Rather than list fashion trends, the new editor of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, chose to showcase powerful players in both politics and the arts on the cover of his first issue, out on stands this Friday.
Adwoa Aboah on the cover of British Vogue December 2017 (first issue with Edward Enninful as Editor in Chief) pic.twitter.com/CvPcmVYDjk
— strh (@stereothypes) November 8, 2017
Featuring mixed-race model and feminist activist Adwoa Aboah, the Guardian says it’s clear that based on the tone of this first cover, Enninful plans on steering the publication toward a place where engaging conversations about diversity will take place.
Enninful, who is the first man and first black editor to lead British Vogue in its 101-year history, is described in the Financial Times as someone who “wears his success discreetly,” and is on a “campaign to be approachable.” Raised without some of the privilege other Vogue staffers were born into, Enninful told the FT: “When I heard I got the job, I thought I would love to create a Vogue that is inclusive, that represents the world today,” he said.
“I spoke to many of my friends who live here [in London] and they felt that they weren’t represented somehow in the magazine. They come from all walks of life and I thought it’s very important to me to create a magazine that deals with a range of all sizes, age, gender, religion, modern Britain today. I wanted Vogue to be inviting and not so intimidating.”
Indeed, the Guardian notes that there was no black model on the cover between Naomi Campbell in 2002 and Jourdan Dunn in 2014. Campbell herself took to Instagram late this summer to express her excitement about Enninful taking control
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