British Vogue debuts February issue featuring nine black models
British Vogue has revealed its February 2022 cover, featuring nine black women who are 'redefining what it means to be a model'.
Starring models Adut Akech, Amar Akway, Majesty Amare, Akon Changkou, Maty Fall, Janet Jumbo, Abény Nhial, Nyagua Ruea and Anok Yai in a striking fashion story shot by Rafael Pavarotti and styled by British Vogue's Editor-In-Chief Edward Enninful OBE, it's the first time Vogue has featured a group of black women this size on the cover.
The issue celebrates the rise of the African model and talks to some of those 'redrawing the map' and shoots the women with a dark lighting scheme.
In one shot, the models sit on a green sofa wearing bright colours which pop against the low lighting, while in the cover shot all nine models wear all black outfits.
Explaining the inspiration behind shooting an all black, all African cover, Edward, who was born in Ghana and moved to west London as a child, said: 'I saw all these incredible models from across Africa who were just so vivacious and smart.
'These girls are redefining what it is to be a fashion model.'
'We need to ensure these girls last. We have to invest in them, nurture them and support them with editorial, with advertising, with shows.'
'It's sad and heart-breaking for me to see girls who are on the rise suddenly taper off.
'We need to ensure these girls last. We have to invest in them, nurture them and support them with editorial, with advertising, with shows. It has to be 360. Alek Wek didn't suddenly become Alek Wek.
'There was a group of us behind girls like her, propelling them forward. This is what we have to do in all our different roles. Getting these girls and then throwing them away after one season? That has to stop.'
See the full feature in the February issue of British Vogue available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 18th January
The cover stars models Adut Akech, Amar Akway, Majesty Amare, Akon Changkou, Maty Fall, Janet Jumbo, Abény Nhial, Nyagua Ruea and Anok Yai in a striking fashion story shot by Rafael Pavarotti and styled by British Vogue's Editor-In-Chief Edward Enninful OBE
Adut Akech on British Vogue's February 2022 cover. She said when she first started modelling she was the 'only Black, dark-skinned girl in the show'
From Africa's most successful model to the first Sudanese woman to open a Prada show: Who are the nine black models on the cover on February's British Vogue?
Adut Akech
Vogue describe Adut Akech as 'arguably the most successful African model working today'. The 22-year-old South Sudanese-Australian first caught the eye of the fashion world when she modelled for Saint Laurent in Spring Summer 2017 shows.
Edward Enninful and Adut Akech attend the Claridge's Zodiac Party hosted by Diane von Furstenberg & Edward Enninful to celebrate the Claridge's Christmas Tree 2018
The 22-year-old South Sudanese-Australian first caught the eye of the fashion world when she modelled for Saint Laurent in Spring Summer 2017 shows. She is pictured on the beach
Speaking in the new issue, the 22-year-old explained: 'When I first started modelling internationally, I would literally be the only Black, dark-skinned girl in the show. There were no Sudanese models, no African models. Now, I go to a show and there are girls from my country, girls from Africa who look like me. So yes, there has been a huge change.'
Adut added that she hopes that the uprising of African models goes beyond a trend: 'I mean, that is the goal, that it becomes more than a moment. Actually, I don't see it being a trend. Also, there are so many of us – we are just not going to go out of style.'
Since, she's appeared in multiple Vogue campaigns – including a cover of Australian Vogue (pictured)
Vogue describe Adut Akech as 'arguably the most successful African model working today'.
The 22-year-old South Sudanese-Australian first caught the eye of the fashion world when she modelled for Saint Laurent in Spring Summer 2017 shows.
Since, she's appeared in multiple Vogue campaigns – including a cover of Australian Vogue.
Speaking in the new issue, she explained: 'When I first started modelling internationally, I would literally be the only Black, dark-skinned girl in the show. There were no Sudanese models, no African models. Now, I go to a show and there are girls from my country, girls from Africa who look like me. So yes, there has been a huge change.'
She added that she hopes that the uprising of African models goes beyond a trend: 'I mean, that is the goal, that it becomes more than a moment. Actually, I don't see it being a trend. Also, there are so many of us – we are just not going to go out of style.'
Adut has been in many high-end campaigns, and says her favourite fashion memory was attending the 2018 Met Gala with Valentino.
Akon Changkou
LIke Adut, Akon is South-Sudanese Australian and has been taking the fashion word by storm in the last few years. She is pictured on holiday
Akon Changkou, Alton Mason and Maty Fall attend the amfAR Gala 2021 presented by The Red Sea International Film Festival during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival
Her campaigns include Versace and Chanel- with her also named as one of the top newcomers in 2020. She is pictured posing for Instagram
The 24-year-old launched her career when she was booked as an exclusive for Louis Vuitton during the SS20 shows. Only four month after being scouted, she was whisked away from her hometown of Adelaide, Australia to New York and then to Paris, to walk her debut show at the Louvre (pictured)
She is now a face seen at fashion week (left at Michael Kors in September, right, walking in Louis Vuitton 2021/22 show in France
LIke Adut, Akon is South-Sudanese Australian and has been taking the fashion word by storm in the last few years.
The 24-year-old launched her career when she was booked as an exclusive for Louis Vuitton during the SS20 shows.
Only four month after being scouted, she was whisked away from her hometown of Adelaide, Australia to New York and then to Paris, to walk her debut show at the Louvre.
Her campaigns include Versace and Chanel- with her also named as one of the top newcomers in 2020.
Speaking in 2020, she told LOVE magazine her biggest hurdle was 'leaving everything I was comfortable with behind to pursue a career I had no hope of succeeding at and learning how to be comfortable in a situation where I had nothing.
'It was hard at the beginning because I didn't feel supported and I completely doubted my abilities.'
Amar Akway
The Ethiopian model's has also starred in campaigns for Max Mara, Moschino, Zara, Hermes (left) Versace, Victoria Beckham, Fendi and Tod's (right after the Tod's show at 2021 Milan Fashion Week)
Amar Akway poses in first looks backstage before the Isabel Marant Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 show as part of Paris Fashion Week
mar Akway wears a assymetrical black leather jacket, black leather pants, and black leather combat boots during Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020
A relative newcomer with less than 6,000 Instagram followers – her fame is set to skyrocket in 2022 with fashion houses calling her non-stop.
This isn't the first Vogue campaign for Amar Akway, 21, who has previously graced the cover of Vogue Japan and Italy.
She says her best fashion memory is working Steven Meisel, the famed photographer known for his friendship with Madonna and work with Vogue Italia.
The Ethiopian model's has also starred in campaigns for Max Mara, Moschino, Zara, Hermes, Versace, Victoria Beckham, Fendi and Tod's.
Majesty Amare
Newcomer model Majesty, 24, from the US, is set for a great season ahead having previously walked for Versace, Chanel, Michael Kors, and Louis Vuitton.
She made her debut for the Proenza Schouler show during New York Fashion Week after being spotted on Instagram.
The LA native has now moved to New York and says she swears by shea butter to revitalize her skin after repeated make-up removal. Named as one to watch and previously appearing in Vogue Paris, she's also got growing social following with more than 15,000 TikTok followers.
The LA native has now moved to New York and says she swears by shea butter to revitalize her skin after repeated make-up removal.
Named as one to watch and previously appearing in Vogue Paris, she's also got growing social following with more than 15,000 TikTok followers.
Maty Fall
Still in her teens, Senegalese-Italian model is set to be a huge star. The model, 19, made her debut during SS20, first being spotted in a catwalk debut for Saint Laurent before closing the Valentino's show.
Currently ranked as one of the Top 50 Models on Models.com, she walked more shows during the SS21 season than any other model, most notably closing Dior.
Still in her teens, Senegalese-Italian model is set to be a huge star.
The model, 19, made her debut during SS20, first being spotted in a catwalk debut for Saint Laurent before closing the Valentino's show.
Born in Senegal, she moved to Italy aged 9 – where her father had lived for 30 years and recently became an Italian citizen.
Janet Jumbo
The youngest on the list at just 18, Nigerian star Janet Jumbo has already been in campaigns for Balmain, Louis Vuitton (left and right) and Tod's. She was the first Nigerian to ever walk for Louis Vuitton, when the French fashion house signed her for wide exclusive for Louis Vuitton in their AW19 show.
Speaking about the shoot, she said: ' Shooting with a cast of other Black girls is the best thing ever; the energy on set is by far one of the greatest things I've ever experienced.'
The youngest on the list at just 18, Nigerian star Janet Jumbo has already been in campaigns for Balmain, Louis Vuitton and Tod's.
She was the first Nigerian to ever walk for Louis Vuitton, when the French fashion house signed her for wide exclusive for Louis Vuitton in their AW19 show.
Abény Nhial
The third Australian on the cover, Abény Nhial is all about positivity – even her Instagram handle is 'be kind & spread love'.
The 21-year-old already has famous fans, with Kate Middleton's wedding dress designer Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen among her bookings.
Speaking about appearing on the cover of Vogue, she said it was her 'favourite memory' as she was working with the 'most beautiful women and working with the legendary Edward and the Vogue team.'.
Nyagua Ruea
One of four South Sudanese stars on the cover, Nyagua, 20, is best friends with with Maty and Adut and have been on holiday and campaigned together.
Nyagua Ruea walks the runway during the Mugler show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021
She says her favourite fashion memory was walking the Valentino show in Paris is 10 other South Sudanese girls and 20 black girls. She is pictured in Dubai
Speaking about the Vogue shoot, she said: 'For the first time in the history of my modelling career, we had an all-Black team, from the photographer and stylist to the make-up artist, hair stylist, set designer and of course the models. Getting to experience this first hand was such a moving moment. I hope we can get more of these moments in the future.'
She says her favourite fashion memory was walking the Valentino show in Paris is 10 other South Sudanese girls and 20 black girls.
Her other campaigns include Hermes, H&M, Alexander McQueen, Lacoste and Givenchy.
Anok Yai
She also turned heads at the Met Gala, wearing a Carlos Nazario look. Anok has previously posed for Vogue Japan, Vogue Netherlands and Vogue Germany. In September 2021, she appeared on the cover of US Vogue along witth Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber.
Perhaps the most famous model on the list is Anok Yai, 24, who has A-list pals including Bella Hadid and Heidi Klum. Pictured at Heidi Klum's Halloween party
Anok was born in Egypt to South Sudanese parents and emigrated to the US when she was two. She found fame when he became the second Black model after Naomi Campbell, and the first South Sudanese woman, to open a Prada show during the autumn/winter 2018 season.
Perhaps the most famous model on the list is Anok Yai, 24, who has A-list pals including Bella Hadid and Heidi Klum.
She also turned heads at the Met Gala, wearing a Carlos Nazario look.
Anok has previously posed for Vogue Japan, Vogue Netherlands and Vogue Germany. In September 2021, she appeared on the cover of US Vogue along witth Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber.
<!—->
Source: Daily Mail UK
EU's Maros Sefcovic takes a tumble as Brexit talks begin
Prince Charles and William demanded Andrew's exile before Duke of York's crisis summit with Queen
Boris Johnson gets a Line of Duty-style grilling over the No10 bashes in spoof comedy video
Teachers call POLICE on primary schoolboy, nine, selling air fresheners to boost his pocket money
Frank Lampard is seen after charges for driving while using phone were dropped
Labour agitations becoming dominant; NLC, Fair Wages must be proactive – IntelAfrique
General Ghana News