US Harper's Bazaar October/09 - Janet Jackson by Tom Munro

Newsstand and subscriber covers. Read the full article here.

Does she have another comeback CD coming out? I definitely didn't expect to see her on a cover this fall. The full face cover looks like just about every picture I've ever seen of Janet and I'm not really feeling the dress on the b&w cover. Which do you prefer?

Paper Magazine 25th Anniversary Covers: Jessica White, Melanie Fiona, and Naturi Naughton

s: Just Jared

9/09 Vogue: Beverly Johnson Takes a Trip Down Memory Lane

In the new issue of Vogue, former top model Beverly Johnson recounts her experience as American Vogue's first black covergirl.

i-D September 2009 : Arlenis, Chanel, Jourdan, Sessilee by Emma Summerton

s: TFS

I love this cover and wonder if this was the shoot Chanel Iman twittered about awhile back. They look like Robert Palmer girls sans instruments.

What struck me about the image at first was that their skin wasn't bleached out with lighting effects. I think the bright makeup and background color are all the contrast that was needed.

What say you?

Jada Pinkett Smith on the Cover of SHAPE

A bit much on the Photoshop don't you think? Jada has a nice figure already, I don't know why the editors felt the need to do this. The water looks computerized, her skin doesn't even look real and the head looks like it came from another photograph.

s:Brown Sista blog

2008 Worst Selling Women's Magazines: Not a Black Face in the Bunch

Vogue
Best-Selling Cover: Keira Knightley (559,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Rachel Weisz (276,000 copies). Gwyneth Paltrow was a close second with 310-350,000 copies.

Vanity Fair
Best-Selling Cover: Angelina Jolie (504,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Katherine Heigl (314,000 copies)

Elle
Best-Selling Cover: Victoria Beckham (413,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Covers: Carrie Underwood (253,000 copies)

Glamour
Best-Selling Cover: Jessica Simpson (775,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Nicole Kidman (460,000 copies)

Cosmopolitan
Best-Selling Cover: Scarlett Johansson (2 million copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Jessica Simpson (1.5 million copies)

W
Best-Selling Cover: Angelina Jolie (78,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Hilary Swank (27,000 copies)

InStyle
Best-Selling Cover: Eva Longoria-Parker (889,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Anne Hathaway (585,000 copies)

Marie Claire
Best-Selling Cover: Women of “Sex and the City” (440,948 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Jennifer Connelly (191,000 copies)

Harper’s Bazaar
Best-Selling Cover: Lindsay Lohan (213,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Drew Barrymore (120,000 copies)

*Blackfolk Appearing on Above Magazines in 2008

Vogue 4/08 Gisele/LeBron James

Bazaar 9/08 Tyra Banks

ELLE 6/2008 Rihanna

Cosmo 3/2008 Rihanna

IN Style 8/08 Rihanna

IN Style 2/08 Halle

IN Style 11/08 Beyonce

Vogue Korea - August 2009 - Naomi Campbell

Photographer by John-Paul Pietrus

s: kanna

Meh.

Vintage Covers: Beverly Peel and Claudia Mason on British Vogue

s: Angel Lover/TFS

January, 1992

I still remember the first time I saw Beverly Peele. I was in my high school library and saw her on the cover of Seventeen magazine. I must have run to the store after school to buy that issue! I probably followed her career more than Naomi back then. She was a stunner.

Claudia Mason is definitely a face I remember from that supermodel era but I didn't pay as much attention to her. She revealed late in her career that her agency pressured her to identify as Latina or Italian instead of biracial (her father was black and her mother white.) I always thought the revelation was somewhat interesting since other fair skinned biracial models of her day (like Kara Young) seemed to work high profile gigs regularly but honestly, nothing surprises me about this industry.

Who were your favorite models by bygone eras?

(Yawn!) Ebony's Summer Issue Features IT FACTOR ladies

Ebony Magazine has put together a special multi-cover summer issue celebrating women with the "It" factor. Not surprisingly, the nearly 70 year old publication's list holds no new names or surprises. 

Of the 25 women listed, 21 are entertainers, 1 is an athlete, 2 are from the world of politics, and 1 is an academic. Only a small handful are under 30. 

When I think of the "it factor" my mind usually goes to up and coming artists, writers, educators, designers, trendsetters, filmmakers, or unsung actors. Ebony's pool of  nominees only extends to those women already represented in their stock images library.

The list includes :

Naomi Campbell
Jennifer Hudson
Michelle Obama
Tina Turner
Aretha Franklin
Halle Berry
Serena Williams
Condoleezza Rice
Oprah Winfrey
Tyra Banks
Angela Davis
Erykah Badu
Jill Scott
Lil’ Kim
Whoopi Goldberg
Diahann Carroll
Pam Grier
Patti LaBelle
Alicia Keys
Mo’ Nique
Diana Ross
Rihanna
Grace Jones
Mary J. Blige
Beyoncé

Trace #85 Black Girls Rule! - Arlenis Sosa Peña

The annual BGR! issue is here and will be available at select newsstand and online (begining in July) at Trace Online. I can never find this locally anymore and I gave up subscribing because too many of the issue never made to it to my mailbox. I am glad to see that they're still putting it out however. It seems that there are always rumors that Trace is on the verge of folding.

ANTM Winner Teyona Given the Flip Off by Seventeen Magazine

s: Jezebel

I stopped watching America's Next Top Model several years back. These days I get my modeling reality show fix from TVLand's "'She's Got the Look." Here is the current cycle's winner Teyona and her career making turn for Seventeen Magazine... too bad the editors there don't think she has what it takes to warrant a solo cover. Like previous winner Saleisha Cooper,  Teyona only rates the back cover of the magazine with the face out going to KatyPerry. Ah well, it's not exactly Italian Vogue but at least Teyona didn't have to share her half cover with Tyra and will have something nice to show the grandkids one day.

Speaking of "She's Got the Look." did anyone else catch the premiere last night?

Zoe Saldana Covers Latina Magazine (and Other Titles)

Latina magazine has been diversifying its cover subjects lately and included more Afro-Latinas in the mix. Sessilee Lopez graced the March 2009 cover.

I rarely get to the movies but I am intrigued by the new Star Trek installment. I had a few other actresses in mind to play Uhura when I first heard about the film but from what I've heard, Zoe does a pretty good job in the role.

Did any of you see the flick last weekend? Was it worth the effort?

ETA: Women's Health and Entertainment Weekly covers.

Beyonce - Marie Claire - June 2009

Cute dress. Slightly odd expression.

I remember a time almost ten years ago when Marie Claire was my favorite magazine. The stories were interesting, the celebrity pieces weren't quite so fluffy, the models and "real women" used on its pages were diverse* and it actually had a point of view that seemed larger than "buy this stuff it will make you happy." Nowadays I only subscribe to the magazine because it only cost me $5 for two years. On average, it takes about five minutes to flip through it before it gets dumped into the recycle bin.

That said, this issue wasn't a complete bust. I found a few books in the "Radar" section that are now on my wishlist: Monica Ali's "In the Kitchen" and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "The Thing Around Your Neck." It also reminded me to Tivo Jada Pinkett-Smith's new TNT drama HawthoRNe. Lastly, I entered a contest for a chance to win "Beyonce's Luxe HoD Wardrobe," which I know will make a showstopper at my son's next preschool mixer.

*I have to add that last month's issue contained two great spreads featuring models Alyssah Ali and Atong Arjok.

Naomi Campbell - V Magazine #59 Summer Swimsuit Issue

s: (L)ONTD, (R)Playboy


Naomi is one of six models photographed by Mario Testino to land a cover for V Magazine's first swimsuit issue. The photo has that pop art + pin-up vibe and her skin looks great but overall I think the picture is a little boring. Maybe my eyes are still hurting from Halle's hot pink Bazaar cover. Funny how Naomi is wearing a Playboy bunny costume for V's cover but wore an actual swimsuit when she was photographed by David Lachapelle for Playboy Magazine back in 1999.

The issue will hit newsstand on May 6th.

Arise Magazine - May 2009 - Georgie Baddiel

Georgie Baddiel is one of those models that seems to get a decent amount of runway work but somehow, never manages to land many editorials. Thankfully, the editors at Arise have seen fit to spotlight her on the cover of their May issue. I just love her face.


s: TFS/Arise

Ebony Magazine: Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis

s: charcoalink

This is the cover that Essence Magazine should have done months ago.

Ebony, I have poked fun of you in the past but you knock it out of the ballpark with this one.

All I can say is dayuuuuuuum!

Peek @ German Vogue - May 2009 - Arlenis Sosa Peña

S: TFS via Ebay.de

Not the best image capture but hopefully I'll be able to replace it with the full scan soon.

She may not have landed on the cover of American Vogue's "model" issue but Arlenis looks does one better by landing a solo cover of the German edition.

I think she looks fantastic in Lanvin with bouffant hair. She is also featured inside in a spread called "Magic Black"also photographed by Alexi Lubomirski. Can't wait to see the rest of it!

ETA:


S: Fashiongirl28/TFS

Giant Magazine - May 2009 - Naomi Campbell

i-D Magazine May 2009 : Chanel Iman

Photographed by Kayt Jones

French Revue de Modes #14 - Mia Aminata Niaria

Shiny.

ETA: More featured models from the issue. Apparently there are multiple covers, all shot by Thierry Le Gouès, including one with Arlenis Sosa that has yet to surface online. I have two of Theirry's photography books and I really admire his work but I just don't get the super shiny "slaves toiling under a hot sun" look many photographers and stylistist seem to love on dark skin. It goes way beyond dewy to my eye. I just hope that for Mia's sake there were some towels on the set floor to keep her from slipping under all that body oil.





S: TFS/ONTDfashinfags