Racism is a cliche word: Naomi Campbell

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has claimed that she does not like the use of the word "racism" to describe discrimination she has faced in the fashion industry from time to time.

The 45-year-old British supermodel made the comments during an interview when she was asked whether she faced racism at the start of her career in the '80s, reported Contactmusic.

"I never use that word 'racism'. I find it a cliche word and I don't want to use it as an excuse," she replied.

"For me it was... I call it territorialism, where there are people that have that certain territory and they stand their ground, and they are not going to change their mind and that is their opinion."

Campbell did offer some specific examples of when she felt she was discriminated against, citing when she was turned down for the cover of the French version of Vogue magazine in the late '80s.

"At first they said no, because they had never had anyone on it. It was instantly 'no' without thinking. So I thought, 'Let me go to my great friend Yves Saint Laurent and tell him'... I asked him to fix the situation and he did. That is how I got it."