ESSENCE is moving forward with a brand new look.
Following the major success of ESSENCE Festival, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in July, the publication is hoping to continue making bold strides as it launches its September issue with a fresh re-design. Featuring designers from Lagos to New York City, the issue takes audiences on a world tour of Black creatives from fashion and art to culture and business.
September’s Global Fashion Issue sees tennis superstar and fashion designer Serena Williams resplendent from beginning to end in the story, “The Future of Serena Williams”—rocking face paint by Nigerian-born, Brooklyn-based artist Laolu Senbanjo on the cover—in a gorgeous photo spread shot by photographer Kwaku Alston.
“We are beyond ecstatic to have Serena Williams—one of the most photographed women on the planet—to be the muse for our September Global Fashion issue,” said ESSENCE Chief Content & Creative Officer MoAna Luu. “This issue promises to be one of ESSENCE’s biggest with a fresh new redesign. We also brought the best Black creatives in the world—including visual artist Laolu, who gave us Serena’s stunning face painting for the cover—to present all of the stunning visuals that you see.”
In the issue, the world-class tennis pro opens up about everything from bouncing back her body after motherhood to investing in herself when she launched her own clothing line.
“My biggest joy is that I know that I’m doing something that I’ve always wanted to do, that I always dreamed of doing,” Williams told ESSENCE, “I just needed to do it on my own. Because when you invest in yourself, it helps your confidence, and you’ll know forever that whether you make it or not, you stepped up to the plate.”
The September issue also launches ESSENCE’s Best in Black Fashion Awards, recognizing game changers moving fashion forward through design, photography, styling, modeling and more; the #BlackWomenIn profiles, highlighting five sisters creating diversity behind-the-scenes in fashion; and The Cool Girl Guide series, spotlighting global influencers in Paris who make their city haute.
ESSENCE’s September Global Fashion Issue hits newsstands August 16.