Iman, Naomi Campbell, Liya Kebede. Now THOSE are cover subjects worth celebrating.
The black supermodel trio graces the September issue, which also happens to be the 'Fashion' issue of most every magazine and ESSENCE's 40th Anniversary cover.
There's something about seeing three beautiful, successful, acclaimed models that just fills me with pride. These women are powerhouses in an industry that has never been too kind to people of color, and that is surely something to celebrate!
Iman has set the stage for how to transition a career as a model to a business mogul with her successful enterprises, Iman Cosmetics and Global Chic. Naomi, with her legal troubles and recent appearance in court over blood diamonds, will be forever lauded as one of the best models to walk the runway, of any color. And Liya Kebede is a global ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health through the World Health Organization.
This is also the debut issue of ESSENCE's controversial hire, white Fashion Director, Elliana Placas, so I'm sure the inside Fashion pages will receive lots of attention from both sides of the argument. Not certain that Elliana styled the cover (for the last six months while she served as a Freelance Director, and the prior three months where a black Fashion Director was in place, the covers were styled by a freelance stylist), but neutral is inarguably one of the season's biggest, most celebrated trends.
What do you think of the cover?
Discuss.
Kisses,
Coutura