News, People Are Talking
Breaking: Halle Berry Will Cover American Vogue’s All-Important September Issue
By Dhani Mau
Halle Berry, not Gwyneth Paltrow, will grace the cover of Vogue’s infamous September issue, according to sources inside the company. We are about 95% positive that this issue marks the first time a black person will cover September since Naomi Campbell in 1989.
While we laud Vogue for diversifying a bit, Halle seems like a safe choice. Other than custody battles with ex Gabriel Aubry, she hasn’t had much going on lately. (To be fair, she does have a scent coming out in August–called Reveal–and her indie flick Frankie and Alice is set to hit theaters this fall.) It would be more exciting to see an icon like Iman, who was recently honored at the CFDAs, on the cover.
There have been a few black cover stars over the years, including Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson and Berry herself in 2002, but none of them were September. In August 1974, Beverly Johnson was the first African-American ever to be on the cover.
How do you feel about this choice?
Tags: Halle Berry, Vogue
Most Popular Stories
Comments [43]
Popular Stories
The 10 Best YouTube Hair Tutorials
The 10 Best YouTube Makeup Tutorials 
Fashion's Most Stylish Guys Give Mark Zuckerberg an (Almost!) Hoodie-Free Makeover for Facebook's IPO
Style and Substance: 10 Ladies Who Have Proven You Can Have Both
10 Beauty Boards You Should Be Following on Pinterest
i would've preferred vogue to turn a more surprising leaf, instead of the usual stars that always are on it. It's getting rather boring now.
No, Naomi Campbell was the first black model to be on the cover of the September issue in 1989 (Beverly Johnson's first cover was the August issue)
idk for us vogue, this is pretty directional. aside from the fact that halle's not white, she's also not blonde or part of the assorted stable of starlets (gwenyth, sienna, charlize, blake) that vogue usually uses. plus she hasn't been in the media eye for awhile so it could actually make for an interesting interview (maybe that's why they picked her).
Snooze. Too safe. TILDA SWINTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think its nice to see Halle getting a big issue like this, however i agree that she seems a bit irrelevant for a while now. What good movie has she made in the last 7 years? I would have defo prefered Iman, but oh well Berry is stunning nad photogenic, and they could do something good with her.
Paltrow for August is just a travesty, give us a break, please! She was just on UK Vogue!
Well for the past 3 years she's had time off after having her daughter. Things We Lost in the Fire (2007) was a good movie, it wasn't that commercial though.
Frankie and Alice, which will be released around about September, has been getting some Oscar buzz, especially for Halle's performance.
Our mistake! Since this was a breaking story, we weren't as careful with fact-checking as we should have been. Thanks for the heads up!
Models, models MODELLLLLSS PLEASE. Ugh for crying out loud I just want to see models on covers. Although – shout out to DRPR, Tilda would have been amaze-balls.
http://layersandswathes.com/
I agree with everything the writer wrote. Bring back the models, plz. Halle is a beauty, to be sure, and her acting seems just fine, but isn't everyone as sick of actors as me? It's all about the models now!
paltrow – pls go away, no more covers for you! you are booooooring!
I love Halle. I really do. As an African American female I think it's great that they are finally putting someone that looks more like me rather than a blond waif on the cover of such a huge issue, however I also agree with you that Iman would have been a much more interesting and less predictable choice considering her recent honor at the CFDA Awards this year.
And to the poster that said actors are becoming old news for magazine covers, I couldn't agree more and your definitely not the only one. The Daily Beast had a very interesting article about this a few weeks ago.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/…
Halle Berry seems a bit plain for an issue as important as September. Maybe push her to the next month? I think models fit the Sept more because it is the Fashion issue. So maybe Joan Smalls? i really love her now! Go Joan! Or maybe a better idea?
Iman as the cover. She is, the Fashion Icon as awarded by CFDA
I hate to say it, but I wonder if Iman not getting it might be more about age than anything else (fwiw, I'm in my mid 40s so not being ageist here…I just don't know that I'm really Vogue's desired demographic (with Blake and all)).
That we are still discussing this issue seems to be the biggest problem here. It's 2010, not 1935, by now seeing an african-american on the cover of Vogue should be a regular thing.
I'm beginning to think this industry consists of only celebs and the same old models!! I don't want to see celebrities in campaigns or on covers, nor I don't want to see the daughter of some famous person, and I definitely don't want to see Lara, Raquel, Abbey, Karlie, Natasha, Freja or one of the bland new comers who've been labelled 'supermodels' after only a few seasons —- Talk about boring! I thought Carine had no imagination, but now I'm realising neither does Anna!
I think “real women” with non-entertainment careers are the “next” (this has really taken hold already) celebrity obsession. Did regular people care who Anna was 10 years ago? Absolutely not, but she had already been an influential presence at American Vogue for 12 years. I don't see supermodels ever regaining the sort of fame they had 20 years ago, people have wised up to the fact that the talent is really behind the scenes. It's partly due to reality television, and of course in Anna's case it has a huge amount to do with the book, but with the heightened amount of information surrounding production in the fashion and film world, these creators have really become stars in their own right.
Considering their main focus is always going to be cover appeal, I can't see it happening but I would love to see an of-the-moment designer (and Anna makes sure they all look like models anyway) on the cover. Why not Phoebe Philo? Why not someone who has at least something to do with the Fashion Industry?
Vogue is not an entertainment/lifestyle magazine and Halle would hardly be a thrilling choice even if it were.
I can't believe Blake Lively got a Vogue cover before Halle Berry. It's ridiculous.
I actually don't think celebrity's are the biggest problem. It's American Vogues aesthetic. They've come to look like InStyle covers. It would be amazing to have celebrities in the fashion of Italian Vogue covers.
I think Halle Berry is stunning! She makes a perfect cover girl and I can't wait to see her grace the cover!
I get the sense from some of these comments that everyone wants Vogue to be an exciting innovative fashion magazine and the sad reality is that it just isn't. The articles, the photographers, the ads…I mean its kinda the same ish different month.
I think Vogue needs a fresh perspective…
Better late then never I suppose! She is absolutely stunning and deserving of the Vogue cover!
Check out my new blog at http://sequinsnlace.blogspot.com/
I definitely think they should've chosen Iman over Halle Berry. For me, she is a class act and a woman who has achieved a tremendous amount over the years. She's got what I believe a Vogue woman should represent….brains and beauty. She is extremely intelligent, and to me represents the woman of today.
Nicola
Dhani is on-point with this.
And speaking of, congrats to Sally Singer's move to T mag.
Can't wait to see what she will do after Stefano!
I agree with shopPrincess. What Vogue needs is a fresh perspective. Think about it, if models were in place of the celebrities, the covers would be even more lackluster because they're relatively unknown. They just need more inspired covers. Take more risk like Vogue Italia does with celebs. I know Ciara isn't on the level of Halle but her ed for VI was amazing.
Ciara Vogue Italia July10': http://fashiongonerogue.com/ciara-vogue-paris-j…
I get what you mean but vogue is about fashion, so age is not the matter. as long as the fashion is there, i guess.
That's what you guys said. You said it right. When you read it, though, it does seem like it implies the September issue. However, it makes sense. You had it right the first time,
I agree 100% about the covers. In some of the recent issues, the cover photos – from the clothing to the way the clebrities are posed – have been rather dull.
oh…ciara ed…is absolutely amazing….felt in love with it…
visit http://www.iscariotteh.wordpress.com
bored. I feel bored. She's beautiful, no doubt, but …is she even interesting–either as a fashion icon OR as an actress?
truth be told, I'm ready for Vogue to let go of the celebrity/actress cover model habit–
20+ years since? -really? -seriously? -why?
While I would love to see Halle on the cover, in my eyes Iman is an inspiration to all. She is amazing and has so much wisdom and experience to offer people.
I'm so sick of seeing the same people on all the magazine covers all the time. I just don't care about the same actresses over and over, and magazines all seem to feature the same people. Be original!!!
How sad is it that we have to worry about which black female will grace the cover. If you're a white, blonde, blue eyed (or just plain white) actress your bound to get the cover of Vogue. It's sad that we have to put so much thought into which black female is special enough the land the cover. Someone with a fresh perspective needs to overthrow Anna. She's brought so much to the industry but she's getting old. I want to see diversity.
The sad truth is that since Halle's getting the cover, the chances of Iman landing another anytime soon is slim.
Interesting. I'm not OVERJOYED by it or anything, but Halle is a gorgeous woman and I'm happy their finally putting some color on the covers. The last few covers have been very monochromatic.
American Vogue is so uninteresting. Why is anyone even talking about it at all? BLAKE LIVELY – not once but twice. WHO IS SHE? Anna, pick your things sweetie. Your time is up.
US Vogue is as dull and bland as could be–harper's still beats them for layout & imagination.
Yes, I'd like to see Halle on the cover. She beautiful, with staying power and I'm curious to know more about her.
Come on, how many times can we see SJP (who I love) or Blake Lively on the cover?
This will be the first September Vogue I will have purchased in years. I'm looking forward to this!
Halle Berry is not irrelevant. She has been working for multiple women's charities, and she continues to be a voice and advocate for battered women and children. She is a perfect choice. Not only is she beautiful, but she is intelligent and giving. It's about time the cover was given to a woman who actually does things for others rather than talk about herself all the time (that would be you Gwyneth).
She is a very great woman… generous and loving to the needy… and in my opinion she must have the chance to be at the cover… not only as a model of beauty but also as a model of charity and generosity
A fan of Halle Berry? Visit halleberryforum.com and join the fan forum
Dhani…you couldn't have said it better. As an African American female myself, I do love the fact that Halle Berry will be gracing the cover of the September issue of Vogue. I think it would have been better for Iman to be on the cover because she not only represents beauty, but she represents what it means to truly be a successful woman. I have to agree that the chances of having another black female on the cover after Halle Berry are slim because prior to that, Michelle Obama and Beyonce were the last ones and that was over a year ago!! Halle Berry is not the only black woman (not black actress, but black WOMAN) in Hollywood, and Vogue makes it seem like she is their token black woman. A fresh face like Zoe Saldana or Taraji P. Henson would be nice to see on the cover (especially due to the ridiculous success of Avatar and the Oscar nominations for Benjamin Button). But what about other women of color? Freida Pinto did such an amazing job on Slumdog Millionaire, yet we still did not see her on the cover of Vogue at the time.
Hiiiiiiiii,,,, I think it would have been better for Iman to be on the cover because she not only represents beauty, but she represents what it means to truly be a successful woman. I have to agree that the chances of having another black female on the cover after Halle Berry are slim because prior to that, Michelle Obama and Beyonce were the last ones and that was over a year ago…
Best Fashion Info
She's beautiful but I prefer Gwyneth Paltrow grace the cover of Vogue. She looks sophisticated and refined.
I say bring back the Supers for the September Issue!