5 Items To Decorate Your Space Like Naomi Campbell’s Kenyan Escape
It's no secret Naomi Campbell is living large, but did you know she had a relaxing Keyan retreat in addition to her other homes? Actually, the supermodel was just appointed the country's new tourism ambassador for her supreme adoration for all things related to the culture, including her estate there.
The open-air residence is located in Malindi and its sky-high Makuti roofs can't be missed. Naomi invited Architectural Digest inside to see the stunning, nature-inspired decor and gave fans a virtual tour of the impressive digs that also house a spa. "It's a beautiful place. This is definitely my go-to place [for] chilling, relaxing, and like completely shutting down...Kenya is just like a natural gem. It has the Safari, it has the bush, it has the coast, it has the dunes—it has all the elements," Naomi gushed mid-tour.
Inside Naomi Campbell's Luxury Villa In Kenya | Open Door | Architectural Digest
After going from room to room, which included shuffling across lush greenery and several outdoor pools, she concluded the tour on this note:
"I hope that you will all now look at Kenya with different eyes and come here and enjoy the gorgeous nature that it gives. The African continent is where it's at. Watch. Been saying it for a long time, but you'll see."
Now, if booking a ticket to Kenya is not in your future anytime soon, we did pull some key elements of the fashion legend's decor that will bring all the Kenyan vibes straight to you. From Moroccan light fixtures to wildlife art, below see how you can create your own naturistic oasis.
Coffee Table Books That Set The Mood
Architectural Digest/YouTube
"We have to give props to the two ladies which [are] Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher who have been champions of Africa and Kenya for so long," Naomi says to the cameras before adding, "[They're] my heroes of the whole region because they've just done [so much for] and always [just showed] the beauty of Kenya."
We figured what better way to bring some authentic Keyan culture into your space than with first edition copies of Naomi's heroes. This beautiful set is filled with photos and stories to swipe through of the people Naomi holds so dear. This photographer and author duo's work can sit pretty on your coffee table that's most likely from Ikea, unlike Naomi's handcrafted Keyan woodwork. A girl can dream!
Fake a Green Thumb and Breathe Easy
"What I love about being here is that you're really living outside, you know? Even if you're covered, it's still open...you still get the natural air and the breeze," Namoi talked up her space. Well, since most of us regular folk aren't living in enormous villas, you can bring a little piece of the outside inside. And while real plants have awesome benefits aside from your decor needs, some of us just aren't blessed with a green thumb. If that's you, save yourself the grief and adopt an artificial plant baby. You'll be glad you did when you're admiring its green hue all year long.
A Lush Bed Canopy to Cozy Into
Architectural Digest/YouTube
Naomi has a love of bed canopies, but honestly who doesn't? "I always love when I go to hotels and they have it," she said. While her canopies double as mosquito protection in Kenya, you can play pretend and just enjoy the cozy aesthetic.
She also served up a bit of beauty advice in the bedroom, too: "I don't personally sleep in air conditioning. I don't like it. It gives wrinkles, I believe."
Wildlife Art That Sparks Creativity
Naomi's home is full of art—paintings, sculptures, photography. She notes Armando Tanzini as one of her favorite local artists and credits him for many works featured in the home. Original art can be pricey, so we suggest copping a print instead. She showed off a lion portrait displayed on her bedroom wall, so we found this print that also makes a statement.
Moroccan-Style Lighting to Ignite a Vibe
Architectural Digest/YouTube
Naomi showed off a lantern-style chandelier noting, "It has that Moroccan Egyptian vibe." We're not sure how many coins the authentic Kenyan piece she has in her home will run you (Our guess? Many, many coins.), but get a similar vibe with this luxe table lamp version.
Featured image screengrab via Architectural Digest/YouTube
- Naomi Campbell Whole Foods Shopping List - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Naomi Campbell 5-Minute Makeup Routine - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Naomi Campbell Takes Us on a Tour of Her Lavish Kenyan Villa for ... ›
- Naomi Campbell's Estate In Kenya Is The Definition Of A Dream Home ›
- Watch Open Door | Inside Naomi Campbell's Luxury Villa In Kenya ... ›
- Naomi Campbell's Sprawling Kenyan Home Has Four Swimming ... ›
- Tour Naomi Campbell's Sprawling Kenyan Escape | Architectural ... ›
- Naomi Campbell's Kenya tourism role causes row - BBC News ›
Jazmine A. Ortiz is a creative born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn and currently living in Staten Island, NY. She started in the entertainment industry in 2012 and now works as a Lifestyle Editor where she explores everything from mental health to vegan foodie trends. For more on what she's doing in the digital space follow her on Instagram at @liddle_bitt.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Another season of Love Is Blind has come to a close, and almost two months later we’re still unpacking the drama that is Clay and AD. The finale, reunion, and post-interviews with Clay and AD after season six of Love Is Blind left millions of people wondering - why couldn’t AD see the signs? Clay told her he had a fear of marriage, his parents experienced infidelity, and he seemed to have many doubts about saying, "I do."
After changing his mind at the altar and hearing AD question why she feels like she’s never enough, I was finished watching. I didn’t need to hear anything else because, at that moment, I realized this wasn’t about Clay; this was about AD feeling inadequate before she ever met Clay.
If I’m honest, I don’t watch much dating television. TikTok keeps me updated with the clips that I need to see in order to be kept in the loop, but it’s difficult for me to watch an entire season of dating TV because seeing Black women settle for less and questioning their beauty is a trigger for me. In many ways, there were points in my life where I was AD, settling and ignoring red flags because I wanted to be loved.
Now, on the other side, it doesn’t feel good to see Black women lower their standards on national television. There have been many hot takes on this couple and who was in the wrong. Did Clay play in AD’s face or did she not listen to the truth of what he told her from day one? Was his reason for joining the show to promote his business and not to find the one?
We’ll never know the truth, but what we can do is learn tactics to better our self-worth. Founder and CEO of The Self Love Organization Denise Francis shared her expertise with xoNecole on what tangible steps to take to improve feelings of worthiness. “Self-love blooms in a garden where self-worth is planted, nourished, and whole. However, when your self-worth is challenged, displaced, or broken, it could be difficult to rebuild," Denise explains.
How To Rebuild Self-Worth
During her self-love coaching sessions, Denise likes to walk her clients through the cornerstones of rebuilding self-worth: grace and self-compassion. To her, self-worth is never lost, it's only displaced, so practicing self-compassion and giving yourself grace is a must. "We tend to place our self-worth in entities and people of ourselves such as relationship status, physical appearance, material possessions, social media followings, what others think of us, and more. Self-worth is not something to be measured by anyone or anything outside of ourselves because we all innately hold value and worth.
"Self-worth is not something to be measured by anyone or anything outside of ourselves because we all innately hold value and worth."
"When we place our value into people or things, we tend to feel that we are not enough, worth it, special, or important when relationship status, job titles, friendships, and physical appearances are lost or changed. We then tend to feel lost within ourselves because we’ve placed our value outside of ourselves. Using grace and compassion, you can rebuild your self-worth by returning home to who you are at your core," she concludes.
How To Return Home To Yourself
Denise advises taking a step back and using self-reflection through journaling by answering the following journaling prompts:
First, ask yourself, "What do you tend to attach your self-worth to and why?"
Is it your relationships, your job title, your finances, your appearance, etc.? Why do you think you place so much emphasis on external status? How does it make you feel when you are defining yourself through these entities and/or people outside of yourself?
Then, ask yourself, "Without these things, who am I?"
Once you have your answers, show yourself kindness, remove the shame, and, as Denise says, "Redefine yourself by detaching your value from the things and people you have no control over and no longer serve you. Challenge yourself to define yourself outside of titles and societal values."
"By returning home to your core, you find value in who you are as a person. You begin to find value in the way you love instead of your relationship status, your compassion instead of your popularity, your drive instead of your income/job title, and your heart instead of your physical appearance," she adds.
"By returning home to your core, you find value in who you are as a person."
"Be intentional with healing your self-worth by leaning into the people and things that nourish your core values. Surround yourself with the people who love and cherish you, they will always remind you just how valuable you truly are."
It all goes back to self-compassion and grace. As Denise explains, leading with those two things as you heal and rebuild your self-worth allows you to reduce negative self-talk that might come up for you. "This weakens thoughts like, 'I am not enough... why am I never enough?'" she shares, "And 'I don't deserve this while strengthening thoughts like 'I deserve better,' 'I am enough,' and 'I am worth it.'"
Denise continues, "Once you return home and remember the irreplaceable person you are, you can rebuild your self-worth by placing it back where it belongs. It belongs to you."
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by LaylaBird/Getty Images