There are many things about fall that we just can’t wait for — the leaves changing color, fall fashion and the thick September issues on every magazine rack. September is the biggest month for magazines — ad space can run a company up to $200,000 — but for a long time, the covers have been filled with the same faces and coincidentally (not really though), all of those faces belonged to white women.
It turns out that this is not the case this year and it’s made for some gorgeous covers with meaningful and touching spreads. While last year’s September issues consisted of people like Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence, Miley Cyrus and Emma Stone, this year’s issues feature Beyoncé on the cover of Vogue, Rihanna on British Vogue, Adwoa Aboah and Naomi Campbell on Love, Tiffany Haddish on Glamour, Lauren Harrier on The Sunday Times, Slick Woods on British Elle, Tracee Ellis Ross on Elle Canada, Issa Rae on Ebony, Zendaya on Marie Claire and Lupita Nyong’o on Porter.
To celebrate this amazing showing of #blackgirlmagic, we've gathered some of our favorite quotes from these queens on their September issue covers:
BeyoncÉ for Vogue:
"There are many shades on every journey. Nothing is black or white. I’ve been through hell and back, and I’m grateful for every scar. I have experienced betrayals and heartbreaks in many forms. I have had disappointments in business partnerships as well as personal ones, and they all left me feeling neglected, lost, and vulnerable. Through it all I have learned to laugh and cry and grow. I look at the woman I was in my 20s and I see a young lady growing into confidence but intent on pleasing everyone around her. I now feel so much more beautiful, so much sexier, so much more interesting. And so much more powerful."
Zendaya for Marie Claire:
"I’m very aware that I don’t know everything, but I do try my best with the platform that I have, knowing how many people look to me. I try my best to inform myself and live my best life so that I can inspire my fans to live their best lives, be more educated, and learn for themselves. And I try to do it in a way that’s not telling people what to think but opening up their eyes to possibilities, ideas maybe they never thought about. I try to look at it as a responsibility more than anything."
Lupita Nyong’o for Porter:
"(My speech) was about having dark skin in a world that favors traditional Western standards of beauty — light complexions and silky hair — and my own journey from insecurity to a place of self-acceptance. I was touched by how it had resonated with so many people of color, and not just black Africans. I started to realize that there was a demographic that really needed to hear this message but wouldn’t hear my speech. I wanted to get to kids before they reach an age where the world is telling them they are not as valuable."
Tracee Ellis Ross for Elle Canada:
"In all honesty, I don’t know how I became this vocal person. But how could I not have? There were times when I couldn’t keep my mouth shut, you know what I mean? Being a high-functioning, compassionate human requires a lot of self-reflection and willingness to be… Awake. I’m grateful that now is a time when everybody is wanting to use their voice. That feels exciting to me. #TimesUp actually did create a real tribe and community within Hollywood of women who share a unique experience. For me, it genuinely coalesced a group of women that I didn’t have access to before. I would have never known that Reese Witherspoon and I had as much in common! There truly is a real camaraderie and support of one another (in that industry) that didn’t exist before."
Slick Woods for British Elle:
"At 14, 15, I never expected to ever be giving any type of life; to be this happy with having a child. From not having family to being able to create your own, things you lacked, things you missed out on, trauma — you can erase that by creating new life. All those things you didn’t get, all those hugs and kisses. I can retract those things with my son’s life. In giving him that childhood, it heals you as well. In hugging your son, it’s giving a piece of that back to you, too. I need him as much as he needs me."
Tiffany Haddish for Glamour:
"My opportunities are whatever I create. My thoughts from two years ago is what’s happening right now. I really think my thoughts are my magic wand."
Laura Harrier for The Sunday Times:
"I’m not surprised that racism still exists in our country," she sighs. "I think people were comfortable during the Obama years and these things were kind of suppressed, and now everyone who has hateful views has the encouragement to make them known. But also it’s (about) trying to be hopeful and not feel like we’re all in despair."
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