Magazine Glam: ESSENCE's Best Cover in Months Featuring Iman, Naomi Campbell and Liya Kebede

Iman, Naomi Campbell, Liya Kebede. Now THOSE are cover subjects worth celebrating.

The black supermodel trio graces the September issue, which also happens to be the 'Fashion' issue of most every magazine and ESSENCE's 40th Anniversary cover.

There's something about seeing three beautiful, successful, acclaimed models that just fills me with pride. These women are powerhouses in an industry that has never been too kind to people of color, and that is surely something to celebrate!

Iman has set the stage for how to transition a career as a model to a business mogul with her successful enterprises, Iman Cosmetics and Global Chic. Naomi, with her legal troubles and recent appearance in court over blood diamonds, will be forever lauded as one of the best models to walk the runway, of any color. And Liya Kebede is a global ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health through the World Health Organization.

This is also the debut issue of ESSENCE's controversial hire, white Fashion Director, Elliana Placas, so I'm sure the inside Fashion pages will receive lots of attention from both sides of the argument. Not certain that Elliana styled the cover (for the last six months while she served as a Freelance Director, and the prior three months where a black Fashion Director was in place, the covers were styled by a freelance stylist), but neutral is inarguably one of the season's biggest, most celebrated trends.

What do you think of the cover?

Discuss.

Kisses,

Coutura

AD GLAM: Glamazon Letoya Luckett is the New Face of Luster's Smooth Touch

Glamazon favorite, Letoya Luckett, has something new to celebrate. The R&B singer was just named the spokesperson for Luster's Smooth Touch product line and celebrated Wednesday night in the city with a chic soiree via Jonesmag.com.

Check out the box below - don't you love it? (She's obviously my fave DC member ;).

Wearing Nicole Miller and Christian Louboutin, the beautiful singer partied it up all night while guests, including Keyshia Knight-Pulliam danced to the hottest tunes out spun by DJ Beverly Bond and walked away with product giveaways and stocked swag bags.

Scroll down for pics and Luckett's fab impromptu shoot at the ESSENCE office earlier this week, and click here to read about Letoya's fave products and news on her upcoming album:

Work those red shoes, girl! What do you think of Letoya Luckett's new endorsement deal? Was she the right pick for the brand? 

Kisses,

Coutura

Photos: YBF, ESSENCE.com.

Is The Rage At ESSENCE Hiring A White Fashion Director Validated?

Alright, Glamazons: by now we're sure that you've read all about the news of ESSENCE magazine hiring Ellianna Placas as the new fashion director. What's the big deal?

Well, Placas just happens to be a white woman and ESSENCE just happens to be a publication for black women by black women.

Can you see how this could be a bit of a controversy now?

As two former of employees of the mag, you'd be correct in thinking that Coutura and I were immediately saddened upon hearing the news. (Heck, Coutura even worked in the fashion department!) Since Agnes Cammock left the post several years ago, the mag has had some difficulty in finding a new hire. However, Coutura and I know for a fact that some of the top people in black fashion voiced that they'd never take that position due to its many restraints.

Finally one was found: Billie Causieestko, but she lasted for less than a year before being let go. The position has been open for quite some time and an interim person was placed in by Time, Inc until a replacement could be found.

Enter Placas, who apparently has several years' magazine experience at pubs such as O Magazine and US Weekly.

According to a post on The Fashion Bomb, Michaela Davis (a former fashion director at ESSENCE) expressed feelings of hurt and disappointment at the hiring of Placas.

ESSENCE's former Beauty and Cover Director Mikki Taylor told The Glamazons that she'd heard of the news about Placas' hire while in Los Angeles but had no comments to make about the matter.

What do I think? I think that it's a known fact that the fashion department at ESSENCE has been in shambles for a long time now. If Placas can come in and use her contacts in the fashion world to bring in more money for the mag, then that's a good thing, right?

However, when you think about the historical aspect (as Davis points out) that should be upheld by ESSENCE by hiring only black women, then it is a rather sad thing. This could never be possible anyhow considering that it's owned by Time, Inc which (by law) is an equal opportunity employer.

What do you think about this, Glamazons? Will you continue to read ESSENCE knowing that there's a white fashion director?

xo

Ferocia

MAGAZINE GLAM OR SHAM?: Janet Jackson's ESSENCE Cover

Janet Jackson's performance rocked the crowd at the ESSENCE Music Festival, but her August cover was not as well-received.

Though Janet looks beautiful (hard to mess up those Jackson genes), that wig isn't the most flattering propped up on her head.

Nonetheless, the pictures are phenomenal on the inside. Check out a sneak peek video via my good friend and Janet stan, Fresher Than Chris. 

Wow. Janet is always in full control of her sexuality so a rendezvous with a gorgeous Latino actor sounds HOT! 

Still, I can't help but feel that a picture of a gorgeous Janet with a short haircut would have been groundbreaking and stunning...so I'm on the fence.

What are your thoughts, Glamazons? Glam or Sham?

Kisses,

Coutura

Magazine GLAM or SHAM?: Jada Pinkett-Smith Goes Naked on the Cover of ESSENCE

Joining the recent trend of nude celebs (Kim Kardashian, Joy Bryant, Catherine Zeta Jones, Christina Aguilera, Claudia Schiffer...shall I go on?) Jada Pinkett-Smith bares all for the June cover of ESSENCE magazine. On the second cover, she wears a minidress and rocks glorious, voluminous curls.

While the gorgeous actress and mother of two can do no wrong in my eyes, I have to question why celebrities are baring it all with a renewed sense of vigor and frequency in these past couple of months. Is it to make a statement (Jada's statement is apparently for her daughter, pint-size fashionista Willow, to embrace her body)? Or to show something new on your (sixth) cover of the same magazine?

We explored the need for magazine covers to feature new subjects and I'm starting to think their answer is run the same celebrity, but naked this time to show readers something they haven't seen.

Is it working? Are we willing to buy the same star on the same mag if they're in the nude? I'm not completely sold...though Jada Pinkett-Smith's skin is flawlessly smooth (what beauty products does she use? I need that glow in my life).

What are your thoughts, Glamazons? Do you love the cover? Do you think it's a "statement" or a transparent sales tactic?

Kisses,

Coutura

Same Celebrity, Different Month: The Problem with Celeb Magazine Covers

Raise your hand if you're tired of seeing the same celebrity on the cover of the same magazine month after month. The newsstand displays the same faces over and over again and it's frustrating and boring.


I mean, how many times can you see Sarah Jessica Parker on the cover of Elle, Nicole Kidman on the cover of Vogue, Mary J. Blige on the cover of ESSENCE, Lauren Conrad on the cover of Seventeen and Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston on the cover of [Enter Gossip Magazine here] before it just gets stale?

And once you open the issue and arrive at the Cover story, you learn the magazine cover is just as dull as the accompanying article. Beyonce has nothing new to reveal about her relationship with Jay-Z and Angelina Jolie is still volunteering in foreign countries, having babies and getting tattoos. Yawn.

Celebrities are even starting to shed their clothes in magazines (hello Kim Kardashian and Christina Aguilera!) to show us something we haven't seen already. Snore.


The good news is that the magazine industry may have finally woken up. Here's what editors are saying about the same old celeb covers via The Daily Beast:


Glamour editor Cindi Leive explains:

"I think what you’re seeing in the magazine world is a certain amount of fatigue with the same old, same old faces. One reason we had a nice sale with Taylor Swift was that you hadn’t seen her on a million magazine covers before and there was actually the hope that ‘Oh my God! I might actually learn something new.’ I think taking risks is serving people well right now."

But magazine guru Samir Husni says with some celebs, there's nothing new to learn. He argues:

"What else do you really want to know about Angelina Jolie? With a lot of these celebrities, there’s nothing left to show unless they actually take their clothes off. We’ve covered them from every shape, every corner. We’ve shown them with their kids, and with their boyfriends and with their girlfriends, so that’s why you’re starting to see semi-naked soccer players and a semi-naked Tiger Woods. That’s what it takes to survive in a digital age."

Elle's creative director Joe Zee suggests: 

"It’s about commerce. At some point, you have to go and find something new."

Yeah, duh. 


No one pins down the source of the celebrity cover backlash in the article; suggestions run the gamut from reality TV stars (everyone is a celeb these days, the reasoning goes) to the digital media shift (no one reads mags anymore to begin with). But the upshot is the same: it's time for a new cover subject.

Many are arguing that the answer is to go back to the original subject of magazine covers: models. Having worked at a magazine, there are so many upsides to featuring a model over a celebrity. They are trained to give a great photo (they're masters of the smize). Conversely, you can go hoarse trying to coax a camera-shy celeb to come out of her shell. And rather than arrive with their boyfriend, publicist, manager, mom, best friends, doctor and personal paparazzi in tow, (most) models come, do a job and then leave. They have a more business-like approach to photo shoots as modeling is their main profession. 


The problem is the magazine-buying public is so accustomed to buying an issue because of their favorite celeb that some wonder: will they be inclined to pick up a book with a relatively unknown, yet beautiful, model's face on the cover? What do you think?


Are you tired of seeing the same celeb faces? What's the solution? Are models on magazine covers a good alternative? Do you even buy magazines at all? Discuss.


Kisses,


Coutura

MAGAZINE GLAM: A Pregnant Paula Patton for Ebony, Jill Scott's Son in ESSENCE

Motherhood has never been more glamorous, from a radiant Paula Patton on the cover of Ebony Magazine to glowing new Mom, Jill Scott, on the cover of ESSENCE.

Paula Patton appears on two Ebony covers, embodying the May issue's theme, The Power of Possibility. On one, she bares her beautiful pregnant tummy in an earthy, ethereal pose replete with Grecian-inspired draped chiffon and florals. The second finds her in a ruched dress and floral necklace, softly holding her tummy. Simply gorgeous. Patton and her husband, ubertalented crooner, Robin Thicke, recently welcomed their first son, Baby Julian. Congrats! 

On the cover of ESSENCE, a smiling Jill Scott emits a natural, resplendent glow in all-white. Framed by her free, curly 'fro, Jill Scott has never looked more radiant and beautiful (though Page Six reports Jill hates the cover!).

Inside, we get our first peek at her adorable son, Jett. Love it!

What do you think of the covers?

Kisses,

Coutura

Honorary Glamazon Mikki Taylor Leaves ESSENCE Magazine

Hey Glamazons! Breaking news in the magazine world: Mikki Taylor (beauty and cover director at ESSENCE magazine; that's us pictured above!) is retiring after 30 years. According to a statement released to wwd.com, Taylor will continue to work for the brand as editor at large, but her main focus will be on expanding her businesses Mikki Taylor Enterprises which includes Satin Doll productions (an image consulting firm) and MT Communications (a strategic communications and branding firm).

"I'm going to continue to showcase women in all our glory," she said in a statement. "There is work to be done across multiple platforms and it's important for me to bring the message of inner and outer beauty to new generations of women."

Former Real Simple executive editor Corynne Corbett will be temporarily overseeing Essence's beauty department until a successor is found.

xo

Ferocia

MAGAZINE GLAM OR SHAM?: Zoe Saldana's Glamour vs. ESSENCE Cover

Our favorite Pandora native, and Avon spokesperson, nailed the cover of two April magazines: ESSENCE Magazine and Glamour magazine.

While her Oscar gown was a despicable Fashion fail, Zoe looks radiant and ravishing on the cover of Glamour in a printed pink minidress. The cover is soft, feminine, adorable and sexy at the same time.

Zoe goes for a more casual look on the cover of ESSENCE with a gold tank top, a pair of high-rise denim jeans and a flower necklace. I love the idea of a celebrity in jeans on the cover, and am thrilled to see a fresh face on the cover of ESSENCE!

The similarities? Beautiful, flowing hair. Fresh-faced, soft makeup. And in both interviews, Zoe dishes about her love of...sex. (Too much fun under the tree of Souls I guess...you totally have to see Avatar to get that joke).

But which Zoe cover do you love the most? Tell us which one is GLAM and which one is a SHAM.

Kisses,

Coutura