Naomi Campbell has successfully overturned a five-year ban on serving as a charity trustee imposed by the Charity Commission in 2024. The decision was made by the First-tier Tribunal, which ruled that Campbell was deceived by a fellow trustee in relation to serious mismanagement at Fashion for Relief, the charity she founded in 2005.

The tribunal, which issued its judgment in early October 2026, found that substantial misconduct occurred under the stewardship of Bianka Hellmich, a co-trustee at Fashion for Relief. Hellmich was found to have misused charity funds for unauthorized payments, including expenses such as Campbell’s stay at a luxury hotel in Cannes, France, spa treatments, room service, and cigarettes. The judges noted that Hellmich had forged documents, used a fake email address, and deceived both professional advisers and the Charity Commission during their investigation.

Despite the mismanagement, the tribunal concluded that Campbell was unaware of the misuse of funds and was not involved in the misconduct. The judges stated that Campbell had “no reasonable basis” to suspect Hellmich’s dishonesty before regulatory concerns arose and, upon becoming aware, took appropriate steps in response. They also emphasized that while Campbell shared some responsibility for delays in filing the charity’s accounts, this did not render her unfit to serve as a trustee given the circumstances, including the “sustained deception” she experienced.

Campbell, 56, expressed relief at the outcome, saying she was “so grateful” to the tribunal for hearing her side and recognizing the truth of what transpired. She described the episode as deeply hurtful but stated the ruling would allow her to resume her charitable work supporting communities she has long sought to serve. During the hearing in June, Campbell characterized her “only mistake” as trusting Hellmich, whom she believed was a qualified charity lawyer, but who allegedly forged her signature and lied about her credentials.

As a result of the investigation, Hellmich was disqualified from acting as a charity trustee for nine years, while another trustee, Veronica Chou, also faced a four-year disqualification. Fashion for Relief was dissolved in 2024 after the Charity Commission’s investigation, which began in 2021, found evidence of serious financial mismanagement.

A spokesman for the Charity Commission acknowledged the tribunal’s recognition that Campbell was subject to “sophisticated deception” by another trustee and confirmed the matter had been referred to the Metropolitan Police. The commission emphasized that its initial disqualification decision had been made based on the evidence available at the time.

The tribunal ruling marks a rare instance in which a Charity Commission disqualification order has been overturned, underscoring the complexities involved in the governance and oversight of charitable organizations.