Strips torn off Anna Wintour for casual Kamala Harris in Vogue

Critics say a Vogue cover photograph of a casual Kamala Harris diminishes the US vice-president-elect achievements.

The alternative covers for Vogue’s February issue. Picture: Tyler Mitchell via AFP

A Vogue cover photograph of a casual Kamala Harris has sparked controversy, with critics saying it diminishes the vice-president-elect’s achievements, forcing editor Anna Wintour to ­defend the image.

Criticism of the cover has spread on social media since it was released this week, with users ­insisting that what they see as a poorly composed portrait of ­Senator Harris wearing sneakers is disrespectful to the first Black woman to be elected vice-president.

The photo — in which Senator Harris also wears a blazer and jeans — was taken by American Tyler Mitchell, who in 2018 became the first Black photographer to shoot a Vogue cover with his portraits of Beyonce. It was this image that Wintour chose to grace the cover of the hard copy of the February issue, rather than a more formal portrait of Senator Harris in a light blue Michael Kors pants suit, which was also taken by Mitchell.

Writing in the Washington Post, fashion critic Robin Givhan said the print cover was “overly familiar” and did not give ­Senator Harris “due respect”. Social media users also slammed the photo’s lighting and questioned whether the magazine had lightened her skin.

“Obviously we have heard and understood the reaction to the print cover and I just want to reiterate that it was absolutely not our intention to, in any way, diminish the importance of the vice-president-elect’s incredible victory,” Wintour told New York Times ­reporter Kara Swisher. Swisher, host of the podcast Sway, also broadcast an interview with ­Wintour that was conducted ­before the controversy.

In the earlier interview, Wintour describes the cover as “just so joyful and optimistic”.

“I cannot imagine that there’s anyone that really is going to find this cover anything but that, and positive, and an image of a woman in control of her life who is going to bring us with the president-elect the leadership that we so need,” she said.

Senator Harris, 56, has not commented but sources close to her have told US media she was surprised by the choice of the more relaxed photo.

The controversy is the latest to engulf Wintour, who found herself under pressure during the Black Lives Matter protests that swept the US last summer. She apologised for not making enough room for Black stylists and photographers in the magazine.

Wintour added that she also took “full responsibility” for “publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant”.

Rumours that she would resign circulated, but the British-born 71-year-old — described by Forbes magazine in 2017 as the “most powerful woman” in media — has remained at the helm of Vogue.

“We’ve heard the complaints and the issues … and we’re working towards, I think, a lot of very positive change,” she told Swisher.

AFP