André Leon Talley recalled by Naomi Campbell

For those who knew Andre, he anointed people by showing up for them no matter what. He didn't just push you to be the best version of yourself, he also taught you how to be.

For many of us just starting out in the fashion industry in the 80s, André was often our spokesperson when we felt like we didn't have one. As editor and then creative director at Vogue in the United States, he would ask our questions and advocate on our behalf until we learned to do it ourselves. If we were down, he would extend a helping hand. If we couldn't get through a door, he would push it for us.

His belief that the world was up for grabs was infectious and propelled us beyond our limits. borders. It was André who encouraged me to pick up the phone and call Anna Wintour and ask for my first cover of the September issue of US Vogue. It was September 1989.

When I started the charity Fashion for Relief in 2005, it was to raise money to help survivors of the Hurricane Katrina, and I had to organize a parade in the space of a week. André stood by me throughout the process. Faced with an obstacle, he would say, “I know it's seven days, Omi, but it can be done. He was right - and the charity is doing well 17 years later.

André's influence was not limited to the fashion industry . It has spread around the world to include film, music, arts and culture.

In April 2019 Andre joined me for Fashion Week in Lagos, a trip everyone said he was not doing well enough to undertake. But again, he showed up for me. There he was, wheelchair and all, dressed like a Nigerian king, with creatives sitting at his feet listening to his wisdom. When we went to church in Lagos that Easter Sunday, he told me that coming to Africa was like an epiphany for him.

"Luxury", he once said, "It's being able to take control of your life, your health, and the pursuit of happiness in a joyful way. During seasonal fashion weeks, Andre dresses the rooms hotel as he pleased, creating a "home away from home". Nothing was ever right. He would drape his space in furs, fabrics and candles, bringing his own china and glassware. Wherever he s sitting there was an air of luxury, even though we were just sitting up in bed, ordering room service and watching TV.

André lit up the pieces, seized every opportunity, and made sure everyone around him understood that they could do the same. It's that legacy, that love for every moment, that will outlast the years. that he spent on this Earth. He will always be my chosen family and I miss him dearly. Just as he lit up every room he entered on this Earth, I know he is lighting up the sky right now, sitting on his well-deserved throne. Fly high, king, now and forever!