Source: CNN
In Edward Enninful's last issue as editor-in-chief of British Vogue, not one but forty celebrities graced the cover.
The fashion editor, who was born in Ghana, resigned in June following an unexpected six-year tenure. Supermodels, Hollywood A-listers, pop culture luminaries, and others he has collaborated with in the past, such as Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Miley Cyrus, Jane Fonda, Dua Lipa, Kate Moss, and Serena Williams, are all featured on his outro cover.
According to the final editor's letter for Enninful, forty women traveled from all over the world to appear in the historic issue, which Steven Meisel and Ned Rogers both photographed in Manhattan for the cover and internal pages.
I had no doubt that women would be the featured subjects of my most recent issue. Sure thing! In her letter, Enninful reflected on the impact that women have had on British Vogue over the past 108 years, how they have guided her throughout her life, and how they have influenced her during her six and a half years on the job.
All of us on the staff knew that the magazine couldn't or shouldn't have relied on a single woman to capture the last many years, he continued. "I hope this has been an exciting, innovative, and risk-taking time for Vogue. What we needed was a group to tap into our collective strength and make it happen."
The announcement of Enninful's departure last year shook the fashion industry.
In what many perceived as a much-needed shift for the legendary magazine, Enninful championed diversity at American Vogue's British edition after a career influencing the industry's upper echelons at i-D, W, and the magazine.
Among the many firsts that occurred during his tenure are the 2020 and 2023 cover stories shot by black photographers Misan Harriman and Kennedi Carter, respectively, and the May 2023 cover series including disabled activists, models, and creatives.
Also, with a 2019 edition devoted to women over 50 (and featuring Fonda on the cover), Enninful avoided the ageist standards of the business. Dame Judi Dench, who was 85 years old when she appeared on his cover last year, and Miriam Margolyes, who was 82 years old at the time, were among his other cover stars.
Christy Turlington, 55 years old and one of forty cover girls for the last edition of Enninful, spoke about the changing attitudes toward women of all ages, saying, "We are getting better at celebrating women of all ages."
According to rumors, Enninful was supposed to take over as chief executive officer of American Vogue in 2022. However, he denied the rumors to CNN's Christiane Amanpour, saying that he "didn't want" Anna Wintour's position and that she had no plans to step down. In a move he has previously described as providing him with "the freedom to take on broader creative projects," he will now serve as an advisor for Vogue's publisher, Condé Nast.
At the same time, Chioma Nnadi, the first black woman to be selected to the position of chief editor at British Vogue, will be taking over from American Vogue's digital editor. Nnadi is "a brilliant and unique talent with real vision who will take the publication to ever greater heights," according to Enninful, who has previously praised her.
"Determined to keep championing the incredible array of voices in fashion and media and ensure we keep the energy explosion of the last few years going," Enninful writes in his final editor's letter, referring to his new post.
As he continued, "There is a great deal yet to be done," a statement that is repeated often because it is necessary.
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