CLAY CANE // GET YOUR LIFE

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Jennifer Hudson is on the March issue of Vogue magazine. The last American black women to grace the cover of Vogue was Halle Berry in 2002 and Oprah Winfrey in 1998. The first black woman on the cover of Vogue was the legendary Beverly Johnson in 1974.

I know Andre Leon Tally had to lock Anna Wintour in the closet to get her this cover! Wintour has said she doesn't like "fat people" in her magazine. Oprah once said, "If you want to be on the cover of Vogue and Anna Wintour says you have to be down, top 150lbs - that's what you gotta do." Tons of airbrushing helps too!

The cover isn't getting rave reviews, but I think it is fresh, beautiful and really captures the, "This can happen to every little girl in the world if you dream big enough" look. Contrary to popular belief Hudson is NOT the first black singer to appear on the cover of Vogue--Mel B. from the Spice Girls graced the cover in January of 1998. However, Hudson is the first black female to upstage Beyonce and minimize her to a back-up singer and co-star!

Pasted below are some legendary covers from black women on the cover of Vogue. More than I expected!

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Legendary Beverly Johnson in August 1974--the FIRST. She paved the way! There is some debate if Donyale Luna was the first black woman to grace the cover of Vogue, however, she did not identify as black and was on the cover of British Vogue. Check out the Pop Culture Junkie's site for more information. Johnson would emote on two more covers (June '75 and January '81)

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Peggy Dillard in August 1977. She would also grace two more covers.

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Shelia Johnson in March 1980.

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Shari Belafonte in her fifth and last Vogue cover in June 1986. She graced the covers of Vogue from 1982-1986. The most solo covers from a black woman.

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Louise Vyent in February 1987

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Kara Young's second Vogue cover in October 1988. She also graced the April 1988 and October 1989 covers.

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Karen Alexander in January of 1989.

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Naomi Campbell in September 1989. After this being the lowest selling Vogue cover ever, Naomi would only grace the cover one more time solo in June 1993. She appeared on the cover with white women in February 1992, April 1992 and April 1993.

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Kiara Kabukuru July 1997.

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Oprah October 1998

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Marion Jones January 2001

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Halle Berry December 2002

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Liya Kebede May 2005

Additional covers such as Stephanie Roberts in January 1991, Brandi Quinones in April 1994, Mel B. in January 1998, Iman in November 1999 and Naomi's covers were all with white women.

Labels: Fashion, Jennifer Hudson, Race

Posted by Clay :: 10:12 AM :: 37 comments

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