VITTORIO ZUNINO CELOTTO/GETTY it to a true MVP like Naomi Campbell to photograph herself for ESSENCE’s anniversary cover and rival the work of some of the greatest photographers ever to shoot her.

Before becoming a household name, the supermodel, who turns 50 today, took the fashion, beauty and modeling worlds by storm.

Those big bright eyes, her undeniable skin, the soft British accent, those unparalleled cheekbones and the best legs entertainment had seen since Tina Turner—it was all too much yet never enough.

Naomi skyrocketed to fashion royalty after gracing the runways of every haute couture designer from Albania to Zanzibar.

So on her big day, we pay tribute with 50 beauty shots that chronicle just a small part of why Naomi is, and will always be, 50th Birthday, Naomi VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi McCarthy/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Barson 50th Birthday, Naomi Pimentel/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi McCarthy/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi Marsland/Mike 50th Birthday, Naomi LIFE Picture Collection via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi Zunino Celotto/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Spicer/BFC/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi Venturelli/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi ORBAN/Sygma via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Rentz/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Schober/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Allocca/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi de Moraes Barros 50th Birthday, Naomi Life Pictures/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi DUCLOS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Sciulli/WireImage for Audi of 50th Birthday, Naomi VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi Lauren/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi LACROIX/AFP via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Zunino Celotto/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Lagneau/Catwalking/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Marco Tacca/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi Miller/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi Dipasupil/Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty 50th Birthday, Naomi 50th Birthday, Naomi Chesnot/Getty Beauty ESSENCE 50th Anniversary Naomi Campbell Naomi Campbell 50th birthday Naomi Campbell birthday