A Model Covering US Vogue Is A Rare Occurrence Today
Years ago, models were everything. They fronted every major campaign, walked down every runway, and were considered to be celebrities as much as Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster’s leading lady.
Today, when people think of a model, they think of Karlie Kloss. Ultra thin, ultra tall and primarily working the runways and editorial spreads in Vogue magazine. In the fashion world, Karlie is considered to be a celebrity. But, if you were to ask people not immersed in fashion’s culture, they most likely wouldn’t know who she is.
Ask anyone of any age who Christy Turlington is, however, and they’d be able to tell you in a minute. It’s sad that a model whose job is to... well, model, cannot even be recognized as she could have 15 years ago.
Even Vogue, a magazine dedicated to fashion and its models, has been slacking on the number of models they use to cover their glossies throughout the past few years. Recently, it was announced that Kate Upton would be covering Vogue’s June edition, and the news came as a shock to readers everywhere.
According to the Vogue Archives, since June 2003 there have been only 12 issues of Vogue featuring models instead of actresses or musicians, which is the current norm. Of those 12 covers, only eight have been solo shots (meaning one model) rather than of a whole group. That’s only 10 percent.
Why is this? Vogue used to only and exclusively feature models on their cover pages. Is this another tidbit of evidence to back up the claim that America is obsessed with celebrities? I think so.
Let’s take a look at these rare Vogue covers:
September 2004: Daria Werbowy, Natalia Vodianova, and Gisele Bundchen
May 2005: Liya Kebede
August 2006: Linda Evangelista
May 2007: Lily Donaldson, Hilary Rhoda, Doutzen Kroes, Sasha Pivovarova and Caroline Trentini
July 2007: Natalia Vodianova
April 2008: LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen
August 2008: Kate Moss
May 2009: Liya Kebede, Natalia Vodianova, and Anna Jagodzinska
August 2009: Christy Turlington
April 2010: Gisele Bundchen
September 2011: Kate Moss
June 2013: Kate Upton
Which one of these rare cover shots is your favorite?
Photo Credit: Getty Images
