MILAN — Supermodel Naomi Campbell is to headline the third edition of the Black Carpet Awards as godmother of the event, scheduled for Sept. 24, WWD can reveal exclusively.

The yearly event is promoted by the Afro Fashion Association and celebrates leaders of change based in Italy and belonging to underrepresented communities who are active in creative and entrepreneurial industries. The awards will be bestowed at Teatro Manzoni during Milan Fashion Week, which runs Sept. 23 to 29.

The aim is to celebrate underrepresented talents from fashion, design, food, music, sport, cinema and elsewhere in hopes of furthering the diversity, equity and inclusion conversation globally.

In keeping with the first two editions, the Afro Fashion Association, which boasts a database of more than 3,000 professionals based in Italy, has shortlisted 22 finalists competing for one of the 10 prizes across the five categories: culture, legacy, creativity, community and entrepreneurship. 

“As we reach the third edition of the Black Carpet Awards, we renew our invitation to collective commitment: to rewrite history together. ‘Black’ to us means the sum of all colors, a symbol of plurality and inclusion. Being seen, recognized and considered an integral part of society is a right everyone should experience,” said Michelle Francine Ngonmo, the founder of the Afro Fashion Association and the mastermind behind the awards.

“A truly inclusive society is not only fairer, but also richer in human, cultural and economic terms. Changing the status quo requires courage, daily dialogue and cross-sector collaboration. Only through shared and consistent action we can build a more equitable and representative future. The Black Carpet Awards aim to be a real space where this change takes shape. An opportunity to promote a new vision of society that, starting in Milan, can speak to the whole world. We are here and we continue to hope that more and more people will join us to keep pushing this transformation and rewrite the system,” she said.

The 2025 award nominees include Nogaye Ndiaye, Mariam Battistelli, Meraf Villani, Modou Gueye and Simão Amista for culture; Augusta Carter, Jem Perucchini, Rediet Longo, Shannice Alogaga and Williams Obrou Zouzouo, known as Gaudì2000, for creativity; Aya Mohamed, Deepika Salhan, Kwanza Musi Dos Santos, Laura Berrie Amponsah and Ronke Oluwadare for community; Antonio Dikele Distefano, Caterina Monda and Debrina Aliyah, Ibrahim Songne, Issa Yerima and Reuben K. Sam for entrepreneurship, as well as Igiaba Scego and Leandra Medeiros Cerezo for legacy.

The event will also bestow its One-Time Award, which every year is named after a Black personality who has contributed to and promoted the Afro-descendant culture on the global stage. This year’s award is dedicated to Koyo Kouoh, an artist who has shaped the African diasporic art in Italy. Last year’s award was named after the late Virgil Abloh.

Five yet-to-be-announced finalists who are active in the art field will compete for the latter prize.

All winners will be selected by a jury of experts across different industries presided over by Ngonmo; model and showgirl Afef Jnifen; Carlo Capasa, president of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana; designers Edward Buchanan, Tokyo James and Stella Jean; DJ Honey Dijon; Off-White’s creative director Ib Kamara; Marco Bizzarri, founder and chairman of the Forel fund and chairman of Elisabetta Franchi; Pomellato’s CEO Sabina Belli, among many others.

The Afro Fashion Association, which has been actively spotlighting talents from different backgrounds since 2015, is also unveiling “The New Wave” short movie at the upcoming Black Carpet Awards. The video will highlight 10 innovative and inspiring emerging creative talents from around the world.