Representation Always Matters

Black excellence is making an appearance on the covers of magazines next month and it has people talking. A whopping 13 magazines will feature black actresses, models, and singers including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Yara Shahidi, Lupita Nyong’o, and Laverne Cox. While this alone is something to praise, Beyoncé’s cover on Vogue is the first in Vogue’s history of 126 years to have a black photographer shoot the cover image. Tyler Mitchell, 23, shot not one, but two covers for Vogue.

For some, this might not be news. But for people, predominately of color, who have seen prestigious fashion magazines with the same type of women on the cover defining the standards of beauty, this is great news. Black beauty has always been a topic of controversy and while elements of black culture and fashion have been used on magazine covers like Vogue, black people have rarely been on the covers.

Tracee Ellis Ross shares her excitement on Instagram. 

THE POWER OF BLACK WOMEN ~ #blackgirlmagic @beyonce for @voguemagazine @badgalriri for @britishvogue @lupitanyongo for @portermagazine @issarae for @ebonymagazine @yarashahidi for @hollywoodreporter @zendaya for @marieclairemag @ajanaomi_king for @shape 🙋🏾‍♀️ for @ellecanada @tiffanyhaddish for @glamourmag @slickwoods for @elleuk

A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross) on Aug 8, 2018 at 4:14pm PDT

This truly is a step in the right direction to always have diversity on the covers of fashion and beauty magazines as the standards of beauty are no longer defined by European standards. We are moving into a space to accept all kinds of beauty and it is inspiring for younger girls to see someone that looks like them on the cover of a magazine.

I look forward to more covers, photographers, writers, editors, directors, etc. being people of color because Black Girls Rock! 

Women to be on the cover of September edition magazines: 

1. Beyoncé – Vogue
2. Rihanna – British Vogue
3. Yara Shahidi – Hollywood Reporter
4. Tracee Ellis Ross – Elle Canada 
5. Aja Naomi King – Shape
6. Lupita Nyong’o – Porter
7. Zendaya – Marie Claire
8. Laverne Cox – Variety
9. Issa Rae – Ebony
10. Tiffany Haddish – Glamour
11. Slick Woods – Elle UK 
12. Laura Harrier – The UK Times
13. Adwoa Aboah and Naomi Campbell – Love Magazine