'Wasted Opportunity': New British Vogue Cover With All Black Models Slammed for Being 'Offensive'

As one of the world's most influential fashion magazines, Vogue is no stranger to finding itself mired in a row. So significant is it that its very covers can be considered a statement in their own right and have often prompted controversy ranging from unhealthily skinny models to questions of ethnicity.

The February 2022 cover of British Vogue that features nine Black African models has provoked fury among some netizens, who criticised the magazine for using unflattering light and intentionally making the models look darker than they are.

The models featured on the cover are Adut Akech, Amar Akway, Majesty Amare, Akon Changkou, Maty Fall, Janet Jumbo, Abény Nhial, Nyagua Ruea, and Anok Yai, and it was styled by British Vogue's Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful who took over the reins from Alexandra Shulman in 2017 when the magazine was facing criticism for a perceived lack of diversity. However, Enninful's answer to that concern seems to have ruffled feathers somewhat.

The images are very disappointing to me. The models are not well lit and they are styled in such a way that their features begin to merge with their clothing and get lost in the shadows. They are therefore unrecognisable. What a wasted opportunity.

— ChromeAngel 💙 #3.5% (@chrometweets1) January 13, 2022

Why is the lighting so horrible? I had to brighten my screen to 80%. SMH, these white magazines never get it right. Stop agreeing to shoot with them. Geezus😩

— Lizza (@Mrs_LeeJ) January 13, 2022

The British Vogue cover is basically the embodiment of

“O kwa you want representation? O kwa you want black people on the cover? Ngwa, take! Take it! You must eat it today! Open your mouth! Swallow ittttt!!!!” pic.twitter.com/6JvqwWuBdq

— SB 🌕 (@sugabelly) January 14, 2022

The lighting is horrendous, the wigs are awful and so are the clothes, what a wasted opportunity, this could have been a stunning cover..

— Kaz (@Kazgall66) January 14, 2022

Some were left unsatisfied with the models' origin.

The Vogue cover is nice, but I wouldn’t call it « black representation », but Sudanese representation

— Tahirou hate acc (@Black_pooh15) January 14, 2022

For some people, the models seemed to look "angry" and "hostile" but others tried to explain that the styling was "dramatic" rather than "angry".

I think they were supposed to look darker, to make it dramatic -- they look beautiful.

— Eye Am (@EyeAmZenith) January 14, 2022

The cover was still "stunning" to many people, who appreciated the concept.

The concept is beautiful, the Black suit choice is interesting.

— cocoagirlmag (@cocoagirlmag) January 13, 2022

i simply cannot get over how good this british vogue cover w adut akech is pic.twitter.com/VZKE1sQYRl

— sydney sweeney’s whore (@MIUCClAMUSE) January 14, 2022

This is the most beautiful Vogue cover I have ever seen in my life!!! pic.twitter.com/zMjLiCQO54

— Noxee Ngobese (@FoxyNoxee) January 14, 2022

This is not the first time Vogue has faced a backlash for one of its covers. When it comes to lighting Black people for cover photos, there are always people who are dissatisfied. For example, when iconic athlete Simone Biles got her Vogue cover, netizens flocked to Twitter to lambast almost everything: from the choice of angles to the choice of the photographer (who was not Black).

Another such incident notably occurred a year ago, when in February 2021 US Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on the cover. But that time, the critics accused the magazine of "whitewashing" Madame VP.