Naomi Campbell Explains the Real Beauty of RuPaul in Heartfelt Time Essay

Updated on April 21, 2017 at 7:00 AM

Time magazine released their annual list of the 100 Most Influential People this week, and the feature included some tearjerking pieces from celebrities speaking about their famous friends and colleagues. Taylor Swift wrote a moving essay about her longtime pal Ed Sheeran, and Helen Mirren's article about friend and costar Ryan Reynolds will put a huge smile on your face. But another piece that had us melting was the one Naomi Campbell wrote about RuPaul; the iconic supermodel waxed poetic about the equally iconic supermodel drag queen, starting from the day they met over two decades ago.

"I first met RuPaul in the '90s, when I was doing a shoot on 14th Street in New York City. As soon as I saw him, I wanted to know where he was going, because that was where I wanted to be.

"As soon as I saw him, I wanted to know where he was going, because that was where I wanted to be."

Ru was different. Not just because he had perfect, precise clothes and makeup, or because he was the only man I knew who could look that good in a wig and heels. There were no rough edges to be found. But as I got to know him better, I got to experience firsthand his wit and his intelligence — he's like an encyclopedia. And his beauty is far beyond skin-deep.

Now, through RuPaul's Drag Race, which recently premiered on VH1 after eight seasons on Logo, millions more people are getting to know Ru like I do. It's incredible what he's done for the drag queens who compete on that show — bringing them out, introducing them to a mainstream audience, and letting them be proud of who they are and what they want to be.

I am blessed to know Ru. We all are."

See RuPaul's inspirational video interview with Time here, then read his most motivational quotes.