Bradley Cooper back for one last Hollywood ‘Hangover’
 
pic

The Frock Report

Dispatches from the front row of fashion and style…
 

Why Marie Claire’s June 2012 cover is worth celebrating.

Posted: May 21st, 2012 | By Sandiso Ngubane


In a country where we are often confronted by the demon of racism, politicising a magazine cover might seem unnecessary. The fact, however, is that there’s more to it that just simple racial politics. It goes to the core of equality. Magazine covers, especially women’s consumer magazine covers, are symbolic of social status and influence. When True Love is the only reputable glossy giving black women a shot at shifting copies, in a country where most of those buying those magazines are black anyway, it becomes a bit of a bitter pill to swallow. Of course magazines sell more based on aspiration- selling a dream- than anything else, but still, is relating to its content too much to ask for? By not putting South Africans on the covers are we saying we have nothing to learn from each other? Are Hollywood stars more valuable than our own? I’m just saying, there’s a lot that something as seemingly trivial as a magazine cover suggests.

MARIE CLAIRE SA, JUNE 2012

This is why I think Marie Claire’s June 2012 issue is something worth celebrating. Thank you, Marie Claire.

  
 
 

Comments

 

Busisiwe

May 21, 2012 at 11:08 am

I vowed a while back that I was only going to buy magazines in SA if they have SA celebs (not Generation stars) on the cover. I was excited when I saw this cover today, definitely going to get a copy just because of Terry Pheto. I tend to not read Marie Claire.

Few months back Shape Mag had Lorna Maseko on the cover too. Just a breath of fresh air, and we need more South Africans gracing SA magazine covers. Hopefully circulation is just as strong to motivate the magazines to do this more!

 

Ndu

May 21, 2012 at 11:16 am

I’m so happy Marie Claire went this route. The thing is, you can see that this was actually thought out and not some ‘oh let’s put a black South African on the cover for the sake of being politically correct’.
They actually put some thought into it as they put someone who is inspirational and beautiful. Someone who speaks well for the Marie Claire brand. This did this well. Perfection.
Big love to MC

 

Sandiso Ngubane

May 21, 2012 at 11:33 am

Hi Guys. Thank you for the lovely comments. I’m also very glad that relevance was not neglected in the selection of a cover star. And how beautiful does she look? Excellent work from the Marie Claire team!

 

Wonkie

May 21, 2012 at 11:43 pm

Just glad that Marie Claire didn’t opt for the likes of jessica leandra dos santos or tshidi thamani for the cover! Glad the mag is supporting local talent in any case.

Leave a Comment




 

  • About

    Lovers of beautiful things, in the street, in ideas, in people, in clothes, in the way we live and love and laugh, Andrea Nagel and Vincent Zondo scrutinise the world around them to uncover the allure of a stylish attitude to life.

    Contact them on nagela@thetimes.co.za and vincent.zondo@gmail.com and follow their style-riddled adventures on Twitter: @angamanagement and @StyleJoburg