British Vogue Gains Applause For Historic Magazine Cover With All-African Models
In a historic precedent for one of the world’s preeminent fashion magazines, British Vogue unveiled a cover featuring nine African models for the title’s February 2022 issue.
According to The Guardian, the image—which sees the models positioned in three rows—harkens back to the iconic ‘Supers’ Vogue cover from 1990, when the idea of the supermodel first took over the industry.
The discussion surrounding the representation of women of color in the modeling industry isn’t a new one but has reappeared at the forefront since the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.
While The Fashion Spot noted that 43% of the models who walked last year’s fall/winter shows were women of color, the lack of representation of non-caucasian models on advertisements and print publications, such as magazine covers, has come under scrutiny.
Models featured in British Vogue’s stunning pictorial include Adut Akech, Nyagua Ruea, Anok Yai, Majesty Amare, Amar Akway, Janet Jumbo, Many Fall, Abény Nhial, and Akon Changkou.
BRITISH VOGUE IS THAT GIRL! pic.twitter.com/hW1ygLn6sY
— Miss KIDCORE™ï¸ 2022 (@LOUIS_via_ROMA) January 13, 2022
The move has been lauded by readers everywhere. “This is absolutely incredible,” remarks global advertising expert Martin O. “British Vogue always understands the assignment,” says Twitter account Blk Girl Culture.
“I saw all these incredible models from across Africa who were just so vivacious and smart. These girls, are redefining what it is to be a fashion model,” said the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Edward Enninful.
“We’ve had the Brazilian wave. We’ve had the Dutch wave, the Russian wave, the Eastern European wave… And while, in the last decade, the Black model has come to prominence, I love that we are finally giving more space to African beauty,” he added.
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[via The Guardian and British Vogue, cover image via British Vogue]
