(Bethann Hardison, Stephen Burrows, Andre Leon Talley, Mariessa Terrell)

By Mariessa Terrell

Claiming Beauty…the Power in that and the dissemination of it to the young women who follow us, is as serious….as boys pointing cannons at oil wells. –Audre Lourde

There is great power in fashion, beauty and style. Power to elevate the mind. Power to conjure a mood. Power to inspire young women to walk outside the lines commanding attention with each step.

Fashion magazines are conduits for this power. Each image, interview and advertisement communicates a standard for beauty and style…for some. For others, magazines and runway presentations have loss a bit of their relevance.

After attending a forum on the dearth of black runway and print models sponsored by Bethann Hardison, famed fashion photographer, Steven Meisel, decided to take a bold step and reverse the tables. In the spring of 2008, Meisel teamed up with Italian Vogue editor Franca Sozzani, to create an historic July 2008 issue with 100 pages of pictures, interviews and stories featuring iconic models of color, including, fashion veterans Tyra Banks, Iman, Veronica Webb, Naomi Campbell, Pat Cleveland and new comers Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn.

With diversity finally invading Carrie Bradshaw’s New York and even threatening to penetrate the White House, it is time to expand the very narrow beauty standards currently espoused. How, darling? Well for starters, let’s make the July issue of Italian Vogue the best selling one ever. I for one will be buying each of the four covers twice.

Take a look and smile, darling! The view from here is Fabulous!
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