The Duchess of Sussex has guest edited the September issue of British Vogue, highlighting the work of several influential women.
British Vogue's September issue, titled “Forces for Change,” showcases 15 women whom the Duchess “admires,” hailing from the worlds of politics, sports and the arts. It also marks the first time a September issue of British Vogue has been co-edited.
“These last seven months have been a rewarding process, curating and collaborating with Edward Enninful, British Vogue’s editor-in-chief, to take the year’s most-read fashion issue and steer its focus to the value, causes and people making impact in the world today,” said the Duchess.
“Through this lens I hope you’ll feel the strength of the collective in the diverse selection of women chosen for the cover as well as the team of support I called upon within the issue to help bring this to light. I hope readers feel as inspired as I do, by the ‘Force for Change’ they’ll find within these pages.”
The magazine’s cover shows 15 mini-portraits of all the women selected for the issue, including climate change activist Greta Thunberg and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The 16th panel is a reflective mirror, intended to inspire the reader to use their own platform to bring change.
The upcoming issue features a guest editor’s letter written by the Duchess, as well as an interview with former First Lady Michelle Obama and an interview conducted by Prince Harry with renowned ethologist Dr Jane Goodall.
Here are all the women chosen by Meghan Markle for the September issue of British Vogue:
Adwoa Aboah
Adwoa Aboah is a British model and mental health campaigner.
She is also the founder of Gurls Talk, a project which aims to give young women a safe space to discuss feminist issues.
Adut Akech
Adut Akech is a model and former refugee.
She works closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) in order to promote causes that support refugees around the world.
Ramla Ali
Ramala Ali is a Somali boxer living in London.
In 2016, she won the England Boxing Elite Championships and The Great British Championships – making her the first Muslim woman to win an English boxing title.
Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda Ardern is the current Prime Minister of New Zealand.
As well as featuring on the cover of British Vogue’s September issue, Mrs Ardern also penned a column for the magazine about leadership.
Sinèad Burke
Sinead Burke is a diversity advocate and lecturer hailing from Ireland.
In an Instagram post, Sinead said she had been collecting September issues of Vogue since she was a child and spoke of her joy at being able to “add one more to that collection – one with me on the cover and many other women I respect, admire and am inspired by.”
Gemma Chan
Gemma Chan is a British actor and campaigner best known for starring in the hit film Crazy Rich Asians.
She is a firm supporter of the #TimesUp movement and was one of the handful of actors who gave the campaign’s activist a voice by inviting Laura Bates – the founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, to join her on the red carpet at the 2018 BAFTAs.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is a LGBT+ advocate and actor, best known for her role in Netflix drama Orange is The New Black.
She said of her British Vogue cover: “To get to share this cover with this group of women who inspire me, who are truly forces for change is deeply humbling.”
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda is a campaigner and actor, winning Academy Awards for her roles in Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978).
She is a passionate activist for women’s rights, establishing the Jane Fonda Center for Adolescent Reproductive Health in 2001, which aims to help prevent teenage pregnancy.
Salma Hayek Pinault
Salma Hayek Pinault is a Mexican-American actor and producer, notably serving as executive producer of hit series Ugly Betty.
Her own charity, the Salma Hayek Foundation, supports organisations giving aid to women experiencing domestic abuse.
Francesca Hayward
Francesca Hayward is a British ballerina and principal dancer in the Royal Ballet.
In an Instagram post, she wrote about her British Vogue cover: “To be alongside these extraordinary women and be recognised as one of the Forces for Change is an incredible honour.”
Jameela Jamil
Jameela Jamil is a British actor best known for her role in US TV show The Good Life.
She is the founder of Instagram campaign ‘I Weigh,’ which promotes body positivity.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author.
She has given numerous lectures speaking about feminism and had an excerpt from her “We Should All Be Feminists” TED Talk sampled in Beyoncè’s track “Flawless.”
Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi is an actor best known for her role in US sitcom Black-ish.
She is the founder of Eighteen x 18, a platform designed to engage young people in politics and encourage them to vote.
Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish climate change campaigner.
At age 15, she began protesting outside the Swedish parliament about the need for immediate action to combat climate change, and inspired student-led climate change protests all over the world.
Christy Turlington Burns
Christy Turlington Burns is an American model, filmmaker and campaigner.
She is the founder of charity Every Mother Counts, which works to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for women all over the world.
