On January 7, 2015, brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi massacred 12 people at Charlie Hebdo’s Paris offices to avenge the magazine’s decision to publish satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Some say that magazines serve as moderators between society and politics. And as simple as it may appear, journalism combined with fashion has the power to reflect the times and influence people’s minds. Therefore, many publications push the envelope, using their covers to spark viral debate. Now, let’s see some of the most divisive fashion magazine covers of all time.
Vanity Fair (America)—July, 2015
Caitlyn Jenner, a former Olympic gold medalist decathlete, graced the cover of Vanity Fair. In July 2015, the first images were released since her very public transition. No one with such a high profile had ever come out as trans before.
On the day the cover was released, Jenner gained over a million Twitter followers. But despite being a watershed moment in fashion and sociopolitics, members of the trans community were disappointed by the public’s instant praise for the celebrity’s bravery, ignoring the daily struggle that trans people face.
