^ Very good points!
Quite frankly, its not about what your status in Hollywood is, or even how much you sell (though that helps), like so many things in life, there is a lot of Politics behind covers. And in the end it comes down, to how much "game" you & your management have. And most importantly how much Anna Wintour likes you, as a cover girl!
Anne Hathaway, had the worst selling issue when she first appeared on the cover, and yet she went on to get a third one, which also was the worst seller. Same for Blake Lively (both covers worst, and second worst sellers of that year - will see how her third did!), Rihanna also the worst seller, her March cover of this year is one of the worst performing March issues in years, according to reports.
Gwyneth Paltrow, also, is pure example of someone who was never their best seller, yet is the ultimate Vogue cover girl. I tihnk the reason Wintour can get away with it, because Vogue has such strong subscription base, the newsstands selling results, while important, are not be all of their business.
Someone like SJP sells like no other, even when she was on the June or July issue, she turned out to be the third best selling issue, that is amazing. Vogue readers adore her!
And then there are stories of successful women like Jennifer Lopez who at the height of her fame simply couldn't get the cover, because Wintour didn't feel her for Vogue. Finally later on in her career, she went through Harvey Weinstein who put in a good word with Wintour, and she got a January cover. And only few years ago, got her second appearance, she was smart, savvy and persistent, and got that second cover as well.
Also Mariah Carey, and her people wanted the cover since early 90s, and never got it. Sure she has tacky style, like Spears, but she would have made sense for the cover back then. It never happened for her. There have also been tons of rumors about Victoria Beckham campaign to get a second cover, on her own this time, and Wintour not feeling her. So really it's all down to Anna. Beyonce, also had to reach certain level of fame before she got her first cover. Prior to that, she had several meetings with Wintour at her Vogue office, for years with no luck.
On the flip side, she gave covers to two of Donald Trump trophy wives, all he had to do is pick up the phone. In the 80s, he gave Wintour his space for free, to host Fashion Shows for upcoming designers without any money, like Marc Jacobs.etc So he had the upper hand.
Its all just a game, and Wintour changes the rules when she wants to! Som omissions are truly glaring, and make no sense. I rolled my eyes at her August Blake fawning, that was embarrassing!