to Ashley Graham, Cameron Diaz and Nicole Richie.
