Anna Wintour Finally Addresses The Backlash Over Kamala Harris Vogue Cover

Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, spoke in defence of the Vogue Cover featuring the Vice-President-Elect Kamal Harris. The cover had received criticism as people accused the magazine had intentionally lightened Harris' skin tone and the cover was called too casual.  

In a statement, Wintour said that it was the magazine's intent to diminish the importance of Vice-President-elect' "incredible victory". She also denied that Harris' and her team had finalised on a final image. She said that there was no formal agreement on the choice of the cover. Kamala Harris' team had alleged that the choice of the cover picture was made against the wishes of Harris who had wanted the Blue suit image as the cover picture.

While defending the choice of cover image with Harris standing against the backdrop of an unkempt pink curtain while she wore Converse sneakers, she said, "when the two images arrived at Vogue, all of us felt very, very strongly that the less formal portrait of the vice-president-elect really reflected the moment that we were living in.”

She added that the picture was “very, very accessible and approachable and real”.

Also read: Rihanna Is First Black Woman To Be On UK Vogue Cover

While speaking to the Guardian, Wintour said that the Vogue team's approach to working with Kamala Harris and her team was to "capture her as a leader and as a person, and as she was most comfortable". She also said that both the looks on the two covers were selected by Vice-President-elect and her team and that Harris has styled and dressed herself for the shoot. 

“Vogue selected the image for the print cover that we felt captured her optimism, personality and authenticity. Obviously, we love both images and are celebrating both covers digitally,” she added. 

Earlier before the cover started receiving backlash, Wintour had talked to New York Times' Sway podcast, she had said that she cannot imagine that there's anyone who will not find Kamala Harris Vogue cover "anything but and positive."

Also read: Priyanka Chopra Applauds Kamala Harris Vogue Cover