First came Michelle, then came Beyoncé, now there’s Liya.
Vogue magazine, a usual bastion for White women in fashion, is experiencing some serious browning. Their May 2009 cover will feature Ethiopian model Liya Kebede, along European models Natalia Vodianova and Anna Jagodzinga, while the foldout portion of the cover also shows Black model Jourdan Dunn and five White models. The April 2009 cover showcased a parsed down Beyoncé while their March 2009 cover honored Michelle Obama.
The shoot, which is the first cover shoot featuring real models in a long time for the fashion magazine, was presided over by photographer Steven Meisel.
Do you think this signals a shift in mainstream America’s acceptance of Black women? Or is it just a dark coincidence?
– Whitney Teal
Here’s more:
Michelle Obama covers ‘Vogue’; talks daughters’ education
J. Crew names Liya Kebede first ever ‘exclusive face’
