British ‘Vogue’ Features Solo Black Model Jourdan Dunn
From Victoria’s Secret catwalk to the pages of British Vogue, Jourdan Dunn is the first solo black model to cover the U.K. publication in 12 years!
Although she covered the magazine with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Eden Clark in 2008, a single black woman has not been featured solo since Naomi Campbell covered the magazine in August 2002.
Nonetheless, this isn’t the first time Dunn has broken grounds of diversity for women of color as she also became the first black woman to walk Prada’s runway in 2008.
While this cover undoubtedly marks another milestone in the supermodel’s career, she points out the fact that she is still victim of prejudice. The British model has always been vocal, while she fearlessly tweets opinions of designers and casting agencies for instances of racism.
“It’s hard being a model regardless, and then being a black model. I have heard, ‘Oh, we haven’t shown any black models this season.’ So blasé… It’s messed up,” she told Emily Sheffield in the February issue of Vogue.
However, the 24-year-old has learned to balance worldwide campaigns and catwalks with grace all while raising her five-year-old son, Riley. She is supported by her mother, who takes care of Riley while she works internationally.
“I love that one day I am doing this and then I go home to my reality: getting Riley ready for school, doing his reading with him, taking him to the park,” she said.
While British Vogue has some room for improvement when it comes to ethnicity in their publication, reports show that the U.S. version saw an increase in diversity with covers featuring celebrities such as Lupita Nyong’o, Kanye West alongside wife Kim Kardashian and Joan Smalls.
Dunn, who donned a yellow dress from Prada’s spring collection for British Vogue, will be teaming up with Naomi Campbell for Burberry’s 2015 spring-summer campaign. Dunn deems the project to be “even more special” as it was her first time working with Campbell.
What do you think of British Vogue’s latest cover? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
(Photo Credit: British Vogue/ Burberry)
