Beyoncé's Groundbreaking September Issue
The Queen has single handedly altered America's eldest fashion publication with this monumental story.
Beyoncé in a Gucci dress, Lynn Ban headpiece, and Rebel Rebel headdress by Tyler Mitchell for Vogue September 2018
The rumors that have been floating around social media for the past week are true! This morning, Beyoncé’s September cover story for Vogue was released. And, within its 126 years of traditional print, the story was shot by Vogue’s first Black photographer Tyler Mitchell. And, yes, the Queen and the 23-year-old photographer did not disappoint.
Beyoncé in Alexander McQueen and Lynn Ban earrings by Tyler Mitchell for Vogue September 2018
Posted by Marley Shelby
Beyoncé’s Groundbreaking September Issue
The Queen has single handedly altered America’s eldest fashion publication with this monumental story.
Beyoncé in a Gucci dress, Lynn Ban headpiece, and Rebel Rebel headdress by Tyler Mitchell for Vogue September 2018
The rumors that have been floating around social media for the past week are true! This morning, Beyoncé’s September cover story for Vogue was released. And, within its 126 years of traditional print, the story was shot by Vogue’s first Black photographer Tyler Mitchell. And, yes, the Queen and the 23-year-old photographer did not disappoint.
Beyoncé in Alexander McQueen and Lynn Ban earrings by Tyler Mitchell for Vogue September 2018
In her cover interview, Beyoncé says that she wants to use her platform, as a Black artist, to create opportunities for young artists of color; very similar to the way the musicians that came before her did such as Nina Simone, Tina Turner, and Whitney Houston. According to the Huffington Post, Beyoncé had “unprecedented control” over her Vogue cover story and personally hired Tyler Mitchell to photograph her. Young, Black and self-taught, Tyler Mitchell has done work for brands like Marc Jacobs as well as various magazines including Office Magazine, Teen Vogue, and now Vogue. Beyoncé also had visual control on how the story was presented in the magazine layout and her interview was conducted by Black writer and editor, Clover Hope.
Photographer Tyler Mitchell, photo courtesy of @tylersphotos
In a Vogue interview of Tyler Mitchell, written by Chioma Nnadi, he states the photographs show off a more vulnerable side of Beyoncé. In these images, much like the visuals and the story within her 2016 visual album Lemonade, we see less of “Beyoncé the superstar” us fans see onstage wearing sparkly leotards and thigh-high boots. Here, styled in floral headpieces, airy fabrics, and little to no makeup, we get to see more of Beyoncé: the girl from Texas who did not see enough images of herself in the media. Beyoncé: the mother of three still learning to accept her curvier, post-birth body. Beyoncé: the woman who is ready to tell more of her story. This Beyoncé was Mitchell’s goal to capture. In the interview, Mitchell says, “she was really an open book—and that’s exactly what you want as a photographer.”
Beyoncé in a Dior dress and Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello earrings by Tyler Mitchell for Vogue September 2018
Despite Vogue’s failed attempts at promoting diversity over the past few years, it seems the publication has become inclusive in a more superficial way. Meaning, more celebrities of color, such as Lupita Nyong’o and Amal Clooney, have been featured on issue covers. More models of color and different body types have been featured in the magazine, such as Imaan Hammam and Paloma Elsesser. This type of inclusive isn’t as present on the creative side. Now, for the first time, a Black photographer has shot the cover of a Vogue issue. All thanks to Beyoncé.
Comedian Ziwe Fumudoh, wrote on Twitter that the fact that Beyoncé hired Mitchell to shoot her Vogue cover is “sad-gressive.” This news is groundbreaking and Beyoncé used her stature to make it happen. Yet it is 2018 and Vogue came around in 1892. What took so long? Nevertheless, this is a step in the right direction and we hope to see more inclusivity from Vogue in the future.