Sources say that Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour has given Beyoncé unprecedented control over the cover of the upcoming September issue, as well as the photos of her inside the magazine and even the captions.
Wintour has always exerted complete control over the fashion bible, including selecting the outfits worn by cover models. Cover subjects are usually given little to no say in their photos and are sent the cover in the week ahead of publication, a source familiar with the editorial process at the publication told HuffPost.
Not this time though.
According to HuffPo, Beyoncé “hired the first black photographer to shoot a cover in the publication’s 126-year history” – 23-year-old Tyler Mitchell.
Wintour typically prefers to hire fashion photographers with more traditional experience and likely would not have selected Mitchell for a cover shoot, according to a source familiar with Vogue’s editorial process.
“The reason a 23-year-old black photographer is photographing Beyoncé for the cover of Vogue is because Beyoncé used her power and influence to get him that assignment,” the source said.
The cover is also likely to be Wintour’s last September issue, according to four sources familiar with her plans. Vogue parent company Condé Nast repeatedly has said the editor is not leaving the magazine.
Beyoncé is also not granting Vogue a sit-down interview for the issue.
So Bey gets to choose the photographer, the outfits, and the pics they use, she gets to write the captions, AND she doesn’t give the magazine an interview? That’s a LOT of control. And for the September issue? It’s pretty much unheard of.
(Photo: Pacific Coast News)
